Some insights from Memedge Consulting

1. MEMEDGE CONSULTING Memedge Consulting is a young Swiss company located in the lemanic region, providing services in: - communication - collaboration - business intelligence

2. … just as the world wide web combines contents based communication , collective creation , while being the best intelligence platform available We integrate communication, collaboration and business intelligence in a single service providing concept…

3. Communication Collaboration Business intelligence Coaching of managerial communication on web 2.0 tools Platforms selection Support & mentoring for virtual teams Communication & promotional materials Corporate storytelling Contents spreading plans shaping Open innovation strategies Alliance management Scouting We build websites

4. Why « Memedge Consulting »? Memedge is the contraction of « meme » and « edge » A meme is a cultural unit transmissible from mind to mind ; It can be depicted as an information pattern than can be replicated in individuals’ memories and brains A jingle is a meme, as well as a a brand name, a motto or a successful story In the business context, memetics (the discipline that studies the replication, spread and evolution of memes) is useful in the fields of viral marketing or rumors dissemination We could mention viral videos , or any buzz on the web to show successful memes « The edge » is either a brink or an advantage in competition. Today’s landscape is shaped by hypercompetition. Gaining an edge implies innovation .

5. Memedge™ is a methodology created in order to provide solutions for those who want to use cultural forces in a corporate environment Contents & information Selective pressure Meme-Edge Competition Conflict with existing culture Contents, ideas and « cultural units » face selection What is at stake? What are the key goals? Data Knowledge Messages Contents Contents spreading plan strategy KM programs are often aimed at making tacit knowledge explicit, but what matters, over and above, in a compagny is living knowledge Intranet Corporate channels Web 2.0 platforms

6. A contents driven approach Documents Databases, CRM systems Presentations Training materials Contents Business village meetings Competitors communication Newspapers Internal sources External sources Corporate channels Seminars Day to day meetings Intranet Print documents Web 2.0 platforms Selection Changes in culture follows from the coherence between an information disseminating strategy and socialization channels within a firm What makes social cohesion is social relationality

7. Web 2.0 is the gathering of contents based communication , co-creation , selection/rating and social networking Web 2.0

9. A few web 2.0 platforms applications Business communities management Today community management is a key concept, for brands as well for businesses that tend to organize networks, ecosystems (consider open innovation models) Alliances (or joint ventures) management A dedicated feed of information can be shaped, involving all partners, to rise the chances of success Network of experts management Businesses having to gather a lot of expertises can extract much value from the opportunity to tap experts online Events related platforms People can network and exchange the day of the event, and longer after online! « Multichannel » corporate leadership Corporate leadership has now to be expressed through online channels

10. Web 2.0: no pain, no gain The (expected) gains « Many companies experiment with Web 2.0 technologies, but creating an environment with a critical mass of users is more difficult. The survey results confirm that successful adoption requires that the use of theses tools be integrated into the flow of user’s work. Furthermore, encouraging continuing use requires approaches other than the traditional financial or performance incentives deployed as motivational tools. In the Web community, status is often built on a reputation for meaningful contributions. Respondents say informal incentive incorporating the Web ethos such as rating by peers and online recognition of status (…). They also say role modeling – active Web use by executives – has been important for encouraging adoption ». The (not so fearsome) pain Source: Mc Kinsey, How companies are benefiting from Web 2.0

11. Why do we call Memedge Consulting? A few insights A few projects on which we could work together Press review Contact Balance face to face and virtual interactions Nurture your business community Shape a dedicated communication program related to any major project in your corporation Act as if your ideas had to struggle for life

12. Organisations have now to balance face to face interaction with virtual interaction Are real meetings devoted to provide strategic insights and group experiences that strenghtens collective ties and commitment… … while most of the job is to be done through collaborative platforms, and is then being virtualized? Blueprint

13. Nurture your business community A « networked company » can be depicted as an organization managing complex relations. One of the main goal of web 2.0 technologies is harnessing the value generated by close ties with customers, partners, suppliers or experts. As it is often obvious that a few get most of the gains of a collective initiative, the initiators of a network have to be very careful at rewarding all contributors. In a complex environment, success is brought by the ability to mingle in all social & business circles . Networking is not just building links; it is the knowledge of gathering the right minds at the right time . Some of them could be of high support. Some others could bring contradiction, warning or dissent. But don’t forget the word of Patton: « when everyone agrees, then someone is not doing his job ». Networks generate a living knowledge , exactly the sort that KM initiatives tried to capture.

14. Shape a dedicated channel related to every major corporate program Projects (as well as alliances) failures are most of the time due to a lack of communication Therefore it is wise to act as if a kind of channel (or a dedicated media) had to be managed by integrating all means of information delivering, such as: - meetings; - training sessions; - intranets; - web 2.0 platforms & web hosted project management tools… It is much useful to turn the program or (alliance) related medium interactive . On web 2.0 platforms, gathered microcontents have a high added value considering both the contents for themselves and the involvment of contributors.

16. Contact Denis Vitel graduated from the Institute of Political Studies of Paris and is a pharmacist (Paris 5 University). He owns a master in pharmaceutical sciences of the University of Geneva, certificates in biotechnology & pharmacology and a bachelor in philosophy (Paris IV Sorbonne) and has been working 6 years for communication & advertising agencies. Denis Vitel specialized in providing added value contents. He has extensive experience in « business village » events, focus groups, experts boards coverage. He works as a facilitator and as an editor, to improve meetings and extract their key contents to keep momentum. In March 2009, he launched Memedge Consulting, which is based in Switzerland (Vaud County). It is aimed at spreading an integrated approach of communication, collaboration and business intelligence. Denis Vitel +41 78 935 31 18 [email_address]