Definitions: Enterprise 2.0

Enterprise 2.0 and Web 2.0 (EW2) is evolving and its meaning changes depending on who you talk with and when. A number of the early definers are now publishing 2.0 definitions and I reserve the right to do the same.

Systems Technology
One way to define EW2 is the technology used. There are computer and networking systems and applications in the background. I have built a set of systems and technology based definitions, e.g., blog, mash-up and wiki. I will be adding to and modifying them as we move along this linear exploration. Changes will be noted in the next post whenever they occur.

Participants and Relationships
Another way to define Enterprise 2.0 is in terms of the participants and their relationships. There are at least three different sets of participants, those on the public Internet and those on the organization’s intranet and those on the organizations extranet.

EW2 on the Internet reaches out to engage audiences whose relationships with the organization are primarily its products, services and “image.” It is about getting to know you so we can serve you better, and giving you a change to get to know us as something more than products, services and financial statements. The conversations are largely public although some sites may require registration or invitation, postings are monitored for relevance and appropriateness, and results may be proprietary.

EW2 on the intranet serves employees and contractors who may be working on-site or telecommuting. The primary values to the organization are improved knowledge sharing and collaboration. There are a number of other benefits related to being part of the organization. The conversations are internal.

EW2 on the extranet (via secure Internet connections) reaches business customers, vendors, suppliers, contractors and others who typically have some form of contractual relationship with the organization. The sharing of knowledge and collaboration are more focused. The conversations are proprietary.

Core Patterns
For want of a better definition, EW2 is being described in terms of it’s core patterns by Dion Hinchcliffe on ZDnet and others. The headings are his as are the comments in quotes; I have abbreviated some of the comments and added my thoughts.

• Harnessing Collective Intelligence: The value is the exchange and collection of information.
• Data is the Next "Intel Inside": “A phrase that captures the fact that information has become as important … as software.”
• Innovation in Assembly: “The Web has become a massive source of small pieces of data and services, loosely joined …”
• Rich User Experiences: … “full software experiences that enable interaction and immersion in innovative new ways.”
• Software Above the Level of a Single Device: both horizontal and vertical linkage for scalability
• Perpetual Beta: “Software releases are disappearing and continuous change is becoming the norm.” But the first release needs to make a good impression.
• Leveraging the Long Tail: “The mass servicing of micromarkets cost effectively via the Web is one of the primary "killer business models …"
• Lightweight Software/Business Models and Cost Effective Scalability: … “…changing the economics of online software development fundamentally, providing new players powerful new weapons against established players and even entire industries.”

The most significant distinction between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0/Enterprise 2.0 is:

Web 1.0 makes information available. Web 2.0 enables and invites two way conversations and collaboration. Enterprise 2.0 applies that to the extended enterprise, i.e., Internet, extranet, and intranet.

Enterprise 2.0 is different and it is evolving. For now the
best definition I have found is:

Enterprise 2.0. is a new architecture defined by easier, faster, and contextual organization of and access to information, expertise, and business contacts--whether co-workers, partners, or customers. And all with a degree of personalization sprinkled in.