Hey Social Media! The Big 4 Is Just Not That Into You…
Relationships are tough. The ones that require a conversation even tougher. Embracing the concepts of social media, learning how to use the tools available, can be daunting.
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I think it’s ironic that lawyers may be ahead of accountants in adopting social media. Why? Because the verbiage you posted from [Big 4 firm] was undoubtedly written by firm attorneys to protect the firm.
We’ve agreed in the past that the lawyers now run the firms to a great extent; or, at least, run the risk management side of the house. For the most part, they are the ones holding back adoption of social media under the guise of “protecting the firm” from the risks set forth in the document you posted.
In the Big 4, risk is a terrible enemy, to be destroyed upon contact. Any risk is to be avoided and/or eliminated, no matter what the cost.
— Tenacious T.
All those end user contracts make me laugh hysterically – ever since I was presented with my first one, way back in high school. I think I would have to ask to see the usage contract before signing with any other company! :p
I’m quite pleased with our code – basically don’t be an idiot and be ethical – without all this garbage about not sharing your personal info… but supplying your bio – the contract you just posted is a borderline paradox! I would take great joy in demolishing it line-by-line but life is too short. And knowing the world we live in, it’s equally possible that it could belong to a US branch of my company, if not that of another one. :p
Speaking of contact info, Krupo’s on twitter – because it @PromisedMePie
In other news, isn’t that film poster wrong? It says:
“He’s just *not* that into you”
But doesn’t:
“He’s just not *that* into you”
make more sense.
I don’t care where you work. Some controls and guidance must be provided to those impacting your electronic system. This is for the protection of individuals (from harassment, discrimination, etc.) and for the protection of firm equities. Lawyers just know something that auditors don’t; no matter what the law says, there’s always an opportunity to argue against it.
briandrake,
I see what you did there. It’s called a “strawman argument”.
No one’s saying (or said) that “some controls and guidance” are unnecessary. Fran is saying (or, if you will, I am saying) that this is an example of a six sigma deviation from the mean, where the mean is a prudent and rationale set of controls and guidance.
And the cost of such a large deviation from the mean is also measured in negative impacts on The Brand.
— Tenacious T.
Dealing with people who just “don’t get it” is frustrating.
I think demonstrating how social media can be used for networking and for professional development can only really be done by example. I can’t explain Twitter partially because I didn’t get it at all until I started following people within my industry … and Shaq. The best I can do is send people the link tell them who to follow and hope they see the light.
In a time of unprecidented financial turmoil, and several juicy audit failures, why is usually relevant blog focussing on the ways in which junior staff waste time in the name of ‘networking’ – networking is establishing business contacts, not chatting.
And Wall St. Journal today points out how these networks can be helpful and boost productivity if used correctly:
Engineering Firm Charts Ties
Social-Mapping Method Helps MWH Uncover Gaps
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123273549517510905.html
Don’t these people realize it is a fool’s errand to try to document let alone regulate common sense? This kind of rigidity is what eventually kills companies, nations, etc. (See GM, Penn Central, The British Empire.) Employees should be free to use their own good judgement to decide what to post and what not to. Profitable paths and initiatives are usually discovered by serendipity. Let employes find them. If someone betrays the common trust of the organization, fire them. Years ago I worked for Goldman, Sachs when it was a partnership. I did not have an employment contract. I was never asked to sign anything except to the bonding insurance company stating I promise not to lie, steal or cheat. I was free to speak with the press, and often did, because I was not prohibited and never said anything stupid. I was authorized to risk millions of the firm’s money (in the days before billions). Risk management by the numbers in lieu of common sense hurt that firm badly. Establishment of bureaucracy is why companies have life cycles.