I would like to talk about a couple of characteristics of the factors that make online reputations. First of all, online relationships are not necessarily in person. What people leave on internet such as writings, pictures, etc. can spread easily to those whom they don’t even know. Their reputations to those who see them only through internet should be determined by their attitudes, styles, and behaviors in writings and pictures they posted.
Secondly, the online “data” supposed to show people’s reputations are almost semi-permanent. As we found it from the NPR news – to me, it was very interesting news and I found it newly that there are reputation-defending companies, once data are left online, it is very hard to get rid of them. Thanks to developed technologies, things on internet can be so easily and widely that people can’t even find to where their data have gone.
As such, it could be even harder to manage our online reputations than to do so offline. Additionally considering another factor that online reputations can be modified much more easily by ourselves or others, we can make positive or negative reputation we actually don’t have depending on how to control online factors. This is the reason why John Edwards, Democrat presidential candidate, hired expert bloggers, and UCC (User-Created Contents) has appeared as a hot mean for politicians in 2007 presidential election of S.Korea. That is to say, they can make their positive images or negative images of their opponents and spread them very quickly and easily. To sum up, it is necessary to have proper ways to deal with online reputation, apart from “real” reputation – these days, online reputations seems to represent real ones.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Everybody can be a writer!
The way we read news has been totally changed. Until only 10 years ago, we had read news as writers and editors showed to us. But now, we choose news to read among a great number of them, evaluate and react to them directly, and even generate news personally, which sometimes become sources of major media’s news.
When we want to see what is going on in the world, we would rather open internet portal news websites such as Google news, or internet websites of major media. Although most news on those websites are written by professional writers and the way they are shown to us are organized by the websites’ editors, we have more rights to choose what to read, and what is better is that we can give them feedbacks personally and directly by posting comments. Also, as some websites arrange news on the screen according to the ranks of the number they has been read, the “edition” of news are organized not by professional editors but by readers.
The most remarkable part of the “revolution of news” is that we generate news in person, which usually happens in the social news section. Although this kind of news is not usually offering technical analysis and tends to be just thrown to netizens, they are providing news that is something hands-on experience and that is easy to be overlooked by major media. Furthermore, some of them sometimes become major news deeply re-dealt with by major media. It is the best example that a blogger posted a short video that contained violent incident in a high school on a blogger news website, and then it evoked social attention on school violence, which led major media to deal with the issue with the video as a main source.
With regard to this trend, there is an internet news website, in South Korea, claiming to stand for “Citizen Journalism”; OhmyNews was initiated in 2000 with the catch phrase, “all citizens are writers”. The news of this website consists of 50% of professional writers’ and the other 50% of registered citizen writers’. By far, about 600 citizen writers from about 60 countries have joined in it. In addition, there is “netizen edition” aside from basic edition by the professional editors.
OhmyNews – www.ohmynews.com (Korean Edition)
english.ohmynews.com (International Edition)
When we want to see what is going on in the world, we would rather open internet portal news websites such as Google news, or internet websites of major media. Although most news on those websites are written by professional writers and the way they are shown to us are organized by the websites’ editors, we have more rights to choose what to read, and what is better is that we can give them feedbacks personally and directly by posting comments. Also, as some websites arrange news on the screen according to the ranks of the number they has been read, the “edition” of news are organized not by professional editors but by readers.
The most remarkable part of the “revolution of news” is that we generate news in person, which usually happens in the social news section. Although this kind of news is not usually offering technical analysis and tends to be just thrown to netizens, they are providing news that is something hands-on experience and that is easy to be overlooked by major media. Furthermore, some of them sometimes become major news deeply re-dealt with by major media. It is the best example that a blogger posted a short video that contained violent incident in a high school on a blogger news website, and then it evoked social attention on school violence, which led major media to deal with the issue with the video as a main source.
