Lights, Camera, OrCom!

Double week after week postponements due to typhoons Ketsana and Parma never stopped us. On the 10th of October, 2009, the much-anticipated grand alumni homecoming, Silver Screen: Showcasing 25 Years of Organizational Communication, premiered at the Angelo King International Center (CSB Hotel) in Manila.

The Promotion
As a member of the ever-efficient Marketing & Publicity team (headed by Nash Albacea), for the most part, the pre-event planning meant death for all of us–from coming up with the theme to creating copies and collaterals to scouting for media partners and making sure all our accounts were updated. With our target audience considered, we relied heavily on online tools, particularly new social media, in terms of promoting the event (also of course with the help of the Secretariat committee who contacted the alumni). Most of my concentration went to designing mega-high-res tarp(s)/poster(s) and regularly updating the OrComSilver.tk website.

The "final" OrCom Silver Screen website

Showcasing our online accounts and collaterals

We were also able to tap Mellow 94.7 and ETC as our official media partners. A copy of ETC Vibe Guide featuring OrCom Silver Screen may be viewed here.

The Set
Not sure if it’s just me, but I thought the halls of Angelo King International Center screamed “vintage“–which was just right for our theme. The size of the venue was enough for our number of attendees. And I particularly enjoyed how cozy and homey the place was–what with the unlimited free coffee.

CSB Hotel's International Hall all set for OrCom Silver Screen

Buffet Table--where I spent most of my time in :>

Oh, and of course, the food was divine. I lost count of the number of cream puffs I ate that night–not that calorie counting matters when you’re trying to get your money’s worth, really.

The Cast

OrCom alumni at the photo wall

Come 6pm, guests–faculty, students, and alumni alike–started coming in to witness the much-awaited premiere of OrCom Silver Screen. One thing OrCom taught me is that you can never be overdressed for any event–especially with all the equally gorgeous people around you.

Vintage, anyone?

The Program

Hosts Alex Purugganan and Earl Guico with Ms. Anna Aclan, Prof. Gina Salazar, and Prof. Teresita Vacquer

Tribute to Prof. Vacquer and Prof. Sarile

After dinner, the program started with an audio-visual presentation recounting the 25 years of Organizational Communication in UP Manila. After which, some alumni were chosen to go up on stage and share some of their most memorable OrCom moments. A tribute (which was done in sort of like a debutante’s-18-candles fashion) to Professors Teresita Vacquer and Angela Sarile, two of the most respected members of the DAC faculty, was also held.

I spent most of the program proper backstage because we had to prepare for the Baggets fashion show (yes, height insecurities notwithstanding, I still ended up as one of the models. Haha) It was fun though. Everyone was cheering as we went out strutting to the tune of [who else but] Lady GaGa while showcasing bags designed by Mr. Yako Reyes. We all learned something valuable from that modelling experience–and that is how to ESTABLISH.

OrCom Silver Screen models all glammed up for the Baggets fashion show

The program ended roughly around 11PM. For some people, the OrCom party didn’t stop there. Others, including me, however, decided to head straight home for a much-needed rest. The stressful non-academic-related part which took us months to plan was over, after all. The worse is yet to come. *insert twisted smile here*

Photo Credits: GJ Villanueva and Madame Mikee Inton
Special thanks to Nikki who lent me her sandals for the fashion show (as my soles were injured due to the back-to-back stiletto marathon that was Cirque and Silver Screen)
BA Organizational Communication minor in Events Planning, anyone?

Creativity Meets Reality: CIRQUE

To say that event organizing is as easy as pie would be a total understatement—especially if you’re a graduating student who’s struggling to get through a semester’s worth of exams, class reports, thesis revisions, case documentations, and stress-laden whatnots unscathed. When our college organization, UP AdHere, joined QTV’s Events Incorporated’s search for the Top Party School, well, let’s just say the events that transpired after passing the initial screening were anything short of an overwhelming (fun? stressful? beyond imaginable?) experience.

A fusion of magic, music, and fashion--CIRQUE!

Creativity Meets Reality
With our initial concept being a concert advocating for freedom of speech and individuality among the youth (aptly titled “Wall for Juan“), we managed to land as one of the show’s top three finalists.

