IT Megatrends: Social Media and Crowd Computing

Megatrend Assignment
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What are social media and crowd computing? (Define and provide examples)
Social media is a group term for online communication channels and websites focusing on people’s interaction whereby they create, share, collaborate and exchange information and ideas in virtual networks and communities with family, friends, and communities (Appel, Grewal, Hadi & Stephen, 2020, p. 80). Some social media platforms include; Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing resources applications, data storage, servers, development tools and networking abilities managed over the internet (cloud) at a remote data center (Ranger, 2022). Examples of cloud computing include Gmail, Dropbox, Zoom, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and Rackspace.
How can they be used to improve business?
Social media can be utilized for marketing by using a business’s broad reach across different social media platforms. It increases its exposure and promotes its brand to current and potential customers nationally and globally. It can act as a communication tool to connect with customers, receive feedback and address negative experiences, rebuilding customer satisfaction (Appel et al., 2020, p. 81-82).
Cloud computing can grow businesses by saving on costs. Instead of storing data on company computers and servers, which are costly to maintain, cloud computing helps store data online (cloud) within a flexible budget, depending on what a company uses (Ranger, 2022). It scales up consistency and teamwork as work files are accessible from anywhere and centrally located for access by all.
What do managers need to know about social media and crowd computing?
Managers should know that social media should be integrated into a business for easier workflow. Also, while it is easy to integrate it into a business, it brings little massive growth and profits by itself (Appel et al., 2020, p. 82). Thus, marketing, customer care, and product growth must be incorporated.
Managers should also know that cloud computing...