“A transformational general-purpose technology (such as these information and communication technologies) will by its very nature, cause or require, significant changes in society's structures and infrastructure” (MED, 2006, p7).  At the forefront of these ICTs, particularly in recent years, social networking has been permeating daily-lives internationally (Cachia, Compano & Da Costa, 2007) and continues to receive increasing attention. Social Networks” may have become a “buzz word” in recent years, but they are far from a newconcept being fundamentally central and intrinsic to social interaction. The well known saying, "it’s not what you know, it's who you know" demonstrates the long appreciated recognition of the potential value of one's networks.. Ultimately, we as humans are social beings and our connections with others are what have necessitated our societies for centuries (Singer, 2007).

                                                                                                 Virtual Version Overview and Register of Parts found here                     

Humans, as social  animals, use the networks (or connections) within our social interaction to achieve tasks and obtain desires. Trade and social exchange have always existed, but social and technical connectivity have become the new imperative of the global economy (Kolb, Collins & Lind, 2008, p. 181). These networks of our social structures fundamentally underlie our exchanges of education, culture and learning. And incorporated with consideration of the technologies which are integrated and increasing embedded in our lives, the way we research, educate and inform are also up for question. However interestingly, Howick College has received some publicity recently for apparent controversy over their innovative initiatives of utilising student’s cell phones to store class work and complete field work (Sutton, 2010). 

Traditionally based network research has sometimes been intrinsically narrow in scope and often excessively constrained by its limits, making it increasingly inadequate for today’s reality where these are limitless, as early models developed defined limited properties and measures (Singer, 2007).  Today, in our societies, the rate of change in our developing technologies is so prolific that it appears that we are forever just starting to adapt and manage one technology, when the next is already upon us. In such a dynamic and undefined context, the need for recognising resisting and stabilising forces increases (Kolb, 2002), calling for us to redefine our understandings of change itself. Incorporated with consideration of the technologies which are integrated and increasingly embedded in our lives, the way we research, educate and inform are also up for question. In order to enable efficiencies in my own life, I have adapted a somewhat unconventional approach to this submission. I facilitated my research process with the use of online tools and resources and have presented it through a website which has been developed specifically for these purposes. Further to this, I have utilised the open source or “Web 2.0” approach to ensuring  up to date and accurate information, creating a wiki of my own which supports and supplements the documentation through use as a glossary. The interactive site design and presentation also encourages and enables the input of others to further supplement results.

The focus of this particular review finds itself at the junction of three clearly disparate topics; New Zealand, our culture, people and businesses; small to medium businesses, entrepreneurship and other self employment (collectively referred to as SMEs); and social networking sites (SNS) and associated information and communication technologies (ICTs).  When beginning to consider this review, it was unclear how this scope would influence or lead my focus, yet the expansive nature of the topics combined with the limitations of this submission, meant there was an ongoing and constant need to narrow the focus of the review.

To provide context for understanding and identify clearly the reasoning of this focus and subsequent framework developed, each of the three topics; (NZ, SMEs and SNSs) has first been individually reviewed. In order to enable me to demonstrate and integrate the various different overlaps within the disparate focuses of this review I have utilized a format type based on the concept of a Venn diagram, which I have referred to as the three rings. Initially utilizing this to identify and focus the insights gained, it also assisting in the overlapping and integrating of the various facets and disciplines. A framework from other previous research undertaken has also been adapted and utilized to through the review and consideration of this report. This, along with a select few reports with the greatest relevance to this research and context have been drawn upon to form the primary elements of this profiling review, and as such, mind maps developed to summarise key materials along with further additional resources and information can be found in the virtual version (access these by clicking here in the digital version or otherwise see the examiners menu under the main homepage).

My personal interest within these topics initially is what has led me to this area of research and review and I have studied similar topics throughout my postgraduate studies. Intrinsically self motivated, I wanted to understand my role in the future connected world, and what it would mean for my industry particularly. The obvious changes in our societies and environment over my lifetime have irreversibly altered the world and context of my future. ICTs and SNSs represent a significant aspect of this changing world, but are only one piece of the puzzle. I completed a rather unique undergraduate degree, (Bachelor of Business and Information Management) and was one of the very last of the Human Resource majors to complete this combination of the degree before it was cancelled. The lack of numbers in enrolment within the management side of the degree demonstrates just how far we have to go before the integration with technology has really achieved its potential. Furthermore, as a female studying HRM, I have become acutely aware of the issues continuing to receive debate and disagreement in my industry and their direct influence on me personally. For example, the continuing struggle and issues which result from the divide between work/home and other inequalities in the workplace. Not content to accept the varying shortcomings of the nature of my “future working life”, I hope to extend perspectives and encourage collaboration in some way.

There are increasingly obvious movements demonstrate a “new world” order as slowly we see the world population responding to some of the urgent changes called for by our environments. A video which won second place in a competition held by Argentinean RECREAR had an even wider exposure on YouTube, ‘The Lost Generation’ really encompasses this kind of movement and definitely resonated with me personally. Yet in order for considerable impact to be had in the mainstream, with the likes of the Facebook phenomenon, will require a fundamental shift in the understandings and beliefs held by all different areas of society[i]. Fundamentally, I believe that a leader is responsible for providing direction, not acting as a shepherd. Imagine what our day to day lives would be like if the books I first learnt from in my HRM papers had instead said; “As manager your role is to enable people to do what they enjoy.” Every part of the employment equation would differ if that were the case. When people work on things they like, that they are passionate about, you don’t need to motivate them –they want to do it and are intrinsically rewarded by doing so. It would be difficult to find debate against the concept of everyone benefiting if each of us attempted to live our lives with the things we are most passionate about in the foreground.

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