Research has shown that less than half, 41%, of businesses in the UAE have a social media presence, and companies who are engaged are not utilising it to its full potential, according to DLA Piper, a global law firm.
Conducted in September 2011, the research was also conducted in the UK where 76% of companies have a social media presence compared to only 41% in the UAE.
According to DLA Piper, UK firms are also far more likely to use social media to communicate with employees, 39% in the UK compared to only 16% in the UAE, and as a way of encouraging employee engagement, 37% in the UK compared to only 12% in the UAE, showing the gap between the sophistication of social media uses between the two countries.
Over a quarter, 26%, of companies active on social media channels in the UAE do not have a social media policy outlining what is and is not allowed by employees, compared to 17% of companies in the UK, research analysts said.
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I recongnize that this is not an It issue but rather a management, marketing and HR issue.
The question is what is the role of IT in bringing companies in the Gulf to benefit from social media both externally in building their image and communicating with customers and internally in improving internal communications and teaming?