Given the fact that we have a rapidly growing base of some 30,000 users accessing our on-line performance appraisal and 360 degree feeback systems every day, I was keen to attend the recent Social Networking Forum at Olympia this week.

We have a community of users that already interact with us regularly and with the technology changing at such a fast pace, this ability to listen, engage and respond can only improve.

The media often skew the picture around 'social networking' as being the domain of Facebook or My Space and alike - as a consequence, it can be perceived as something that adds little value to the day-to-day productivity of an employee and subsequently the organisation.

However, the idea of establishing network of individuals who can help each other, pass on knowledge, and experience that relates to their work makes perfect sense.

With some careful forethought, one could establish communities that actually create efficiencies and improve productivity through sharing best practice on many tasks that are common to most organisations; one such area would be performance appraisals.

As with worked with so many different clients, we often share best practice through our discussions as we advise, guide and suggest ways to implement an online appraisal process.

To open up this discussion to a wider audience both within the client organisation or between organisations could help to create a new standard in performance management and appraisals.

Now, let's have a look at this thing called 'Twitter'......!