I am sure you are familiar with the Hype Cycle graphs . This graph has been used by Gartner since 1995 to characterize the over-enthusiasm or “hype” and subsequent disappointment that typically happen with the introduction of new technologies. I have followed multiple technologies thru the cycle and lived through several of these cycles myself. I lived thru the hype cycles of Client/Server, Data warehouses, and even the internet among other technologies.
Web 2.0 is no different. I believe we are currently living in the “Web2.0mania” which is the Peak of Inflated Expectations. Some of us have probably experienced some disillusionment with some of these Web 2.0 participants such as Wikis. Honestly, wikis are a good way to collaborate, but in order for these to catch on fire in the enterprise these need to provide sufficient governance without stifling collaboration. I have heard from multiple IT Managers and Directors that would like to make sense out of all the information contributed by the users by the use of blogs, wikis and other collaboration sites. They all wish they had provided enough guidance on how to use these platforms in order to harvest the collective intelligence and make it easily accessible to anyone in the organization. They are now tyring to provide a structure for enterprise collaboration.
I see us coming out of this disillusionment phase with an enhanced Web 2.0 offering portfolio. We will go thru the “slope of enlightenment” and finally reap all the benefits of this new wave of technologies and paradigms. I see wikis being enhanced and better integrated to existing systems, directories and other enterprise resources. Even twitter could be used in a real business scenario and not just to let your coworkers know that you are eating a burrito and the effects that it had on your stomach.
As we experience these phases in the cycle, we have to look for potential business / enterprise uses for Web 2.0 technologies, services and paradigms. We will see about twitter, but for the most part I agree with the TIC in that many of the Web 2.0 players are worth exploring for potential business use.
I am looking forward to the last and most important phase of the hype cycle when these technologies will become stable and evolve into a truly integrated enterprise collaboration platform.
