BIZ101 - Business Communications: Social Media in Workplace Report

This report, prepared for BIZ101, examines the role of social media in internal workplace communication. It provides an overview of how social media platforms are utilized to improve employee engagement and streamline organizational processes. The report includes an introduction outlining the importance of social media in modern workplaces, followed by an analysis of four key resources: academic journals and websites. These resources are evaluated using the Five Reliability Tests (Authority, Audience, Transparency, Objectivity, and Currency). The report discusses the positive and negative impacts of social media on employee behavior, task-oriented activities, and overall workplace dynamics. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and raises questions about the effective use of social media in internal communication. It also offers recommendations for organizations to consider when implementing social media strategies. The report concludes with a comprehensive reference list of the sources used.

7/5/2021
BIZ101-Business Communications
Assessment 2A: Report Outline and Source Analysis
Topic: Using Social Media in the workplace to communicate internally with staff
Student name: Minh Quang Nguyen
Student ID: A00031860
Lecturer: Mark Veiga
Word count: 1091

Introduction:
Nowadays, the use of Social Media to communicate in the workplace is an essential element that
contributes to the systematic, effective functioning of every organization. The application,
development, and mastery of this type of communication help to improve the interoperability
between individuals in the organization, increase work efficiency, and help the organization operate
smoothly. The purpose of this Report Outline is to provide the reader with an overview of the
application of Social Media in internal employee communication, which will be mentioned in the
next report. The target audience of the report is individuals who want to equip useful knowledge
about business communication to serve the profession.
Resource analysis:
Resource 1:
1. Forsgren, E., & Byström, K. (2018). Multiple social media in the workplace: Contradictions and
congruencies. Information Systems Journal, 28(3), 442–464.
https://doi-org.torrens.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/isj.12156
2. Academic Journal
3. This article refers to the investigation into the use of modern social media at work. In addition,
focus on studying the influence of social media on linkages in all internal activities of the
organization.
4. Applying the Five Reliability Tests:
a. Authority: This article is copyright of Information Systems Journal which is the property
of Wiley-Blackwell.
b. Audience: This article caters to the professional audience. "The research reported in this
article studies the role(s) of social media in modern ways of working through an activity
theory lens" (Forsgren and Byström, 2018).
c. Transparency: The authors provide practical research evidence from a variety of reliable
sources.
d. Objectivity: The author refers the impacts of use of social media at work and the
contribution of activity theory into research. Besides, offers a specific study of social
media usage in a Scandinavia' software development company.
e. Currency: The information of this article was published in 2018.
5. This resource is relevant to the report since the data provided a better understanding about
internal social media and how they help maintain cohesion within work activities.

Resource 2:
1. Carlson, J., Zivnuska, S., Harris, R. B., Harris, K. J., & Carlson, D. S. (2016, January). Social
Media Use in the Workplace: A Study of Dual Effects. Journal of Organizational and End User
Computing, 28(1). https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A439536384/EAIM?
u=think&sid=bookmark-EAIM&xid=2a1cb732
2. Academic Journal
3. The article examines the relationship of intensity of social media use in the workplace to
better understand its impact on three key behaviors in an organization setting: task-
oriented, relationship-building, and deviant behavior. Since, raise a better understanding
about the social media's affect among employees.
4. Applying the Five Reliability Tests:
a. Authority: This article was co-written by authors from US's universities, belonging to the
Journal of Organizational and End User Computing of IGI Global publisher.
b. Audience: Target audience includes educators in information technology, researchers,
and practitioners in organizations.
c. Transparency: This article aggregated information from various sources such as
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. Simultaneously incorporates a real-life survey from
students taking an online information system.
d. Objectivity: Authors present arguments and objective evidence demonstrating the
impacts of communication technologies with parallel "dual effects" on individuals’
behaviors in workplace.
e. Currency: The information of this article was last published in 2016.
5. This source is consistent with the report when specifically analyzing dual effects of social
media on employee’s behavioral performance.

