Category: LinkedIn

Introduction

Management information system in organizations is a very essential element which cannot be disregarded especially in contemporary business organizations. It is important to note that information system is one of the crucial and invaluable approaches in the modern generation’s way of doing business.

Indeed, information systems play pivotal role in operational, strategic and tactical decision making. Such systems are used by every department in all levels of managing an organization bearing in mind that the modern world of business demands an optimal information flow.

Therefore, it is imperative to note that every business organization is obliged to make information technology part and parcel of its operations. The application of information systems has become crucial and needs to be optimized throughout the entire life of a business organization.

Organizations which have opted to operate on poorly established and under developed information system platforms find themselves missing out on the myriads of opportunities which are available in the global economy (Akcura 380).

It is definite that these organizations are undeniably realizing dismal operations since businesses have grown considerably more competitive with the adoption of viable information systems and platforms. A comprehensive study of Linked In information systems offers a typical discussion of the value of a quality information system in both national and multinational organizations.

This paper offers a deductive analysis of the management information systems as applied by Linked In. It highlights how information technology has been used in management, the general operations of the organization as well as how the use of information systems has helped the organization to attain a competitive edge.

A brief background of the organization

Linked In is a global professional networking and consulting company. It was started way back in 2002 in the house of co-founder Reild Hoffman (Linked In par 1). After its launch in the year 2003, the Linked In site realized a total of 4,500 members within a period of one month.

Professionals continued to join the network and studies reveal that by the end of the first three months of 2012, the link was receiving two new members in every two seconds (Breitbarth 20). Needless to say, the company has a strong public image. It is believed and has also been rated as one of the most diversified modern business models. It is a well known entity which provides hiring options in large scale.

It is imperative to note that the company also gives all marketing solutions and has a specialty in premium subscriptions.

Through the use of its professional team, linked In has managed to display high standard use of information systems in its overall operations by providing an information-rich approach of conducting researching in the business world. The company has been able to venture into new markets across the world and has developed reliable methods of serving its customers.

Linked In has acquired the status of a formidable company. This has been achieved by employing information systems in all its internal and external operation mechanisms. This company was started to set a wide and dependable platform for professional linkage.

Over the several years the company has been in operation, Linked In has been able to exhibit an effective management of information systems through the use of professional mergers. According to recent studies, Linked In has been able to smoothly cooperate with other networking firms because of the nature of its business ventures (Gregor and Hevner 8).

The field of professional networking of business firms has a holistic need of articulating and assimilating interested stakeholders from all host nations. The management has constantly endeavored to establish a highly integrated international network (Lim and Ting 52).

Their network has a base line which incorporates all international as well as intermediary branches with the establishment of control units in numerous nations. The application of modern information technology has equally led to the inception and expansion of a widely spread and networked system of professionals.

Information systems

Studies indicate that success in the adoption of broad spectrum IT is dependent on a technical selection process. Linked In has selected a post modern system which is specially designed in a manner which ensures that high-tech objectives of doing e-business which have been adopted by the company are timely met.

Development of efficient internet technologies has been used to create an operational stability. Their system ensures that transactions are carried within the shortest time possible and according to the preferences of clients (Latham 26). In addition, it is worth to note that security has been prioritized in the sense that the system has a powerful criterion of detecting white collar criminal activities.

Due to the emergence of sophisticated internet criminology, the company has privatized and personalized technological systems. They have a pimp of their entire information system with multiple chambers which do not merely increase functionality but also ensure greater speeds for efficient operation.

Their IT architecture is under constant evaluations to cater for malpractices from within or without the organization. The infamous e-commerce machine used by Linked In is mastered with the incorporation of a directed operation. This enables customers to access findings and facts about the company without making contact with its officials.

This company has also been using management systems which are data oriented. Their system have been determined by the data category which they deal with on their day-to-day operations. It has broad divisions which accommodate the management teams in all different positions of the company.

Their system is well programmed to ensure that professionalism is displayed in every aspect of the company’s dealings. Internal control has been made viable enough through the use of a clear set of ethical procedures which are to be portrayed when interacting with the company’s network (Rosenkranz and Holten 21).

The use of a decision making strategy which relies on information systems has improved service production and delivery across the whole dominion of linked In (Linked In par. 6). There is enough evidence that the dependence of the company on information technology has created a high and desired quality and comfortable business environment.

Furthermore, more robust information system applications are continually being invented due to the application of the clear approach of intensive reliance on IT (Palvia and Pancaro 8). Over the years of operation, their system design has moved the company from the level of a developing enterprise to the category of a highly profitable organization.

The great awareness of the need of using standardized information systems has not been a recent development at Linked In. it has been intrinsic in the operations of the organization. Besides, the company has principle strategies of countering competition by keeping their services highly usable (Lim and Ting 54).