With regard to this trend, there is an internet news website, in South Korea, claiming to stand for “Citizen Journalism”; OhmyNews was initiated in 2000 with the catch phrase, “all citizens are writers”. The news of this website consists of 50% of professional writers’ and the other 50% of registered citizen writers’. By far, about 600 citizen writers from about 60 countries have joined in it. In addition, there is “netizen edition” aside from basic edition by the professional editors.
OhmyNews – www.ohmynews.com (Korean Edition)
english.ohmynews.com (International Edition)
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
What kind of business needs blog?
Reading the assignments, I was thinking what kind of business needs blog. Basically, there should be something to say about a product, and the product should be worth being talked about somehow seriously. In this respect, I would identify a few points that make blog necessary:
1. What people need tips about
Some products require consumers to have some knowledge about them, before they buy them. Capability, specification, and other complicated details of a product can be different by brands, prices, etc. Therefore, consumers should get some information on the product, and while they got them from sellers at stores, when they were about to buy it, in the past, they surf around websites these days.
2. Somewhat expensive products
Somewhat expensive products make consumers spend more time to look for and think over than cheap ones. Since consumers regard that it is worth spending more time, they try to make sure that there is no stone unturned as much as they can and find the most satisfying product. The best place for this is blog.
3. What mainly purchased by young people or at least people familiar with internet
In order to blog get useful, there should be people who can use it. Therefore, a product which is usually purchased by young people who are good at internet and willingly to spend much time in websites is fit to have a blog.
4. What is necessary to manage and upgrade continuously after purchasing
A blog is made up not only of something to talk about before purchasing but also of after purchasing. Questions on managing and upgrading products usually belong to the latter case. A company is necessary to satisfy those people via blog to make them its loyal customers.
The best example to fit the points above is computer. When we plan to buy a computer, we need information as many as we can get on various kinds of computers, are willing to spend our time to look for the most proper computer to us, partly because it’s quite expensive, and try to pay attention to our computers, since it’s necessary to manage and upgrade continuously. To this end, we used to go to Circuit City or Best Buy in person, but now we surf around a number of blogs about computer and even buy it there. MP3 player, software, and other electronic products are similar examples.
However, although I would say points above are the fittest for blog business, what we shouldn’t overlook is that blog is already affecting business which produce products which is cheap and doesn’t need thoughtfulness, such as P&G, as we saw last class. As such, blog is gradually becoming one of the most important tools of business.
1. What people need tips about
Some products require consumers to have some knowledge about them, before they buy them. Capability, specification, and other complicated details of a product can be different by brands, prices, etc. Therefore, consumers should get some information on the product, and while they got them from sellers at stores, when they were about to buy it, in the past, they surf around websites these days.
2. Somewhat expensive products
Somewhat expensive products make consumers spend more time to look for and think over than cheap ones. Since consumers regard that it is worth spending more time, they try to make sure that there is no stone unturned as much as they can and find the most satisfying product. The best place for this is blog.
3. What mainly purchased by young people or at least people familiar with internet
In order to blog get useful, there should be people who can use it. Therefore, a product which is usually purchased by young people who are good at internet and willingly to spend much time in websites is fit to have a blog.
4. What is necessary to manage and upgrade continuously after purchasing
A blog is made up not only of something to talk about before purchasing but also of after purchasing. Questions on managing and upgrading products usually belong to the latter case. A company is necessary to satisfy those people via blog to make them its loyal customers.
The best example to fit the points above is computer. When we plan to buy a computer, we need information as many as we can get on various kinds of computers, are willing to spend our time to look for the most proper computer to us, partly because it’s quite expensive, and try to pay attention to our computers, since it’s necessary to manage and upgrade continuously. To this end, we used to go to Circuit City or Best Buy in person, but now we surf around a number of blogs about computer and even buy it there. MP3 player, software, and other electronic products are similar examples.
