Advantages and Disadvantages of Blogging in an Organization

Blogging is a relatively new phenomenon that is widely used by many people in today's society. Technorati, a blog authority claims that approximately one million blogs are being written daily.

Advantages

There are several reasons for a blog’s success in an organizational structure. These reasons include that fact that blogs are a form of expression and are widely used. At first blogs were seen to have little to offer organizations. They were considered to be places where individuals primarily gave their opinions and spoke about their likes and dislikes. Their potential was only recently noticed. Blogs are now considered to be a great communication tool for firms. Individuals can use different fonts, colors and images when creating a post. Bloggers can express themselves and provide their opinions through commenting on posts made by other bloggers. This exchange of information is a way of sharing knowledge and being heard.

Typical organizational communications include reports, news releases, emails and memos. The fact that users express themselves through blogs sets it apart from any other corporate communication tool. The popularity of blogs has allowed for their increased use by both employees and customers. Both customers and employees appreciate the information shared about the organization through a blog. Businesses are thus able to expand their brand image and create a relationship with their customers. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. Organizations are also able to receive feedback through a blog.

Furthermore, blogs are a great way of creating employee motivation. Blogs are an interactive site where Employees can post comments and feel as though their voice is being heard. An organizational community is created where employees feel valued and are thus motivated. Motivation causes increased performance and lower employee turnover. Employees are also able to show their expertise and share ideas.

Ultimately, through the use of a blog, both customers and employees can be better informed of to the daily occurrences in an organization. This increases brand loyalty and spreads knowledge within an organization.

Disadvantages

A major disadvantage of blogging is that many people do not have something interesting to say or cannot convey their message clearly. Blogs are also difficult to maintain. It requires time to update and maintain a blog. When these updates are not done, customers and employees feel uninformed which may lead to customer and employee dissatisfaction, hindering the firm’s reputation.

Furthermore, there have been circumstances where employees have been reprimanded and even fired for what they wrote on a blog. Over 57% of executives at 332 large firms are worried about the potential ramifications of blogging, as shown by a survey conducted by Proofpoint. Managers must trust that employees do not expose confidential information. Worries about libel which can be damaging to the firm’s reputation have risen. Readers such as the media and investors may be offended by certain comments written on a blog which poses a problem for the organization.

Although blogs allow for freedom of expression and sharing of knowledge, if a good idea is shared on a blog it may be stolen.Competitors or other members of the organization may take the idea is if it were their own. Lastly, if blogs are poorly maintained and contain opposing opinions, the organization seems incoherent to its customers.

An example of a blog is Southwest Airline’s Nuts about Southwest which can be seen at http://www.blogsouthwest.com/. This blogs is interactive and dynamic which allows the firm to expand their brand image.




Sources

1. (2009). Enterprise Blogs Info. Retrieved April 4, 2009, from Corporate Blogging Disadvantages Web site: http://www.enterpriseblogs.info/corporate-blogging/disadvantages
2. McGovern, Gerry (23 August 2004). Blogs and blogging: advantages and disadvantages. Retrieved April 3 2009, from New Thinking Web site: http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/nt/2004/nt_2004_08_23_blogging.htm
3. Hogan, Dave (23 March 2009). PR Column: Blogs help businesses build their brand and reach key audiences. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from Abilene Biz Web site: http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/mar/23/pr-column-blogs-help-businesses-build-their-brand-/
4. (2009). Nuts About Southwest. Retrieved April 4, 2009, from Blogsouthwest Web site: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/

Organizational Advantages and Disadvantages

The Simply Accounting Software is used extensively by Canadian small businesses. The organizational benefits of this software are thus widely known. Organization must select software that best suits their business requirements.

Strengths

Simply Accounting is best known for its easy use. No accounting experience is needed for the use of this software but, if needed, courses and online sessions are offered to train users. This enables the employee's learning curve to be minimal, allowing for low implementation time and fast setup. Simply Accounting is also an affordable software for small organizations. This software can be purchased off the self and is ready for use as soon as it is installed.

Furthermore, multiple currencies can be used with this software which is beneficial for firms that do business with more than one currency. However, this multi currency application is not a function of the First Stage version.

Simple Accounting upgrades are also very simple to perform and are not costly. Customers are able to join a live chat where information about this software is shared. Also, a free report generating CD, known as Crystal Reports CD, is provided to every Simply Accounting customer.

Simply Accounting has useful integrative features. Adjusting entries in sub-ledgers are automatically posted to the general ledger which facilitates bookkeeping for small businesses.

Weaknesses

As with any software, Simply Accounting has its drawbacks. The ability to print payroll cheques was previously a free application but currently requires a subscription. This is a minor weakness that has frustrated customers.

