self-report of skills in enterprise social network
A forum about HR 2.0 recently raised the question of “why let employees self-report their skills / competencies in the social network of the company?”. This question is at the heart of the 2.0 business approach, which raise many questions. It reflects a very practical philosophy and even the 2.0 also reveals some concerns attached to it. Indeed, in a traditionalist managerial approach, the hierarchy or the HR are the only people who can say that an individual is competent in a particular subject. How, then let an individual to declare himself competent on an internal social network?
- First, with a detour by the semantics we would rather use the term “skill” that “comeptence.” It is true that the term connotes a technical domain in HR and it can bring confusion. However, if it used as such, these “competencies” don’t have to be used to assess the employees. It is a mean to distinguish or to identify people in the organization who can respond to problems or contribute to the co-production of innovations. They qualify an individual on his skills to serve the network. In this sense, it should also clearly distinguish skills or know-how with interests. You may be interested in a subject while being incompetent on it, which we cannot prevent you from being informed about its progress or participate in communities on the topic.
Moreover, the possibility of self-reporting of skills is the first lever to the employees exposure, their opportunity to put forward their self-branding, such as to be identified and located. Do not allow them to take this opportunity could deprive the organization of potential resources for cooperation, innovation, or solving problems. With this simple approach talents or hidden potentials can be revealed.
Finally, in a more conceptual point of view, we have to consider that this is not someone who talks about his skills but a network, a community. Indeed, even if the HR or the hierarchy does not validate the competencies declared in the network, it will quickly be through the community or the network. In a 2.0 approach, the value is in this step and it also confirms why individuals have to declare their expertise available in the network.
