Enterprise 2.0 in our firm

Our accounting firm can use readily available tools and services right away to improve employee morale, effectiveness and company competitiveness.


Google documents would allow coworkers to create and edit web-based documents, spreadsheets or presentations in real time together, without wasting time sending one document by e-mail to each person for revision. According to this blog Google's "StarOffice" comes free with Google Pack and can be implemented in the firm easily and efficiently since it is compatible with Microsoft Office formats.Employees can even go to the official Google Docs Blog to learn how to use it.

All employees can maintain Blogs. Junior employees can detail their work experiences so other employees know what each other is working on while senior staff can write about company strategy and goals for the benefit of employees and clients. Blogs can be created easily here.

All employees can be equipped with a web cam and sign up for Skype in order to participate in free teleconference calls without them having to leave their desk, making meetings easier to conduct.

A company Bulletin Board System--or BBS, which some consider to be the precursor to internet blogs according to Erwan Le Nagard--would enable employees to discuss a variety of work issues that management would read and respond to. It would also allow for less formal discussion that would strengthen employee ties with their other coworkers. Polls can be done as a fast and cost effective way for the firm to get employee feedback on certain issues in order to allow employees to vote and give their say on what they want to see occur within the organization. The ability to have a say in company matters will likely make employees more loyal to the firm and happier overall.

Employees can use RSS aggregators to keep updated on numerous websites, including competitor websites, employee blogs, newspapers and accounting regulatory bodies websites. This provides employees with a single source they can use to access all new and pertinent information that is essential for their continued professional growth. According to lifehack using RSS feeds can greatly enhance a worker's productivity given that he/she keeps him/herself from abusing them (i.e. subscribing to too many feeds). RSS is widely available and many RSS aggregators can be found on TechCrunch.

According to wikinomics, companies like Intel and Sony are beginning to use wiki's to aid in the spread of information throughout their firms. Wiki’s can be used to allow many people to collaborate on a common project. They save time as employees can work in groups without having to arrange times where everyone is free to meet. They can also be used for brainstorming or knowledge management tools where employees can work together to create training guides on company procedures or explanations on accounting guidelines.


The use of social network sites such as linkedin would allow employees to leverage their collective social capital to make important connections with other professionals in any industry. It will also allow employees to learn more about one another and bond in a less formal atmosphere.

Enterprise 2.0 has many advantages for corporations who adopt its concepts. Its transparency, both with all employees, customers and other outsiders, provides a refreshingly open view of a firm’s goals and strategy. It creates stronger co-worker bonds and employee loyalty. It also allows for a more efficient way for communication and data retrieval.


Enterprise 2.0 does have issues that need to be addressed for it to be used effectively. Company transparency and using web based storage areas may pose security risks, so it is important that some information is not shared with the public and effective security procedures are followed. Some tools can take time away from employees completing their work; so structured guidelines need to be created on how to properly use these tools. Lastly, employees may need training to properly use these tools, requiring time or financial resources. Fortunately, many blogs such as this one and this one offer tips for getting around these issues in the implementation of Enterprise 2.0. Through diligent research and by acting proactively, Enterprise 2.0 can be implemented seamlessly and efficiently into the firm.


Overall, Enterprise 2.0 concepts will provide the firm with a competitive advantage within the industry and allow them to better serve clients. Employees will be able to work more efficiently and establish a greater level of camaraderie with each other. Enterprise 2.0 is no business fad, and making the early transition to these new concepts and technologies will be a profitable investment in the long run.