A recent social business survey by International Data Corporation shows that 41percent of respondents
have some sort of social business initiative underway.

 

However, these projects vary greatly from grassroots
bottom-up employee initiatives to sophisticated and strategic social customer
engagement programs as do the maturity of the businesses and their social
strategies.

 

A method of assessing social business maturity is needed
both as a planning tool and as a way to determine a business’ progress in
adopting social technologies and methods.

 

“2011 has seen rapid expansion of business change
that is being driven by the social customer, empowered employees, and a
convergence of new technical capabilities,” said Michael Fauscette, group
vice president, Software Business Solutions, IDC.

 

“Businesses are deploying and using new social tools
at an ever-increasing pace. This business change cycle is challenging the
enterprise, but at the same time offering many new business opportunities. IDC
has created the social business maturity model to help companies that are
growing in their adoption of social business and want to optimize their use of
social tools,” Fauscette added.