An increasing interest in SharePoint 2007 seems to be driven by the twin assumptions that social software applications will have an immediate and significant positive impact on business performance and that SharePoint is the only social software application worth consideration. Both assumptions are wrong but understandable. As far as social software is concerned there has been very little independent analysis of the products that are available, which are both more numerous and complex in their functionality than is generally recognised.

As a result this new report from CMS Watch on Enterprise Social Software is very timely indeed. After a general and  very insightful analysis of the business cases for social software the report provides detailed assessments of 20 products, ranging from LinkedIn and Facebook to Confluence and SharePoint. The main product categories are platform vendors, social software suites, blog and wiki software and public networks. What is especially useful in considering product options are the scenarios that CMS Watch have developed that enable the functional specifications of the products to be put into perspective against ‘real-life’ requirements.  A final chapter on key issues in social software implementation is full of wisdom gleaned from early adopters. 

The report is a team effort by a number of resident CMS Watch analysts together with industry experts on specific products.  Good editorial management means that there is a consistent style throughout the report and as always production values are high with useful screen shots of the products.  The report is available in both a Standard Edition ($1495) and in an edition which just has reviews of blog and wiki applications ($875). It is yet another definitive report on a market sector from CMS Watch. Buy it before you start to socialise! 

For a good set of questions to consider when contemplating Enterprise 2.0 applications read the 30 June posting on the blog of Harvard academic Andrew McAfee and Dion Hinchliffe's blog on Enterprise 2.0 developments is also a very good resource. 

Martin White