SITUATION: 

1. The head of your organization (Winston Ballard) has gotten curious about whether social media could be used effectively for business purposes.  You have been tasked to research this issue and submit a brief analysis and recommendation this week.

2. You need to do enough research to understand clearly the key differences (including pros and cons) among five major social media tools:

• Facebook
• Linkedin
• Twitter
• Wikipedia
• YouTube

3. In your research, if you wish--not required for this assignment--you may open your own account in one or more tools (they are all free) and explore them first-hand:

• Facebook
• Linkedin
• Twitter
• Wikipedia
• YouTube

ASSIGNMENT:  Write a brief, well-organized memo that clearly and crisply answers these questions:

1. Would any (or all) of the social media tools have business value for your organization?
2. If yes, why?  If no, why not?
3. Compare the pros and cons of two or three social media.
4. Which of the social media would likely bring the biggest payoff?  How?
5. What do you specifically recommend?

AUDIENCE:  Your audience is Winston Ballard, an older senior executive who is not tech-savvy.  He does not really know or understand much about social media nor these specific tools.

FORMAT:  Use the standard format for a business memo: single-spaced, no indented paragraphs, 12-point Times New Roman format.  See: memo format.

KEY GRADING FACTORS:

• Displays a strong working knowledge of how social media works
• Gives a full, detailed comparison of two or three alternative social media tools
• Offers a strong persuasive case about the value (or not) of social media for business
• Explains tech topic for general reader with superior clarity, focus, and specifics
• Makes a strong, clear-cut recommendation to use social media--or not--and why
• Has no typos, misspellings, or errors in English mechanics or document format

LENGTH:  250-375 words (about one-to-two pages).