Half the Corporate World has Formed Communities. Have You Joined Any?
Want to see your company amongst the top “Global Multinationals” in the next 5 to 10 years? Join a community … Yes, this is what you can hear every community promote. In fact, many of them claim to be working for the benefits of the global corporate world.
When they form a community, their initiative becomes “Bold”; they themselves become the “Pioneers”; and their members become “Fast-growing Companies.” Whatever it is, the numbers of such communities, forums, and associations are increasing.
The most recent instance of this is World Economic Forum’s creation of a new community of fast-growing companies destined to join the ranks of global multinationals in the next 5 to 10 years. This is just one example. Some other names that come to mind are: Global Sourcing Council, International Association of Outsourcing Professionals, Offshore Outsourcing Best Practices association, GALA: The Globalization and Localization Association, Offshore Outsourcing Users’ Group, National Outsourcing Association, Russoft, Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council, Hungarian Software Alliance, European Outsourcing Association, National Association of Software and Service Companies, ….
While some of the known, above-mentioned forums seem to be aggressively working to achieve their objectives, clouds surround the others.
Why do companies join them? Let’s examine some of the popular “objectives”
Networking? Of course!
With due respect to the vendor community in general, they try to “network” with potentials in the hope of bagging contracts.
Branding? Name game … quite possible
Many big brands have set up their own communities. Companies mostly join such corporate societies to associate themselves with the brand name of the host. The lesser-known members of the community add big names in their list of members.
But, there is nothing wrong with this. Everyone wants his name to be recognized by the world.
Social benefits? Oh, really!
Why do people form them? Or, should I ask, why do people join them? I am not very clear. Are you?
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I spoke to one of such associations in the morning. Networking! Yes, this is the answer that I got from one of that community’s memeber when I asked about the purpose behind joining this association. But he didn’t talk about any other benefit.
Anyhow, I’ll keep you updating on this if I get some interesting responses.
Imrana
this is a interesting network i came across recntly….refered and invited by a company in bangalore ….
http://www.fashion-networks.com
People seem to have lots of time to build and work on communities. The benefits of having these communities is not known to too many or mere mortals such as me. The networking too seems is for personal gains. These communities are a waste of time for corporate America.
In fact, last month my company was also approached by a council with similar profile you mentioned. We had several long discussions and meetings with them, but couldn’t figure out their intentions. After a few days they linked our website to theirs. Then again we had some discussions with them. But the purpose of those meetings and discussions weren’t clear… Between, several e-mails were also exchanged, and it became so irritating that I wanted to block their IDs. But couldn’t do so… Anyhow, we are still in touch with them without knowing the objective….
Open source projects function as these kinds of communities as well…