Social Media for Project Managers

by Elizabeth Harrin

Why is social media important? What is a microblog, podcast, vodcast, or a wikis, and why do project managers need to know? Communication is a key aspect of project management. Social media, the latest buzzword in the communications industry, is appealing to large and small business alike. . Many companies that initially utilized social media to reach customers and to build their reputations are now expanding its use to internal project management as well. Adapting the use of social media to project management drives efficiencies. Project managers appreciate how the concept of community relates to the overall morale and project success.

Unknown Binding

First published October 28, 2010

About the author

Elizabeth Harrin is a mentor, trainer and speaker and authority on project management. She is the author of several books, most recently Managing Multiple Projects and Engaging Stakeholders on Projects: How to Harness People Power.

She supports small and medium-sized organizations with project management processes and upskilling delivery teams. Elizabeth specializes in helping teams manage multiple projects, engage stakeholders and still leave the office on time. She also provides content design and direction for project-led businesses.

Elizabeth holds degrees from the University of York and Roehampton University and is a Fellow of the Association for Project Management. As a practitioner, Elizabeth has over 20 years of diverse experience in business change and technology projects predominantly in the healthcare and financial services industries.

Reviews

[Kandy Crenshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked up this book I felt that it would apply very little to my situation because my project audience in 98% internal. I was happy to be wrong.

I found it to be a fresh perspective on the applications and hazards of social media within project management.The third chapter "Introduction to Social Media Technology" gave me so many ideas that put the book down and went to work. After some successes and failures I returned to the reading and found the chapters on creating project team buy-in (Chapter 6 "Making It Work") and blogging your project (Chapter 8 "Blogging your Project") were quite helpful.

If you manage any kind of a team and your company uses SharePoint or a similar collaboration tool, this book is for you.

[Oana. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A practical guide for a project manager who wants to be involved in social communication and networking. This book is full of useful examples and invites you to build your social presence and brand online. The author writes from her experience and she is also very well documented on this field. I wrote down some notes and I set out to become social.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was helpful to read for consideration, but I did not find anything especially new. It makes for a great reference, but not for attaching a project differently. Lots of tips and insight, she clearly knows her subject. But wish it had more ideas about how to leverage in different ways.

[Cici Conger-portie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Harrin has an easy to read style and offers many use cases that are helpful in illustrating the options available within the social media arena. I'm enjoying pulling out her examples and following up with my own research