First "shoot" at Dusit Hotel: UP AdHere's ExeCom with Mr. JR Isaac

Pitch Party at Manor with our fab presentors Jorron, Wynne, and Arven (and look, there's me clicking away!)

Reality sinks in at One Esplanade--Cirque coming to life

Thanks to the superb mentoring by renowned event professional, Mr. JR Isaac, we were able to fine-tune our proposal as well as get insights about mounting and promoting events.

We then learned that all three finalists had to scrap their initial proposals and were given less than a month to come up with a fresh concept. Horror and pressure aside, we chose not to back down from the challenge, and off to another round of conceptualization we went.

Come One, Come All.

Our efforts paid off as CIRQUE, our proposal for a mysterious and magical circus-themed fashion show and music party with an underground twist, became the winning concept (it actually started off as a surreal, Alice in Wonderland themed party–until we started worrying about the budget. Haha). Designed as a party for a cause, it’s an event promoting good, clean fun among the youth, or as our tagline puts it, “fulfilling the fantasy, minus the ecstasy.”

The real work came during the actual implementation—from contacting suppliers and talents to writing the program to promoting the event and beyond. Despite the curtains opening at 7pm, we were already at the venue as early as midnight. It finally occurred, upon seeing the stage and booths come to life, that CIRQUE was indeed happening that very night.

The Big O
October 10, 2009 was the date we finally unraveled the mystery. Among the show’s highlights were activity and photo booths, magic acts, a live performance by Pedicab, and an avant-garde fashion show care of young and hip designers from the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. To-lust-for raffle prizes from The Body Shop, Lush, Havaianas, Starbucks, and Smart Bro were also given away to lucky guests. Amidst everything, the party turned out to be a success–we survived all the “old fashioned way” of coordinating from backstage to tech booth to everywhere else, which was enough for me. Haha. Although for the most part, my grey oxfords and I were running around in our own, stressed little world, seeing photos of my friends beaming in their fabbest party outfits (obviously making the most out of the free photo booths) and congratulating UP AdHere and Events Incorporated for a job well done were rewarding enough.

And the best part of it? We were able to pull it off in good, clean, CIRQUE fashion.

UP AdHere Execom strike a pose after all the hard work that is CIRQUE

Congratulations to the Top Party People ;P

Photo Credits: GJ Villanueva and Nancy Ortega

Magic. Fashion. Music. CIRQUE.

Come one, come all to a night of splendid delights, as UP Adhere and QTV 11’s Events Incorporated bring you CIRQUE, the hottest party/fashion show event happening in the metro this October.

Inspired by the mysterious and magical theme of circus, but with an underground edge, Cirque will host a variety of exotic performances by poi dancers and the brightest magicians, while serving free food and drinks throughout the night. At the show’s highlight, the stage will transform into a fashion runway for an exclusive show from talented young designers of the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. The event will also feature a special live performance from one of the country’s hottest bands.

Cirque will be opening its act on Oct. 9, 2009 at the One Esplanade and will be exclusively covered by QTV ch. 11’s Events Incorporated. Celebrate with a cause in this spectacular night of underground magic, music, and fashion, as proceeds will benefit the Drug Abuse Research Foundation, Inc. (D.A.R.E.) and victims of Typhoon Ondoy.

Unravel the mystery.
Fulfill your fantasy.
Minus the ecstasy.

Come One. Come All.CIRQUE.

October 9, 2009 | Friday | 6:00 PM Registration
One Esplanade, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
Tickets are priced at PhP 200, inclusive of food and drinks.
For inquiries, contact Nancy at (63) 906 317-6127 / (63) 923 626-0274 or email cirque.adhere@gmail.com / nancy_ortega_18@yahoo.com

Visit us at:
http://cirqueadhere.multiply.com
http://www.twitter.com/cirqueadhere

Food for the Skin, PR for the Web

Defining PR through New Social Media

Ever heard of such a thing as social media release? Well, a social media release or simply SMR, in the simplest of definitions, is the web-version of a press release. Given that, it incorporates a number of the web’s features–particularly that of which makes use of media (i.e. videos, photos, podcasts, RSS). It is more effective than the usual press release because:

1. It is available online which allows for easier access.
2. It can be stored in an indefinite amount of time. No need to worry if your write-up came out at an inopportune time–people can always go back and search for it when they need to.
3. Its integrated new social media features are the bomb–easier feedback, trackback, and what have you.

