BIZ101 Business Communication: Social Media Impact in Workplace

This report investigates the impact of social media in the workplace, using Canva organization as a case study. It explores the effects of social networking on job performance, the future of the digital workforce, and the role of media theory in knowledge transfer. The report highlights both the positive aspects, such as improved teamwork and increased productivity, and the negative aspects, including potential for unprofessional interactions. It emphasizes the importance of well-defined policies for social media use in the workplace. The study concludes that while social media and virtual connectivity can positively impact performance and output, organizations must implement strategies to mitigate potential drawbacks. Recommendations include embracing social media for its benefits while establishing clear guidelines for its appropriate use to maximize productivity and maintain a professional environment.

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USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN WORKPLACE
Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................2
The organization background.................................................................................................2
Discussion of findings............................................................................................................3
The effect of social networking on job performance..............................................................3
The future if digital workforce and workplace.......................................................................3
The media theory, knowledge and transfer process...............................................................5
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................5
Recommendations..................................................................................................................6

USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN WORKPLACE
Introduction
Business communication is indisputably one of the most critical subjects to explore.
Even though it has been ignored by most researchers and scholars, it should be appreciated
that this subject is one of the factors that keep any business in positive progress. Businesses
that use good communication systems are likely to succeed as opposed to those that do not or
use poor strategies (Leonardi, 2014). On the same note, the use of social media in the place of
work has brought a lot of impact ranging to the way things are done therein to the success of
the business itself. This fact means that business to a large extent is dependent on
communication.
This paper presents a report of research that was previously done concerning the
impact of the use of social media in the workplace. For the research, Canva organization was
chosen as the case study. The effects of active internal communication and the use of virtual
employee interaction were selected as the subject matter. In the case of social media and
virtue interaction, the internet process of Bitrix was selected. This report will identify the
company and give its brief background, explore the impact of social networking on job
performance, look at the future of digital workforce and workplace, unveil the effects of
social media in the workplace and lastly report on the media theory, concept and knowledge
transfer process.
The organization background
Canva is a company that is involved in free graphic design that was established in the
year 2012 in Australia serving as the most extensive yearbook company in the whole of

USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN WORKPLACE
Australia. The company has been associated with a rapid market involvement based on the
fact that it got 75,000 users in the first business year (Meraz, 2014). In 2016-2017 calendar
year, its revenue increased from $AU 7.8 to $AU 23.5 million, a good indication of positive
progress. Because the company specializes in the professional picture and banner printing, it
becomes, therefore, imperative to have mutual communication and interaction with the
employees, a step that promotes invention and innovativeness.
Canva has some loopholes that ought to be closed for maximum performance. Sometimes it
registers failed communication due to the use of inappropriate methods of communication.
Employees need to communicate to and with each other at any time of the day forming a
virtual online group. It is due to this reason therefore, than the company ought to embrace
more sophisticated digital communication to ease connectivity between its employees thus
improving performance.
Discussion of findings
The effect of social networking on job performance
Evidently, the use of social media networking and constant communication and
sharing of ideas and other information within the employees in Canva has brought about
some felt effects (Leftheriotis, 2015). From the previously conducted research on the same, it
has been found that employee performance is entirely dependent on the use of intranet and
interaction as this has brought about motivation in the company (Hudson, 2015). The two
outstanding variables, in this case, are the employees and the management. This research
found out that transfer of implicit knowledge has at the end of the day brought about explicit

USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN WORKPLACE
knowledge. Interaction has also brought about ethics acquisition and adherence. The so
acquired understanding will affect the job performance as well as the problem-solving skills.
The future of digital workforce and workplace
The future of digital workforce is appealing and promising. Most of the companies
worldwide, of which Canva is part of, are continually acquiring the idea of digital connection
amongst all the company stakeholders for the betterment of its operations (Kim, 2017). Just
as the social media is threatening to overtake the mainstream media in the dissemination of
information and new ideas, it is also threatening traditional ways of communication and
interaction in the modern day organizations (Romero, 2016). As a result, therefore, it is
expected that tomorrow management and all aspects of the organization will be controlled
digitally and that the old practices will be dropped. For instance, an employee will not be
obliged to signing a hard document to prove his/her attendance. Instead, the employee will
need to log into the system, and it recognizes him/her (Kim Y. , 2015). Again on the same
note, employees will be in a position to work online at their convenience and in the comfort
of their homes.
Impact of the social media in the workplace
According to the previously conducted research concerning Canva organization, it has
been found out that the use of social media has various effects in the workplace. Firstly, it has
brought about teamwork and social cohesion within the employees (Ngai, 2017). It is true
that when we come together great things happen. The indisputable fact remains that one mind
cannot beat ten minds. It is through social media that employees have come together and
started working together as a team (Archer-Brown, 2014). Currently, the success of Canva

USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN WORKPLACE
organization is attached to teamwork and cohesion brought about by the use of virtual
connectivity.
Another outstanding effect of the use of virtual connectivity in Canva is improved
performance. Due to a virtual system of connection, employees have actively generated
valuable ideas that have boosted that performance of the company (Faraj, 2015). Inventions
and innovations have also been witnessed as a result of the use of social media in Canva.
Increased rate of production is yet another noticeable impact that has been brought
about by the use of social media in canva (Moqbel, 2015). Employees have developed a sense
of belonging to the company and have a feeling that the company belongs to them and
therefore they must give the best. This fact has resulted in increased output hence increased
revenue.
Negative effects of the use of social media in the workplace and their solutions
While social media has proven to be very crucial in improving the togetherness and
productivity of an organization, it should be appreciated that it has varying negative effects.
Firstly, it forms a basis for the development of workplace romance, something that reduces
performance. Secondly, employees may use it for unprofessional social interaction thereby
reducing performance. Thirdly, some employees take its advantage in building their social
profile rather than working for the best interest of the company. The solution to all the
problems mentioned above is good policy prescription. The organization should have well
defined policies stipulating the dos and don’ts when using social media and virtual
connectivity in the workplace.
The media theory, knowledge and transfer process

USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN WORKPLACE
The knowledge transfer process is entirely dependent on communication and in this
case communication over the internet. According to the research conducted to give this
report, it has been found that the laying out of strategies that bring about the betterment of the
company depends on the communication process. This statement is to mean that if a
communication process is weak than the business performance is poor (Heinrichs, 2016). On
the same note, companies with useful information dissemination and knowledge transfer
processes stand a more significant chance to succeed as opposed to those that use poor
knowledge transfer strategies (Schermerhorn, 2015). In order make sense out of this fact, the
implementation of any business ideas and plans will be put into reality through effective
communication and this case social media interaction. Training employees on critical issues
will also be made more accessible by virtual interaction
Conclusion
Human beings from all walks of the world feel good when they interact and share ideas and
feelings about any subject. This interaction acts as a motivating factor that prevents boredom
and improves performance. If this aspect is incorporated in the modern day businesses, then
they would automatically succeed. The use of social media and virtual connectivity has
placed many companies and corporations in a better place than they were before
implementation of the connectivity. Employee job performance and activity in the workplace
has been improved thereby increasing per unit production. Therefore, the use of social media
and virtual connectivity has positively impacted performance and output.

USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN WORKPLACE
Recommendations
Social media and virtual connectivity in the workplace have brought about the success of
many companies. As a business communication scholar, I would, therefore, feel obliged to
recommend the use of social media and virtual connectivity to all companies willing to have
positive results. Undoubtedly, virttual connectivity amongst the employees will bring about
increased performance, and this is the ultimate goal of any company. Just as Canva
organization has succeeded as a result of Bitrix intranet, so with other organizations that
implement this approach succeed.

USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN WORKPLACE
References
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