PRP: Artefact#1 Evaluation

The aim of my first artefact was to find examples of where online social technologies have been encouraged to determine what methods are most successful.

I was expecting to find that higher levels of innovation and creativity can be achieved from the use of online social technologies i.e. successful companies utilize online technologies.

My research took the form of a telephone interview. I sent an email to a range of Nottingham based design agencies and then followed up this email with a recorded phone call, using a Dictaphone.

At Absolute Design, the employees are contracted to full time positions where they work standard office hours and in-house. Employees work in close proximity and are able to communicate easily and sufficiently face-to-face. A shared understanding is gained by board meetings and so it is unnecessary for relations in a work context to be built online. Blogs are too informal for their and their clients needs and a dedicated page on there website is a preferred method as it exists linked to company’s website unlike a blog.

I found that creative organisations are extremely aware of the importance of communication, negative implications of vertical hierarchy and also the influence the work environment has on employee creativity.

I found the lack of online technologies quite surprising, considering the nature of Absolute Design’s work and as the internet enables people to work from home. However, I have come to realise that it is both obvious and logical that employees won’t continue working when not at work and especially when they work in small numbers and in close proximity.

From these findings my research will focus on alternative avenues where online technologies are useful to a smaller creative organisation. This may involve companies that use business networking sites, freelancers or employees that work from home.