Firms that use Simply Accounting must make sure they are using the latest version. This software is usually updated once a year. Thus employees must continously update their knowledge of the system.

This software is primarily used by small or home based businesses and thus would not be the appropriate software for large organizations. Versions of Simply Accouting contain multi-user capabilities. However, only a limited number of simultaneous users can use Simply Accounting. Therefore, this software would be inefficient for large organizations.

Simply Accounting is designed to support the specific functional area of accounting. This is an off the shelf software that has not been customized for the particular needs of an organization. This functional area information system may not be useful in a firm that desires to implement systems that span their entire organization. Enterprise Resource Planning applications are better suited to integrate organizational communication. An ERP allows for a repository where all the organization's information is stored and accessed.






Sources

1. Collins, J. Carlton (2004). A Review of Simply Accounting. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Accounting Software Answers Web site: http://www.accountingsoftwareanswers.com/asa/simply_full.htm
2. (2008). Choose Accounting Software. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from biztools Build a Better Business Web site: http://www.biztools.com/tools_and_services/finance_and_accounting/cash_flow/accounting_solutions.aspx?§ion=&category=&subcategory=&type=
3. (2009). Simply Accounting by Sage is Your Easy to Use Accounting Software. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Simply Accounting by Sage Web site: http://www.simplyaccounting.com/info/easy_to_use_accounting_software/
4. Jessup, Leonard M., Valacich, Joseph S., & Wade, Michael R. (2008). Information Systems Today: Why IS Matters (2nd Canadian Edition).Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Training Requirements

Simply Accounting software is easy to use and requires no accounting experience. When opening up a small business implementing an accounting system is essential. The purchase of Simple Accounting will facilitate the business’ accounting requirements such as those mentioned in the previous posting.

Business owners would like their employees to learn how to use the Simply Accounting Software appropriately and in a timely manner. There are several options which allow a new simply accounting user to learn the features of this software.

Sage Software University offers courses to train Simply Accounting users. These courses take an in depth look at all the software features as well as any complimentary software that would be useful to the user’s business environment. Courses can either be taken in a classroom or online.

An interactive online training session is available. This session, led by instructors, will only take 1 to 2 hours. It can be done on the employee’s spare time or during working hours. If done while at work, this quick session will not hinder the business’ productivity since it will take little time away from their busy day. Furthermore, this online session is cost effective. Rather than highering an expert to train your employees and paying for the training expenses, the employee is able to learn at their own computer. All an employee needs is a computer, speakers and an internet connection. Interactive sessions include What's New in Simply Accounting 2008, Setting up a New Business, What's New in Simply Accounting 2007, Payroll and Reporting.

The second option is classroom training. Business owners would concern themselves with training costs such as travelling expenses and meal expenses, loss of employee working hours and teacher payment. However, these sessions are an interactive way for users to learn, allowing them to work with their peers and to ask an expert questions. Classes taught include Introduction to Simply Accounting, Simply Accounting- Beyond the Basics, Simply Accounting for Bookkeeping and Accounting Professionals and Power Excel for Simply Accounting Users.

A business owner or manager should select the best training process for their employee based on the costs they have budgeted for training and on the amount of knowledge the employee has of the Simply Accounting Software.




Souces

1. (2009). Training. Retrieved April 1, 2009, from Simply Accounting by Sage Web site: http://www.simplyaccounting.com/training/
2. (2009). Find a Course by Type. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Simply Accounting by Sage Web site: http://www.sageu.com/sim/eu/courses/bytype.htm
3. Collins, J. Carlton (2004). A Review of Simply Accounting. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Accounting Software Answers Web site: http://www.accountingsoftwareanswers.com/asa/simply_full.htm
4. (2009). Courses and Registration. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Simply Accounting by Sage Web site: http://www.sageu.com/sim/eu/courses.htm

Simply Accounting Features

Sage`s Simply Accounting includes four primary software editions: Simply Basic, Pro, Premium and Entrepreneur. It should be noted that through the use of Simply Accounting software, accounting integrity is guarantee by an audit trail.


Simply Accounting Entrepreneur was created for small business or home office use. This accounting system is for firms with entry level accounting requirements that do not have a need for payroll. This easy to use software requires no accounting experience and only has a two step set up. It`s primary functions include the tracking of revenues and expenses, preparing invoices, generating reports and paying bills.