Social Media Release template v1.5

You can read more about the social media release here. For us, OrCom majors, though, our knowledge of SMR wasn’t just limited to a three-hour class lecture. As one of our class requirements, we were each asked to write our own SMR for a company of our choice.

Work can be yummy

SkinFood branch in Manila

Upon hearing about the assignment, I immediately listed down the brands I was interested in–initially hoping it would be something on fashion or beauty. I went to SM Mall of Asia to look for prospective interviewees. Luckily, Ms. Jane Vicente, the store supervisor for SkinFood, one of my favorite cosmetic and skin care brands, was nice enough to accommodate me.

SkinFood is a popular Korean cosmetic and skin care brand which prides in using natural food ingredients (yes, natural) for its products–with nicely-done packaging to boot. As it turned out, they had two products at introductory stage for the season, the Agave and Gold Caviar product lines (both of which I was fortunate enough to be given free samples to take home, thanks to Ms. Jane), which were to be launched the following week. I wrote about the product launch and the free beauty seminar (with freebies and coffee) that went with it, making sure to take note of the product details and benefits. The entire write-up can be found here:

Sample Social Media Release for SkinFood MoA

Also, I made sure to fill up every detail from the SMR template as best as I could–even if the layouting killed me. And because I wasn’t allowed to take videos and photos at the store, I looked for related media in the web instead.

Ah, now with all the new features of SMR, who could say no to that? Clearly, the web has taken communication–particularly marketing and public relations–to new heights.

Pure Cheese, Sans The Dignity

. . . Because we LOVE Philippine television and social suicide like that.
(Okay, so the second part may not be for me, but it still applies nonetheless. Peace, group mates!)

Click HERE for a Cheesy Treat!

Backgrounder:
Three weeks ago, we were asked to prepare our second video blog for class, with no restrictions whatsoever as regards the topic and/or target audience–as long as we’ll be able to make it viral, and it doesn’t go over 3 minutes. Note: Viral videos are those which popularities spread like wildfire through online sharing and promotion–instant messaging, linking, posting status updates, begging/harassing your friends, and what have you (more info on how to make your videos viral can be found HERE). Being such, part of our grade for this project would be based on the number of hits, comments, and ratings we’ll be getting from Youtube. Sounds pretty sweet, huh? Well, we initially agreed on a no-serious-business-here video aimed at teens, and after a “series” of meetings and some comtemplation, our group finally decided to go for something cheesily Pinoy–a rundown of the seven best Pinoy love teams since the 1990’s.

Claudine and Rico in “Got To Believe”–had an “aww” moment here. Srsly.

See who else made it on our list. Click HERE.

Dig it? Help spread the love! Link through http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E7cvEgiSeA or embed the video on your blog/site. Thanks very much!

P.S. After last Saturday’s class premiere of all our viral videos, I must say, that’s a bunch of creative classmates I have.

P.P.S. And I also must say, I shall never look at some of them the same way I did before. Hohoho.

O, nakaka-relate ka na din ba?

Insert Witty Title Here

Ever heard of  creative block? If men and women in the literary universe have what you call the writers block, people from the creatives industry have their own version too. It’s one thing artists dread–being sucked into a black hole of pure uninspiring nothingness–right in the middle of an important project.

While I am neither a pro visual artist nor someone who does collaterals for a living (although sometimes it seems as if I do), my body holds no immunity to this “condition.” Being an OrCom major, we often find ourselves creating presentation materials (may it be in the form of magazine-type hand-outs, professional-looking Powerpoint templates, compelling STAR US videos, etc) to back/jazz-up content–all of which require at least a little squirt of creativity to live up to standards. If you were in my shoes, however, “often” and “a little” would be total understatements, so much so that I am/have been a victim of creative block, perhaps countless of times, that I’ve resorted to different means just to keep the juices flowing.