However, although I would say points above are the fittest for blog business, what we shouldn’t overlook is that blog is already affecting business which produce products which is cheap and doesn’t need thoughtfulness, such as P&G, as we saw last class. As such, blog is gradually becoming one of the most important tools of business.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
4th - blogging
In the introduction of Naked Conversation, the authors are describing blogging that it is an entirely alternative mean of business and marketing, and honest – as the term “naked”. It is true that blogging became an indispensable tool for business, and tends to be more honest than other old-fashioned communication tools, especially in terms of business and marketing. However, I would not totally agree with these views.
First, blogging cannot entirely replace the present basic marketing tools, such as TV commercial, brochure, banner, etc. In order to marketing through blogging succeed, it is the most important to let consumers know that such bloggers exist, and for this, the present basic marketing tools are necessary. When consumers feel necessity to contact a blogger, the first name which would strike them should be what they were exposed to by other tools.
Secondly, it’s suspicious that we can say bloggers are honest. Of course, it can be more honest than TV commercial or brochure which is one-way, in that consumers can figure out truth by taking advantage of two-way system. Yet, bloggers can also deceive consumers in the way just as TV commercial or brochure has done. In addition, although this is not business case, personal bloggers, just for social networking, can be easily manipulated by modifying pictures, demonstrating only what they want, and so on.
In fact, I, too, am approving the critical necessity of blogger both in business and social networking. What I intended is that it’s important to check out the negative aspects, since it’s dangerous to see only positive aspects.
First, blogging cannot entirely replace the present basic marketing tools, such as TV commercial, brochure, banner, etc. In order to marketing through blogging succeed, it is the most important to let consumers know that such bloggers exist, and for this, the present basic marketing tools are necessary. When consumers feel necessity to contact a blogger, the first name which would strike them should be what they were exposed to by other tools.
Secondly, it’s suspicious that we can say bloggers are honest. Of course, it can be more honest than TV commercial or brochure which is one-way, in that consumers can figure out truth by taking advantage of two-way system. Yet, bloggers can also deceive consumers in the way just as TV commercial or brochure has done. In addition, although this is not business case, personal bloggers, just for social networking, can be easily manipulated by modifying pictures, demonstrating only what they want, and so on.
In fact, I, too, am approving the critical necessity of blogger both in business and social networking. What I intended is that it’s important to check out the negative aspects, since it’s dangerous to see only positive aspects.
Monday, February 5, 2007
3rd - Network Analysis
With regard to this reading assignment, I would like to focus on “subgroups”.
As Cross analyzed them on the page 14 of his book, “subgroups can be good or bad”. While a subgroup whose cohesiveness is weak tends not to perform a mission given to the subgroup well, each member of it can be integrated easily as a whole team. On the contrary, another subgroup whose cohesiveness is strong tends to get its own job done well, and whereas, the subgroup could play a role as an obstacle to integrate the whole team.
Applying this concept to my experience in the Yonsei Chunchu, as I did at the second post, a group of members that entered the organization at the same time can be refer to as a subgroup. As I mentioned above, despite that the subgroup in which I was had weak cohesiveness, and therefore, the performance as a subgroup was not good, each member performed his/her job well in his/her department.
On the other hand, the other group, which was hierarchically lower than mine, was famous for strong cohesiveness of the members, and they were proud of it. While I was serving as a manager level, how to deal with their strong cohesiveness and pride was one of the most important works. For this, I committed various works, from easy one to tough one, to the subgroup. Fortunately, the most jobs were done well, and their pride was respected properly, too.
However, problems occurred as they went up to the hierarchically high level – manager level. Despite that the number of people may well be reduced when their turn to be managers, since they got too used to working together, they too much struggled to decide who would leave and remain. The other problem was that they didn’t have a strong leader within their group. Due to this, they, again, had a hard time selecting the Chief Editor and the Vice Chief Editor, which are the highest level, and even after that, they struggled to get support from lower level members.
Through this case, I realized it is important to take advantage of their strong cohesiveness and, at the same time, grow a leader within the group in managing this kind of subgroup.
