How Enterprise Social Media Can Facilitate Innovation

Many organizations use enterprise social media (ESM) to encourage their employees to collaborate, share knowledge, and innovate. Although previous research has focused on ESM's influence on employee collaboration and productivity, its role in assisting employee innovation and the cultural implications are unclear. The authors examine the case of a global retailer that has adopted ESM to boost productivity and innovation. They share several interesting findings that highlight factors that motivate employees to use work-based ESM and the cultural implications of deploying ESM for innovative and routine work practices.