Keep drying yourself up; when all else fails, sleep.
. . . Repeat ’til fade. This has been my mantra ever since my so-called creative charity work began. Other than the play-pause method, creative block can be dealt with in a number of equally-creative ways. For example, you can:

• Keep a journal or list of ideas you might’ve come up with during random bouts of madness ingenuity. You’ll never know when these would come in handy–like reserves for your next [rushed] project perhaps?
• Broadcast [how incredibly burned out and incompetent you are] thru new social media. Blog it, Tweet it, maybe even make a Podcast of it. Sometimes, the key is just to let it all out. Be creative! (Just make sure to stop and delete/forget once you’re pacified.)
• Eat, drink, and be merry. Sometimes what you need is a little more fuel–may it be from sugar rush or happy clear drink high by yourself or with other people from your team. Trust me, brainstorming over happy vibes works like a charm!
• Wait for the clock to strike 12–in other words, don’t force what isn’t there yet. Go busy yourself with some other requirement before you resume, or play Rock Legends or rest your brain cells if you have to. It pays to wait–even if it entails procrastinating. Sometimes the most innovative ideas are those that come hand-in-hand with pressure, yes?

If you can’t channel your own creativity, Google it.
Whining and/or running away won’t get the job done. Sarcasm and nonsensical bullets aside, I’d say the best way to counter creative block is to stock up on huge doses of inspiration. No longer are we in the Stone Age–now you can find, create, share, and ogle at ideas from all over the globe right before your very monitor. Here are some of the sites/blogs I frequent whenever I’m in need of extra juice:

• Smashing Magazine – Perhaps one of my most favourite sites ever (and currently ranks first on my top sources of creative dosage), Smashing Magazine is a haven for people who thrive on artistic design and inspiration. It’s complete with samples/showcases, free and premium downloads, tutorials, and links to other great content. You may also follow them on Twitter for updates and queries (and yes, you can expect that they’ll respond).



• Hostess with the Mostess – If you are planning to organize/host/design/fabby-fy an event, the hostess has got it all for you. From elegant party themes to hosting 411 to recipes with a twist,   it’ll make you want to throw parties every so often–or at least, attend them. Cirque and Silver Screen inspirations, anyone?



• Magic Jelly – Vintage and retro design at its finest (and cutest), this blog is one to visit when you’re in need of a breath of fresh air. (Yes, the adorable header helps too.)



• Polyvore – Think online paper dolls. Polyvore is an online community for people who love to mix and match (although it’s not just limited to fashion). Get inspired from all the ecclectic and eccentric collections you can find. Or better yet, create and share your own.



• I Love Typography – Everything you need to know about fonts is right here–from its history to how-to’s, web guidelines to a rundown of the best fonts, and even a font guessing game. I Love Typography is your guide to the wonderful world of [good quality] type–you don’t really need those 100-something font zip downloads, do you?



• Ads of the World – Ah, who could miss out on Ads of the World? If you’re looking for brilliant, often out-of-this-world ideas, this is the place to go. It showcases ads submitted from agencies all over the world–rated and commented/wow-ed upon by other users of the site. It also houses an Exhibition Forum where students like us can contribute our own material for public consumption, and a blog and Twitter page maintained by its webmaster (again, you may use these tools to reach AotW and expect a reply–I heard Nash did).

Feel “juicier?” Well, these are only a few of my favourites. I’m sure there are other sites, blogs, communities, and what-have-yous out there where creative inspiration is ever-flowing. As I wrap this up, I realize how I could spend hours and hours just surfing the internet for creative inspiration. I don’t regret though. These [so far] fool-proof tactics have undoubtedly helped me battle creative block–and with good results at that.

Got other tips/sites to recommend? Share them here.

Silver Screen: The Grand Alumni Homecoming

Something grand is cooking up this September.
And you, dear OrCom alumnus of UP Manila, wouldn’t want to miss it out.

Official poster for Silver Screen: Showcasing 25 Years of OrCom

Silver Screen: Showcasing 25 Years of OrCom The Grand OrCom Alumni Homecoming Ball Date: September 26, 2009 Time: Registration starts at 5:30 PM Venue: Angelo King International Center (College of St. Benilde Hotel),  Malate, Manila Theme: Old Hollywood Glamour in Black, White, and Silver Attire: Semi-formal RSVP: Paula Batalla +639276305388 Tickets are priced at PhP 800 for alumni and PhP 700 for students.