As Cross analyzed them on the page 14 of his book, “subgroups can be good or bad”. While a subgroup whose cohesiveness is weak tends not to perform a mission given to the subgroup well, each member of it can be integrated easily as a whole team. On the contrary, another subgroup whose cohesiveness is strong tends to get its own job done well, and whereas, the subgroup could play a role as an obstacle to integrate the whole team.
Applying this concept to my experience in the Yonsei Chunchu, as I did at the second post, a group of members that entered the organization at the same time can be refer to as a subgroup. As I mentioned above, despite that the subgroup in which I was had weak cohesiveness, and therefore, the performance as a subgroup was not good, each member performed his/her job well in his/her department.
On the other hand, the other group, which was hierarchically lower than mine, was famous for strong cohesiveness of the members, and they were proud of it. While I was serving as a manager level, how to deal with their strong cohesiveness and pride was one of the most important works. For this, I committed various works, from easy one to tough one, to the subgroup. Fortunately, the most jobs were done well, and their pride was respected properly, too.
However, problems occurred as they went up to the hierarchically high level – manager level. Despite that the number of people may well be reduced when their turn to be managers, since they got too used to working together, they too much struggled to decide who would leave and remain. The other problem was that they didn’t have a strong leader within their group. Due to this, they, again, had a hard time selecting the Chief Editor and the Vice Chief Editor, which are the highest level, and even after that, they struggled to get support from lower level members.
Through this case, I realized it is important to take advantage of their strong cohesiveness and, at the same time, grow a leader within the group in managing this kind of subgroup.
2nd - Social Network
Reading the book, I was reminded of the experience in the Yonsei Chunchu, the weekly newspaper in Yonsei University, and I thought I could apply this social network theory to the experience.
As an official organization, the Yonsei Chunchu consisted of more than 50 members with 8 departments. The organization, basically, had two network structures; one was within each department, and the other was within the group of members that entered the organization at the same time. The thing was since the whole newspaper was made up of articles that each department was supposed to be in charge of, most communication was done within each department, and therefore, one department didn’t really know what topics the others were going to deal with on the paper before it was published. This discouraged each department from getting good information on its item from others. Of course, there was a little bit of sharing through the second network structure – one within the group of members that entered the organization at the same time. They sometimes talked about their items with and got tips from each other.
When I served as the Chief Editor, I decided to make the unofficial sharing (networking) officially by initiating official sharing items meeting on the beginning of weeks, with expectation that it would allow us to communicate with each other effectively. As a result, it turned out quite effective, especially regarding to “sharing” information, even though each department couldn’t always get useful tips. What I realized, additionally, while getting through this experiment, unofficial networking is still important and useful, because someone would rather give tips others personally than officially. And another reason that I got was some tips should be dealt with privately.
To wrap up my recall, I hope to apply this social network theory to next chance more professionally.
As an official organization, the Yonsei Chunchu consisted of more than 50 members with 8 departments. The organization, basically, had two network structures; one was within each department, and the other was within the group of members that entered the organization at the same time. The thing was since the whole newspaper was made up of articles that each department was supposed to be in charge of, most communication was done within each department, and therefore, one department didn’t really know what topics the others were going to deal with on the paper before it was published. This discouraged each department from getting good information on its item from others. Of course, there was a little bit of sharing through the second network structure – one within the group of members that entered the organization at the same time. They sometimes talked about their items with and got tips from each other.
When I served as the Chief Editor, I decided to make the unofficial sharing (networking) officially by initiating official sharing items meeting on the beginning of weeks, with expectation that it would allow us to communicate with each other effectively. As a result, it turned out quite effective, especially regarding to “sharing” information, even though each department couldn’t always get useful tips. What I realized, additionally, while getting through this experiment, unofficial networking is still important and useful, because someone would rather give tips others personally than officially. And another reason that I got was some tips should be dealt with privately.
To wrap up my recall, I hope to apply this social network theory to next chance more professionally.
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