Oliver, thanks for a thoughtful and candid recap of the E2.0 conference/expo.
I think the problem is how E2.0 is defined :
"Enterprise 2.0 is the term for the technologies and business practices that liberate the workforce from the constraints of legacy communication and productivity tools like email."
And this somehow is going to deliver a "huge competitive advantage in the form of increased innovation, productivity and agility."
To gain a competitive advantage, you have to deliver something that more innovative or operate much more efficiently than competitors or create better experiences that create an emotional bond with customers.
I'm sure that collaborative technologies can help, but the approach that E2.0 evangelists are using is along the lines of 1) implement the tools and therefore 2) magic will happen. Doesn't anyone remember what happened with ERP and CRM?
The strategic value of E2.0 lies in its ability to make the value chain work better. I really don't see how "saving 30% of email messages" is going to do that.
The other reaction I had after my visit to the Expo and talking with vendors selling the tools, was that the customer was rarely mentioned. Ultimately, customer relationships are the source of value, not employee productivity. Can you think of any company whose competitive edge was just internal productivity?
Further reading: Where is the Customer in Enterprise 2.0?
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