Use of information systems in management

A season has come whereby business trends are more reliant on the dynamism of the global market. This is as a result of the emergence of dynamic consumer patterns, modern management of information systems and the realization of business success depending on the degree of embracing reliable information technology.

By understanding the essence of information systems in effective decision making, Linked In has been able to adopt a mainstream business circle. It is worth to underscore that information systems have been used by Linked In as a toolkit which has bore quality development strategies (Breitbarth 22).

The information technology has been a critical factor in the business environment as part and parcel of determining the needs of the market. Through the application of online evaluations, the company has been in a position to accurately address the exact demand of the market.

Managing information systems effectively is a fundamental activity in business operations. It is evident that it leads to simplification of actions and speeds up business transactions (Akcura 384). This leads to the achievement of the set profitability goals and objectives the company is targeting.

The company has also displayed an expertise in applying information technology in all its internal operations with key decisions having a strong technological foundation. Studies reveal that linked In has greatly invested in IT to create the much needed business and organizational value as one of its major objectives.

This has helped their management information system to become a basic tool which provides quality responses to all professional needs of customers. The diverse needs of customers from all over the world are being met online by just a single mouse click.

The management has embarked on such large scale investments in information systems especially after accruing numerous gains from information technology. Notably, the broad and organizational wide use of management information systems has given the business the power to have a multinational influence.

Information technology for competitive advantage

The application of management information systems in the internal and transactional operations of a company is important in determining how the company articulates its major procedures (Palvia and Pancaro 8). By understanding this, the information and communication managers at Linked In have been able to formulate effective strategies towards realizing the aforementioned goal.

As a matter of fact, they have learned to articulate all the systems which infer desirable alignments and also create the ability of building a correct niche which gives the company the much needed competitive advantage. Complex situations emerging from the business operations of the company are clearly tackled with the employment of information technology transparency.

In addition, the organization has been exemplified by clear implementation of IT which has enhanced the realization of higher financial returns. The use of information systems in short and long term strategic planning has been very resourceful. It has helped the company to grow tremendously in addition to seizing opportunities as well as formulating a transition into maintaining high profile market competition.

Appropriate use of information technology by Linked In

Latham (26) has observed that focus on effective marketing, effective differentiation of the available marketing opportunities as well as effective leadership are the three major strategies of competing favorably in the corporate world. Linked In has used information technology to offer variety of quality services to all its customers. The company has developed a clear focus through the application of cost leadership.

Their worldwide network has equally integrated both top and bottom line strategies. The e-commerce strategy has been instrumental in cutting down the overall cost of reaching its consumers. Collaborative software has helped in resource planning, chain operations management and in developing quality customer relations. Therefore, the company enjoys a good linkage with its consumers.

Its technology is wired in a manner that it offers services which are unique and different from those of other firms in the industry. Their site has been built using a technological design which is able to recommend services to clients depending on their earlier transactions.

It has a time saving check out system which allows them to evaluate the services which attract many persons. Customers enter their credit card numbers to make payments online. During subsequent visits, one is able to track their activities and the services which were proposed to them by the company.

In order to maximize on the actual focus of the company, the organization has embarked on using the internet to reach the widest market possible. This has generated wide range differentiation and cost advantages. In any case, these are some of the merits which the company has leveraged on for some time now.

The company has embraced the principle of using information technology to reach the vast market in the most cost effective way. Linked In has grown highly competitive realizing billions of net and gross sales from hiring and consultation services.

Gregor and Shirley (9) believe that if the organization continues being effective in management information systems, there is no doubt that it will become a consistent top player in the industry.

In spite of the above platforms that the company has put in place, it is also worth to mention that the use of wireless technologies and innovations like cloud computing characterize the operations of linked In. A mobile digital base has created a global customer and service provider collaboration.

It has been so easy for the officials of the company to identify and utilize customer outcomes. This happens with the quality monitoring mechanism which is in place at Linked In.

The workers of the company have a perpetually high output since the information system works by keeping them aware of all new functionalities and trends in the market. It has been successful for them to work digitally in and out of their routine offices.

Their information system has elements of personal training via its online store of resources which are freely accessible by all staff members. The workers have not lagged behind when it comes to the management of change for improvement. Information has helped in keeping everyone informed enough to make professional decisions without difficulties.

Innovation, operational excellence and customer confidence have been attained through the use of the directions provided in the flexible instruction tool which is a major attribute of this company’s information system.

All the stakeholders operate closely with the company since its comprehensive data base is open to scrutiny. The latter has also been used as platform for ensuring that the security of both clients and company staff is safeguarded at all times.

The inevitable challenge

In the analysis of this corporation’s information technology system, it is important to point out cases of illegal and unauthorized activities which are evident similar to any other organization, it is imperative to mention that challenges are indeed inevitable. For instance, the use of technology gadgets to perpetrate malicious activities has been a significant blow.