Resource 3:
1. Reuters Events. (2014). Internal social media Part 1: What is it and why does it count? |
Reuters Events | Marketing.
https://www.reutersevents.com/marketing/brand-marketing/internal-social-media-part-1-
what-it-and-why-does-it-count
2. Website
3. The article illustrated specific analysis on the positive and negative impacts of internal
communication on internal working environment. Besides, shows the potential positive
effects of internal social media on the distance barrier among employees.
4. Applying the Five Reliability Tests:
a. Authority: This article was written by co-authors from many different areas of
expertise, and published by Reuters Events Marketing-a part of Reuters News &
Media Ltd.
b. Audience: The target is professional audiences, especially managers, who want to
gain more experience in internal management of employees.
c. Transparency: The authors use data that combines data from the report and the
opinions of experienced professionals from a variety of business fields.
d. Objectivity: This article helps the audience understand the two-way impact of social
media in internal communication and provide effective solutions to handle the
problem.
e. Currency: The information of this article was last updated in 2014.
5. This source is relevant to the report since the expert' s views clearly show the positive and
negative influence of social media on the relationship gap between internal employees.
Resource 4:
1. Moloney, D. (2019). How to Manage Unprofessional Employee Behaviour Online. Zippia For
Employers. https://www.zippia.com/employer/how-to-manage-unprofessional-employee-
behaviour-online/
2. Website

3. This article mentions and analyzes unprofessional online behaviors that can occur and
negatively affect internal businesses. In addition, provide solutions to respond the problems
for organization.
4. Applying the Five Reliability Tests:
a. Authority: The article belongs to Declan Moloney-Marketing Manager at Nova
Recruitment. This article was posted on website named Zippia-provides best data
serving for audiences' profession.
b. Audience: This article is suitable for every audience.
c. Transparency: The information contained in this article is purely the personal
opinions and years of working experiences of the author.
d. Objectivity: The author helps readers have an objective view of the complex
manifestations of intricacies that can occur among employees in the workplace. As
well as presenting solutions to respond to problems that arise.
e. Currency: The information of the article was written since 2019 and available on
Zippia website.
5. This source is relevant to the report since the information reflect the negative
manifestations that have been occurring among employees in many organizations.
Seriously affect the ability of that organization to operate. Besides, through the solutions
mentioned, it helps to map out organizational and internal management strategies more
effectively.
Conclusion
This report addresses the important role of using social media in the workplace, contributing to
the stable and long-term operation of the organization. Besides, this report also raises a few questions:
How does social media contribute to improving internal communication and employee engagement?
How can organizations most effectively use media for internal communication? What difficulties and
advantages will the organization face when applying social media networks in internal communication?
Recommendation
The application of social networks in internal communication at work will help the operation,
information transmission, and implementation of actions of the organization to be smooth and stable. In
addition, using social media networks in the internal working environment helps the manager capture

the manifestation behavior of employees in a timely manner. Besides, the application of this form of
communication will also face difficulties and advantages that managers should understand when
applying.
Reference:
Carlson, J., Zivnuska, S., Harris, R. B., Harris, K. J., & Carlson, D. S. (2016, January).
Social Media Use in the Workplace: A Study of Dual Effects. Journal of Organizational
and End User Computing, 28(1). https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A439536384/EAIM?
u=think&sid=bookmark-EAIM&xid=2a1cb732
Forsgren, E., & Byström, K. (2018). Multiple social media in the workplace: Contradictions and
congruencies. Information Systems Journal, 28(3), 442–464.
https://doi-org.torrens.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/isj.12156
Moloney, D. (2019). How to Manage Unprofessional Employee Behaviour Online. Zippia For Employers.
https://www.zippia.com/employer/how-to-manage-unprofessional-employee-behaviour-online/
Reuters Events. (2014). Internal social media Part 1: What is it and why does it count? | Reuters Events |
Marketing. https://www.reutersevents.com/marketing/brand-marketing/internal-social-media-part-1-
what-it-and-why-does-it-count