IBM has announced new services to help organisations use collaboration and social networking to maximise employee talent and performance.

The Enterprise Adaptability services include a methodology to determine the return on investment of social networking, use of large scale communications programmes to jumpstart adoption, automatic identification of key talent, and social network analysis.

Enterprise Adaptability will become an important part of IBM’s overall consulting and software portfolio to give clients new tools for harnessing the talent and expertise that lies within their organisations, across organisations, and with their channels and customers.

With Enterprise Adaptability companies can learn how to embed Web 2.0 technologies into the fabric of business operations, allowing employees, partners and customers to communicate, establish new business relationships and make decisions in real-time within the context of their everyday work.

“Spurring competitiveness in a global economy requires connecting the right experts necessary for success, applying new tools and technologies that provide access to global resources, and innovating and collaborating across national and organisational borders,” said Tim Ringo, Global Leader, Human Capital Management, Global Business Services. “With Enterprise Adaptability, IBM is in a unique position to be a true consulting and technology partner to any organisation looking to unlock the business value of connecting people and the enabling technologies.”

“Social software, collaboration, and content management are revolutionising the ways in which organisations interact with customers, partners and employees,” said Michael Rhodin, General Manager, IBM Lotus Software. “As globalisation forges ahead, and operations and expertise become increasingly dispersed in all kinds of industries, organisations of all sizes need to be able to realise the value and potential of collaboration tools.”

Enterprise Adaptability combines software from IBM Lotus Software with consulting expertise from IBM Global Business Services’ Human Capital Management practice.