Event Synopsis:
Roll in the fun, glamour, and nostalgia, as we bring to you a night of undiluted OrCom reminiscing.

The premiere starts at 6:30 PM hosted by our very own OrCom Senior and Mellow 94.7 DJ Alex Purugganan together with OrCom alumnus Mr. Jacs Sampayan. It will be a fun-filled night that will be marked with social activities, raffle games, dance numbers, and song performances. Most importantly, it will be a night that will gather 25 generations of excellence of UP Manila’s Orcom.

So, expect lots of laughter, memories and unexpected twists on a night that can only be experienced in the SilverScreen: Showcasing 25 Years of Organizational Communication.

For more information, visit OrcomSilver.TK
You may also follow OrComSilver on Twitter
Comments? Questions? E-mail us at orcomsilver@gmail.com

Breakfast a la Organizational Communication

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
- – - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Power Dressing--The OC Essential

Interviews--One After Another

Truth be told, I was one of those people who weren’t exactly sure of what BA Organizational Communication was all about. Even during the time when I was an applicant for shifting waiting to be called for an interview, I had to keep reading the posts on the Dept. of Arts and Communication’s bulletin board just to make sure. It was, after all, merely a compromise to what I initially wanted (which was to go to UP Diliman) and what my parents demanded (which was to stay as close to home as possible). Between rebooting my college life at De La Salle and staying at UP Manila (where the choices of non-BS degrees are limited), I chose to stay.

Appetizer: Transitions and General Education
One thing I like about the BA OrCom curriculum is that it’s quite freshman-and-shiftee/transferee-friendly–meaning it’s easy to catch up. During the first year, students need only burden themselves with General Education (GE) subjects which comprise of Arts and Humanities (AH), Social Sciences and Philosophy (SSP), and Math, Science, and Technology (MST)–quite like high school, except of course, you have to level-up.

• Block System: UP Manila adopts the block system–which means that you have a set of people to work with for the entire year (and possibly even more, if you love each other that much).
• PE and NSTP: Still a must for graduation. Unlike other universities, and (fortunately) unlike high school, UPM gives its students liberty to choose their own PE subjects and schedules. Fencing, Arnis, and Social Dance, anyone?
• Friendly much?: A downside of having such no-majors-during-the-first-year curriculum is that students wouldn’t have a grasp of what they’re really getting themselves into, and they wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate their course, until they get into their 2nd year. Given that, the tendency is for them to leave. But why leave now when you have yet to see the brighter side ahead, yes?

Main Course: Organizational and Speech Communication
From Psycholinguistics to Technical Writing, Public Relations to Audio-Visual Communication, theory to application–OrCom has it all covered. One day you may find yourself stretching your brains for a decent research paper, and the next, you’re squeezing out creative juices for a fab video presentation. Being dubbed as a Jack of All Trades isn’t exactly a bad thing–especially since we are in no way a Master of None. We are Masters of Communication, and with that, we can go a long, long way.

• Requirements: If you think passing a subject is all about getting a good grade in the exam, by all means, research. Exams are but one (albeit nearly-inexistent) means of testing what you’ve learned. (In fact, I may have already forgotten how it feels to answer and study for one.) Expect weekly reports, case documentations, defense, papers, blogs, recitations, debates, coffee-shop-brainstorming-sessions, and possibly a tour of all your coursemates’ houses before you graduate. OrCom majors are expected to communicate (both oral and written) and perform well–and while not all of us were born that way, as long as you attend class and contribute to all the group and individual requirements, training and improvements are surely abound.
• On-the-job Training: One major thing to look forward to as an OrCom major is an entire summer dedicated to 200 hours of OJT. Personally, it’s one of those experiences that made me realize the value of OrCom in the corporate world. You can apply and be considered for a number of fields (Advertising, Corporate Comm., Marketing, HR, Events, Journalism, Comm. Research, etc) and ultimately rock at it. And if you can’t choose, you can go overboard with your required number of hours (like myself), as long as you can handle the added pressure.

