Making Podcasts and Wikis Work for Business

Podcasts and wikis are part of Web 2.0, which allows users of the web to create content. Prudent business use of Web 2.0 applications can help businesses build and maintain their reputations online. Understanding how to use Web 2.0 communication tools will be important when you are on the job.

Businesses have embraced podcasting to broadcast (confidential/ legal/ repetitive?) information that doesn’t require interaction. For example, some companies use podcasts to broadcast HR policies that can be accessed on demand.

What function can companies improve by using wikis for collaboration?

a. Communication with investors?

b. Project management?

c. Customer interaction?

Consider the scenario, and then answer the question.

You work on the marketing team for a software development company. You have sales representatives in different locations around the globe. When a product update is released, your team holds teleconferences to demo new features. Due to time differences, these demos are difficult to schedule and usually require multiple demo sessions to accommodate different geographic regions. You want to streamline the new product demos and decide to recommend an electronic communication tool to help facilitate this.

Which electronic communication tool would you recommend?

a. A podcast

b. A wiki

c. An e-mail