Objection #7 is a big concern. “What if people put in information that is wrong? When it went through the training department, we knew it was right. But we can’t trust that when anyone can put in everything.”
Answer: With Social Learning, if it is wrong 1) then everyone will be wrong (it sounds goofy, but there is something to consistency); 2) you know where to fix it (and it is in one place, hidden or in 15 different places); 3) anyone can fix it because the technology is the easy part.
“BUT,” you say, “if anyone can fix it, anyone can mess it up!” That is the great part of this! I can mess up whatever I touch but there are certain controls you can put on it so that when it is changed, anyone can be notified. This is a check and balance.
Again, as in previous objections, the information is already circulating, except you don’t have any visibility into what is said. Now you do.
I had a chat with someone last month who said this: “One additional thing that holds our group back (from adopting this) is that there were some very bad experiences a few years ago… it’s critical in our business to get the information CORRECT – if old info causes data loss it’s a very, very bad thing.”
On critical information you can control it. For example, we lock down HR documents, as I have previously explained. No none can change them except for those in HR. Locking down information should be used judiciously. Also, there are only certain documents and discussions that Management can see. Others don’t even know they are there.
So it is not that you are giving up total control, but that you are expanding the circle of trust.
(image attributed to http://blogs.sun.com/identity)
