Stephanie Morgan

Online Social Networks: Changing the Face of Business Education and Career Planning

Online social networks have become increasingly popular in recent years, providing an efficient and user-friendly way to maintain social connections and share information. They have been shown to facilitate business relationships and building of social capital using electronic media. Graduates who are coming into business for the first time are almost expected to be comfortable with interactions using social networks. This brings new challenges to graduates in the way they use social networks and how they enhance their career development and relationships with employers. This study reports the findings of a survey of 272 UK and international business school students on career development and entrepreneurship as a part of a wider study of online social networking. The results of the study reveal key differences between undergraduate, postgraduate and international student populations. The paper discusses differences across gender, educational level and nationality that have implications for social networking practices and argues for a pressing need to raise the awareness of graduates in the use of social networks to enhance their career prospects. The conclusions of the study offer better understanding of motivations and barriers to an effective application of social networks in business.

Social career management: Social media and employability skills gap

Social capital theorists have established decades ago that better connected people do better in life. The emergence of online social networking sites have given a new impetus to building and exploiting connections for career management. While professionals acknowledge that social networking is essential for business and development, new graduates coming into the corporate world are not equipped with the uptodate skill set. Through the lens of the improved employability objectives, this paper draws conclusions from a recent study of UK business graduates and their use of social networking. The paper presents for discussion an employability skill set for contemporary business professional and calls for higher education to address the skill gap. Further research directions are discussed.

A Framework for Knowledge Management in Higher Education Using Social Networking

Recent years show an increase in the popularity of online social networking among the younger generation that opens up possibilities for educators to use it as a higher education platform. The focus of this paper is to highlight some open research questions in the context of knowledge management in higher education with the use of online social networking. Analysis of current research reveals that social networking sites are a useful tool in teaching and learning as well as in employability and career management of students. However, research is limited in terms of the applicability of social networking sites in other parts of the student life cycle including lifelong learning. The possibility of using online social networking in knowledge management, particularly in the area of knowledge accumulation and knowledge sharing is yet to be properly addressed by researchers. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to draw attention to some implications of exploiting knowledge resources with online social networking for HE institutions.

Computer-mediated communication and remote management: integration or isolation?

The use of intranets and e-mails to communicate with remote staff is increasing rapidly within organizations. For many companies this is viewed as a speedy and cost-effective way of keeping in contact with staff and ensuring their continuing commitment to company goals. This article highlights the problems experienced by staff when managers use intranets and e-mails in an inappropriate fashion for these purposes. Issues of remoteness and isolation will be discussed, along with the reports of frustration and disidentification experienced. However, it will be shown that when used appropriately, communication using these technologies can facilitate shared understanding and help remote staff to view their company as alive and exciting. Theoretical aspects will be highlighted and the implications of these findings will be discussed.

Cutting-Edge Technologies and Social Media Use in Higher Education.

The inclusion of social media in higher education has transformed the way instructors teach and students learn. In order to effectively reach their students in this networked world, teachers must learn to utilize the latest technologies in their classrooms. Cutting-Edge Technologies and Social Media Use in Higher Education brings together research on the multi-faceted nature and overarching impact of social technologies on the main opportunities and challenges facing today’s post-secondary classrooms. From issues of social capital formation to student support and recruitment, this book provides educators, administrators, employers, and leaders with the necessary insight and practical perspectives to thrive within an evolving education system.

Implications of Social Media Use in Personal and Professional Settings

Social technology is quickly becoming a vital tool in our personal, educational, and professional lives. However, while social networking helps the world stay connected, its use must be further examined in order to determine any possible pitfalls associated with the use of this technology. Implications of Social Media Use in Personal and Professional Settings investigates the paradoxical nature of social networking in our personal lives and in the workplace. Highlighting emergent research and psychological impacts, this publication is an indispensable reference source for academics, researchers, and professionals interested in the application of social media, as well as the positive aspects and detrimental effects of the usage of these technologies.

The experience of outsourcing transfer: implications for guidance and counselling

ABSTRACT Outsourcing can involve the forced transfer of employees to another organisation. During or after the transfer they may find their jobs have changed or go through a process of downsizing. They also often have to maintain a relationship with their previous employer as they continue to work on joint projects. In this paper we review relevant research literature and identify important psychological and organisational processes involved in this process, which are of specific interest to guidance and counselling. We also present data from a longitudinal research study in which employees undergoing an outsourcing transfer discussed their experiences. A number of these employees required career counselling and some were undergoing psychological counselling to reduce depression and anxiety. In conclusion, we summarise important issues to be considered by the counsellor when advising individuals going through this process.

Social University Challenge: Constructing Pragmatic Graduate Competencies for Social Networking.

With the strong acceptance of social technologies by student users, the academic applications have swiftly followed, bringing a social dimension into every area of university life. However, there have been concerns raised about the impact of social media on students. Some Universities have started including social media skills training in the curriculum. For educators, it is important to understand students’ attitudes towards social media itself and the inclusion of social media skills development. This article presents the results of a qualitative study of students’ positions towards social media and the impact on their professional activity, as well as the need for teaching skills in social technologies. We argue that students are not fully aware of the implications of social media use despite, or sometimes because of, their regular use. Based on 23 semi-structured interviews with students at a UK business school, we bring to light the positions which learners take towards social technology education and argue that structured training is needed. We offer a framework for social skill development and conclude that social technology integration into pedagogy increases the employability skills of business graduates.

Strong contracts: the relationship between power and action

Purpose There is a view that strong preventive contracts are essential to control supplier opportunism and delivery during an outsourcing implementation. This paper tests the proposition that contractual project environments, typical of outsourcing engagements, are essentially conflictual and that context and circumstance can act to overwhelm formal contractual and project control and lead to poor outcomes. Design/methodology/approach The paper reports on a supply case study focused on the outsourced delivery of an application development in the defence sector. Data was gathered by a participant observation in situ for a period of three years. A grounded analysis from observations, diaries, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, documentary analysis, and emails was carried out with six case organisations within the extended supply chain. Findings Collaboration between suppliers and buyers can be blocked by preventative fixed price contracts and as a result when requirements are incomplete or vague this...

Social Networking in Higher Education: A Knowledge Convergence Platform

With the increasing infiltration of online social networking into the everyday life of the younger generation, higher education appears to be a lucrative platform for deploying social networks in an academic context. This paper suggests research questions and opens a discussion in relation to managing knowledge on online social networking in academic settings and beyond. Extant research provides a useful lens into the applications of social networking sites in learning and teaching or at the stages of employability and career management in student life. A limited consideration in current research has been given to exploring capabilities of social networking for lifelong learning and its role in the entire student lifecycle. The potential opened by online social networking in the area of knowledge accumulation and knowledge sharing is yet to be properly addressed by researchers. Therefore more attention is needed to identify the overarching issues of social networking applications in Higher Education (HE) settings. Based on a broad literature review this paper draws attention to some implications for HE institutions of exploiting knowledge resources with online social networks.