Enterprise 2.0: The State of an Art

Professor Andrew McAfee will discuss Enterprise 2.0 – the use of Web 2.0 technologies and approaches by companies in pursuit of business goals. He will describe the trends that have converged to make Enterprise 2.0 an appealing reality now, illustrating them with examples from both the Internet and Intranets. He will also frame the benefits brought by Enterprise 2.0, and use case studies to show how they address some longstanding challenges within organizations. Finally, he will outline the substantial barriers to successful adoption of the new tools and approaches, and discuss appropriate roles for general managers, IT departments, internal champions, and other important constituencies.

Presenter(s)

Andrew McAfee joined the faculty of the Technology and Operations Management Unit at Harvard Business School (HBS) in 1998. His research investigates how managers can most effectively select, implement, and use Information Technology (IT) to achieve business goals. He was the recipient of a U.S. Department of Energy Integrated Manufacturing Fellowship for his doctoral research, which focused on the performance impact of enterprise information technologies such as SAP's R/3. His current research falls into two categories: (1) an exploration of how Web 2.0 technologies can be used within the enterprise, and what their impact is likely to be; and (2) a study of IT's impact over time on the structure of U.S. industries and the nature of competition within them.

McAfee launched the first HBS faculty blog, which examines the impact of IT on businesses and their leaders. He teaches the MBA course Managing in the Information Age, and also teaches in various Executive Education courses. Prior to coming to HBS, McAfee worked as a consultant in operations management – advising clients in a range of industries including aerospace, consumer electronics, white goods, and OEM electronics. McAfee continues to consult, primarily on helping companies formulate and execute IT strategies.

Awarded a Doctorate in Business Administration at HBS in 1999, McAfee also holds dual M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Management from MIT as a Leaders for Manufacturing fellow, and B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and in Humanities from MIT.