Simply Accounting Basic is used by small businesses where no accounting experience is required since this software is easily useable. The features of Simply Basic encompass payroll, inventory tracking, budgeting and generating business reports. The Simply Basic software contains all the features of the Simply Entrepreneur Software and more. The extra features for this software include: Customer Invoices and Sales Reports, Automatic Calculation and tracking of GST, Predefined reports, General Ledger, Payroll, Inventory, Vendors and Purchases, Project Costing and Customers and Sales

Simply Accounting Pro encompasses all the features found in Simply Accounting Basic with the following additional features: Multi-user access to data (6 simultaneous users), Capable of running on an existing office network, Pocket PC Synchronization, Advanced bill of materials functions and Capable of synchronizing customer and vendor list with Microsoft Outlook.

Lastly, Simply Accounting Premium contains all the features of Simply Basic and Simply Pro as well as the following features: Company Consolidations, Customizable Chart of Accounts, Custom reports based on Industry types and Sales Analysis and Forecasting Tools.

Simple Account 2009 Product Line

Simply Accounting’s 2009 product line ranges from 49.99$ to 499.99$, depending on the software required by the organization. The 2009 product line includes Simply Accounting by Sage First Step 2009, which is fast and simple to implement, Pro 2009, Pro 2009 with Payroll, Premium 2009, Premium 2009 with Payroll, Enterprise 2009 and Simply Accounting Accountant’s Edition 2009. Premium 2009 enables a firm to maximize its growth potential through advanced accounting and sales analysis tools. Simply Accounting Enterprise 2009 allows for up to 5 or 10 users. Other features include serialized inventory and role based security settings. Simply Accounting Accountant’s Edition 2009 is beneficial for accountants whose clients use Simply Accounting. This software allows for multiple users and has advanced features created for accounting professionals.

An example of a Simply Accounting Interface is seen below.

To purchase Simply Accounting Products click on the following link: http://www.simplyaccounting.com/products/



Sources

1. (October 2007). Canada Simply Accounting by Sage. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from CGA Association of Web site: http://www.cga-bc.org/publications.aspx?id=3910
2. (2009). Simply Accounting Features. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from F.H Black & Company Web site: http://www.fhblack.com/it-services/erp-systems/simply-accounting.html
3. (2009). Products. Retrieved April 6, 2009, from Simply Accounting by Sage Web site: http://www.simplyaccounting.com/products/

Sage's Simply Accounting

Simply Accounting was developed by Sage Software Canada Ltd. more than 20 years ago. Simply accounting is truly easy to use through its award winning features. Based on independant surveys of 276 Canadian business software selectors and 574 accountants conducted in 2007, Simply Accounting was chosen as Canada’s best selling small business accounting software. Simply accounting is a bilingual software used by more than 400,000 Canadian businesses. Sage’s Simply Accounting offers solutions to fit diverse business models. This accounting software can be used to fit various organizational needs in different industries. Simply Accounting is one of the top 5 accounting softwares for small businesses in Canada. These top 5 softwares include Intuit QuickBooks Accounting Software, Simply Accounting Accounting Software, Peachtree Complete Accounting Software, Sage BusinessVision Accounting Software and Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting.

Simply Accouting is aimed primarily at small office or home office use. Customers have access to customer support and training. Simply Accounting has been so successful because it is easy to use. This software automates tasks such as purchases, sales, payroll and much more. Simply accounting provides a wide variety of features that are simple to use. In order for Sage to continually satisfy their clients they improve their Simply Accounting software yearly. Jason Dyson, Director of product management states, “We listen closely to our customers and partners” when deciding what to include in their newest releases. Simply Accounting’s product line includes four main software which are Entrepreneur, Basic, Pro and Premium.

Sources

1. Ward, Susan (2009).Top 5 Accounting Software for Small Business. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from About.com Small Business: Canada Web site: http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/accountin1/tp/accountsoft.htm
2. (October 2007).Simply Accounting by Sage. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from CGA Association of Canada Web site: http://www.cga-bc.org/publications.aspx?id=3910
3. (2009).Simply Accounting by Sage- Corporate Information. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Simply Accounting by Sage Web site: http://www.simplyaccounting.com/company/simplyaccounting/
4. Cushing, Diane (2009). Simply Accounting. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from CGA Association of Canada Web site: http://www.cga-canada.org/en-ca/AboutCGACanada/CGAMagazine/2008/May-Jun/pages/ca_2008_05-06_bsin_doubleclick.aspx
5. (2009).Simply Accounting by Sage- New Business Accounting Software for your Business Needs. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Simply Accounting by Sage Web site: http://www.simplyaccounting.com/info/new_business_accounting_software/
6. (2009).Simply Accounting by Sage is Your Easy to Use Accounting Software. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Simply Accounting by Sage Web site: http://www.simplyaccounting.com/info/easy_to_use_accounting_software/