Corporate Kath with her supervisors at BSP-CORAO

Sunny Kath with Summit Media's Marketing-Events team

Side Dish: Electives and Cognate Courses
Organizational Communication majors are not only confined to the comforts of what they do best which is communicating. We’re also expected to immerse ourselves in other (ideally related) fields as well; hence, the need for electives and cognates.

• Fields of Interest: As long as it’s a 100-level non-natural science course, OrCom students may enroll in any three electives they want. They may choose to minor in a particular field (Psychology, Political Science, Development Studies, etc) or get random subjects that tickle their interests (e. g. Graphic Design + Personality + Economics). Cognates are of a different thing, though, as we’re only given a set of four to choose from–to which we need only choose three.
• Balance: True, some subjects may be more of a burden than the rest, and some professors might not be as interested to meet you every week unlike others who eagerly await your torture. Note, however, that all subjects you undertake in BA OrCom are of equal value–with regard to units, at least. So if you want to chase those flying colors despite ever-piling school work, the key to everything is balance.

Dessert: Treats and Organizational Communication Fabness/Goodness
Don’t expect OrCom life to stop at academics. In fact, don’t expect it to revolve within the four walls of the classroom at all. If anything, I’d say most memorable OrCom experiences come from legworks, school org activities (from seminars to parties to inter-school competitions), politics, overnight turbo-sessions, and of course, batch love.

UP Manila OrCom's Silver Class at the OrComSoc 2009 Acquaintance Party--Yes, I do not regret sticking to my compromise.

For a complete list of the required subjects for BA Organizational Communication students, please refer to the table below:

Organizational Comm.	Speech Comm.	Cognate (choose 3)
Introduction to Organizational Communication	Group Discussion & Conference Leadership	Introduction to Philippine Culture
Interpersonal Communication	Audio-Visual Communication	Human Resource Development
Intercultural Communication	Argumentation & Debate	Politico-Administrative Behavior
Technical and Research Writing	Forms of Public Address	Industrial Organization
Communication Processes & Organizational Structures	Electives (any 100-level non-natural science course offered in UP)	Foundation Courses
Approaches to Communication in Management	e.g. Introduction to Psychology	Linguistics 100
Psychology of Language & Communication	Philippine Photography & Graphic Arts	Philippine Institution (PI 100 – Rizal)
Communication Trends & Styles	Marketing Strategies & Promotions for the Arts	Foreign Language (e. g. Spanish, French)
Public Relations	Philippine Foreign Policy	Mathematics 11
Psychology of Language & Communication	Economic History of the Philippines	General Education (45 Units)
Communication Strategies	Philippine Local & National Administration	Arts & Humanities (15 Units)
Organizational Communication Research	Physical Education (8 Units)	Social Sciences & Philosophy (15 Unites)
Thesis	NSTP (6 Units, or 2 Semesters)	Math, Science, and Technology (15 Units)

And then I was told that bullets and captions are friends, not foes. Thanks for the SEO lecture, Ms. Ingrid Cudia!

Consuming and Communicating

Over a year ago, when I was interviewed for an advertising organization in the university, I remember being asked the question of why I wanted to pursue advertising. I gave them my usual answer: Simple, because I am a victim of good advertising. Show me an awesomely-packaged product, talk about the perks, and add a [sad excuse for a] discount, and voila! You got yourself a customer.

I ended my statement with a short-but-sweet challenge of wanting to learn how to do just that. Never mind if you’re actually giving what the consumer wants, it was all about putting up a good show–for the product and the company.

Seeing the Light (and the Empty Bank Account)

After taking up PR, advertising, and communication classes (and having a heart-to-heart talk with my wallet), I realized the importance of listening to your market and giving them what they need instead of focusing on what the company wants. It’s like spending time with someone who has nothing else to talk about but himself–dreadful situation, really. Problem is that most organizations tend to be quite egotistical–placing the importance on their sales and their image without considering if the consumers would really need the me-myself-and-I information overload. They’re all out there–company websites, brochures, and what-have-you’s with headlines like “why we’re so great”, “our awards”, and “we’re this and this and that”, and not much of the “what’s in it for you” or “how you could benefit from us.”

