I’m curious as to the relevance that social media may have in effecting globalization, particularly with regard to the current, younger generation, to whom the world has been made smaller due to technology?  Businesses – project managers in particular – are becoming aware of the communication and collaborative advantages of social media, as it allows team members to engage one another, even across many time zones (Harrin, 2011). Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn allow team members to gain an insight into each other’s backgrounds – both cultural and professional – attitudes and beliefs, and status.  In my experience, as I gain a growing number of multi-cultural affiliations, I have become more and more adept with the social mores associated with the medium – almost as if we are moving toward a universal, social media language that defies cultural barriers.  Obviously, to be an effective tool, one would still need to possess cultural competency.  However, just the act of changing your social media status might be a simple and efficient way to help track a project’s progress.

Harrin, E. (2011, January 11). Social media tools for project teams. Retrieved from http://www.pmi.org/eNews/Post/2011_01-14/Social-Media-Tools-for-Project-Teams.html