Employees don’t like their social intranets, study says

The firm’s 2013 Social Intranet Study found that 76 percent of the companies surveyed use instant messaging, at least in some limited way. About 75 percent use blogs. Around two-thirds have wikis, discussion forums, and user comments. It’s fair to say social tools are being used widely.

However, only 19 percent of organizations rated their social intranet tools as good or very good. Even fewer executives, 17 percent, like them.

Toby Ward, president of Prescient Digital Media, says the tools are easy to come by, but demonstrating their value is considerably tougher.

“Enterprise social media is still seen, at least by the executive suite, as something that isn’t necessarily mission critical, but as something to keep the masses happy,” he says.

Some leaders are progressive and understand the benefits of social intranets, Ward adds, but many are 50 and older and just don’t embrace the technology. He explained what distinguishes companies where employees and executives are satisfied with their social tools from those that simply have them.

Three factors