As a consumer myself, I wasn’t wrong to having tagged myself previously as a “victim.” Soon after every impulsive purchase, I would question my need for such product(sss) and blame those promoters for heartlessly seducing this happy-go-lucky shopper’s mind. Damn, they were good. But damn, I know better this time.

Breaking Up from the Old

In every relationship, one thing holds true: If you fail to communicate well with your partner, the relationship itself is doomed to fail. If you just keep talking and showing off without really listening, you might as well wave the happy relationship goodbye. The video posted above is a good and witty way to describe the relationship between advertisers and consumers, yes, but it can also be applied to organizations and people.

“It’s gonna be like the old days,” huh? But no, the consumers have changed. The lines of communication have changed. The market isn’t a dumb, inanimate entity that would automatically consume what you feed it; rather, it is composed of people who know what they want and need and would know the minute you fool around with them. Research, listen, and communicate. So if you’re a hard-headed advocate of a certain company, learn that the best way to succeed in marketing your brand is to stop with the notion that the only star here is yourself, but the people–the ones who kept you going in the first place.

Soup #2: The Wiki Workplace

Bottom’s Up! Forget the usual salt and pepper. Here’s something the global market really wants. And they want it now.

Prep time: Depends on the nature of the Workplace–the less resistant to change, the faster the wikification.

Key Ingredients (according to Robert Stephens, founder and CEO of wikinomical success story, Geek Squad, Best Buy’s multi-billion dollar technology and computer repair service arm):

• 2 cups High-technology Adoption
• 1 sizzling bowl Social Connectivity of your or your employees’ choice
• A dash of Fun and Creativity
• A box of Diversity – Note: The ones on the lower shelves can be just as good, too–sometimes even better.

High-technology Adoption: Remember the good old days when access to a typewriter seemed enough? Well, we’re no longer in the 20th century. At present, a good number of companies are embracing the power of technology. We’re not talking about smuggling machines that could launch weapons of mass destruction here; rather, making use of the latest available resources, or hiring technologically-competent individuals. I remember when our technical writing professor specifically asked us to highlight what ever computer skills we have in our resume because future employers would be on the lookout for that. Two months of internship proved that right–a good grasp of technology can really get you far, especially against competitors/co-workers/other organizations who aren’t as savvy as you are.

Social Connectivity: It cannot be called an organization if it’s just one person doing all the work. It cannot be called collaboration unless your workers get up to connect and communicate with one another. With technology and new social media at hand, no longer do we have an excuse to not get in touch with one another, may it be personal or work-related–there’s instant messaging, voice and video conferences, wikis, and even the handy company intranet. In the case of Geek Squad, employees were able to communicate and share tips through online gaming. Who says work can get in the way of doing what you love? Or vice versa.

Fun and Creativity: Who doesn’t love fun? And who wouldn’t love it better if you can accomplish work at the same time? People are naturally drawn to anything that gives them a sense of freedom and ingenuity–okay, maybe I shouldn’t be generalizing, but you get the drift. Adding a dash of fun and creativity on your work mindset can generate great ideas. And I can attest to that. On a more personal level, I’d say class requirements and group tasks that banked on F&C had better outcomes as compared to the ones where I/we felt forced to do something. Work, in itself, is a killer; let’s not make it more of a hazard than it already is.

Diversity: It’s not always healthy to rely on the same person/s to do the same work over and over, more so if you think you know everything about the company that you don’t give others a chance to provide input. Sure, top management makes the decisions; however, there are also other people in the workplace to consider. The front liners, the so-called “bottom-feeders“–these are the people who get to interact with the consumers and immerse themselves in the work process first-hand. Top managers might’ve been in the company long enough to know the rules by heart, but front liners have field experience which top management cannot reach in their skyscrapers. Wikinomics’ idea of mass collaboration does not specify exclusions. Hey, these people have brains to pick too–and with customer centricity as an emerging strategy at hand, diversity and a bottom-up approach in the workplace can truly be successfully wikinomical.

I need not fill you in on the step-by-step procedure. As the saying goes, it’s different strokes for different folks. The importance is in adapting these key ingredients to make them work for your company–or maybe, even make it work for yourself.