Suncorp steps up use of Social Media

Rebecca Deering, BT Communications Advisor, Suncorp

Since early 2009, in conjunction with their Agile Change Program, Suncorp’s Business Technology department have been looking at ways to foster a more collaborative culture and environment. 

While Agile methodology, practices and techniques have played a significant role in transforming the physical environment, Suncorp have found that use of web 2.0 platform and tools have helped harness the virtual environment for better collaboration.  For instance, Suncorp’s membership of Yammer.com, an internal microblogging tool, rocketed from 1 to 1,000  within the first month alone and today has almost 2,000 members. 

According to Rebecca Deering, BT Communications Advisor at Suncorp, "use of tools like these have made it easier for people to overcome hierarchy and geographic barriers, share and discuss ideas and leverage this knowledge in order to innovate", she said.   

She points out though that, "while use of social media tools have been invaluable to getting people to connect and share, they must be supported by business strategy, strong leadership and culture.  A holistic change approach is needed in order to make collaboration just part of the way we do things at Suncorp".

Recently Rebecca spoke at the Ark Group’s 7th Annual Internal Communication Forum in Melbourne on “Effective Collaboration Using Social Media”, detailing Suncorp’s use of social media tools behind the firewall and their Collaboration Strategy. 

View her presentation here or find out more about Rebecca at rebeccajdeering@linkedin.com.