CEO's are thinking about blogs.....blogs are going mainstream...where are you?An area that the CIO's will have to deal with in the near future given the growing adoption of blogging as a communication medium...both internally & externally, is the rollout of a blogging system with 360 deg visibility. There are a lot of books being written on this topic, one popular one is the project code named: "Red Couch", the co-author of which is the popular blogger, Robert Scoble...is touted as the person who changed Microsofts public image -- " Microsoft, a company whose public image was among the worst of any company, it started to see public hostility diminish.

Given the nascent stage of technology & concept & limited corporate adoption, some in depth analysis will be required before deciding how to move ahead. But need to move on it fast, as for sure there are people in the organization who are already dabbling with the idea.

The roll out for such a system is going to be as complicated as any other enterprise system given the number of cases/conditions that need to be covered. Also the organisational approach still needs to be worked out, which would help deliver the most benefit to the individuals/teams & the organisation as a whole. But one thing that definitely not be done...it try and make it too restrictive, it will need to adhere to adam bosworth's approach of KISS(Keep it Simple & Sloppy)Some of the basic issues/concerns that need to be looked out for are:

1. Bandwidth
2. Spam
3. Ease of use
4. Multiple Needs
5. OutSoure/ In house
6. ........

Well, if blogs weren't enough trouble, there is the wide spread adoption of its cousin, Wiki's. Both blogs & Wikis are great communication/collaboration tools, both internal & external to the company.

Where are you? -- More on this topic Later.

Ps: some orgs have started, GM, Ford has a blog for its Mustang....many more....

Prashanth Rai