The practice has had adverse effects to the site. Online computer programs which compromise the usability of online services have been a major challenge. Due to the wide use of technology viruses have been able to find their way into the systems of linked In.

Cases of malfunctioning which have led to financial losses have been severally reported within the operations of the company (Rosenkranz and Rolend 15). The most significant threats in this case are site viruses like Dloadr-CMJ and Randex which corrupt the links to most visited programs.

They rename the paths of access and block all terminal lee ways (Gregor and Hevner 5). Indeed, one of the most important steps to take is to educate clients on the high risk of online criminology. Owing to the high dependency on information technology to do business, Linked In has embarked on concerted efforts of securing its basic online consumers.

There are strong appliances to abhor hackers who seek to benefit from the organization through manipulating its operation outcomes. It has put in place expertise employees who trace all criminal activities from within and outside Linked In.

In order t ensure optimal security, Linked In has personalized its systems digitally. Its information has very strict digital seals. Proprietary data, electronic fund transfers and professional communications entail high levels of technological secrecy. Their security system has been engineered with high sensitivity and response programs.

They operate according to procedures which have inherent digital excellence (Linked In par 2). It has been ensured that the company does not lay its technical methods of product processing in the sole hands of technological engineers. Its copy right operation is well known to the whole executive team and is protected by the international secrecy of IT productions.

Conclusion

The credible use of information systems by Linked In has been handy to the company. The choice of building an exemplary digital foundation is indeed resourceful especially in the current post modern professional industry. The organization has been able to become a force to reckon with in giving the corporate fraternity the desired status of professionalism.

It is worth noting that organizations as well as individuals have been able to tap the standard services of Linked In. This has in turn been reciprocated into the creation of a culture of corporate coexistence. Businesses are able to share their most useful techniques through the easy communication and publication via the Linked In professional network.

The inventions of the company have created an interdependence of professionals across many nations. It is possible to access the most reliable ways of operation by the use of the ultimate linkage which has been necessitated by Linked In. This success is accredited to the appropriate management of information systems in the key areas discussed.

Moreover, the management of information systems at Linked In has taken a diversified approach in the sense that new and better method of running the organization has always been devised as part and parcel of meeting the needs of the dynamic market. In spite of the prevailing challenges, the company has managed to maintain its brilliant performance as a networking tool across the globe.

Works Cited

Akcura, Togla. “Affiliated marketing.” Information Systems and e-Business Management, 8. 4 (2010): 379- 394. Print.

Breitbarth, Wayne. “Linked In or Lose Out.”Quality Progress 44. 7 (2011): 18-22. Print.

Gregor, Shirley and Alan, Hevner. “Introduction to the special issue on design science.” Information Systems and e-Business Management, 9.1 (2011): 1-9. Print.

Latham, John. “Latham’s Response to Commentaries.”The Quality Management Journal, 19.2 (2012): 27-29. Print.

Lim, Weng and Ding, Ting. “E-shopping: an Analysis of the Technology Acceptance Model.” Modern Applied Science, 6. 4 (2012): 49-62. Print.

Linked In. Company background. 2003. Web. <https://about.linkedin.com/>

Palvia, Shailendra and Rudy, Pancaro. “Promises and Perils of Internet based Networking.” Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 13.3 (2010): 1-9. Print.

Rosenkranz, Christoph and Holten, Holten. “The variety engineering method: analyzing and designing information flows in organizations,” Information Systems and eBusiness Management, 9.1 (2011): 11-30. Print.

Porter’s five forces is a marketing analytical tool, which helps determine a current position of the company on the market (Harvard Business School Press, 2006).

Moreover, any company should consider the world from the systematic perspective, as there is a vehement interdependence between all contributors (Meadows, 2008). A primary goal of this case study is to analyze LinkedIn’s position on the market by using Porter’s model. Furthermore, two fundamental aspects, which determine company’s success, are analyzed. In the end, the conclusions are drawn.

Porter’s Five Forces Analysis

Firstly, Porter’s five forces analysis is conducted. It could be said that the bargaining power of suppliers is low, as there is a significant number of possibilities to switch to in instance of necessity. Nonetheless, LinkedIn has a tendency to purchase its suppliers such as Lynda to ensure its positions on the market and broaden its area of operations (Morgan, 2015).

As for the bargaining power of customers, it remains insignificant to moderate as the individual users, organizations, and companies represent the customers. The primary income is collected from the businesses. In this case, it is apparent that LinkedIn provides unique services and can control the prices effectively.

A threat of substitute products is moderate, as LinkedIn plays the role of the job provider, and many companies with the similar services are present on the market. One of the job search engines examples is Simply Hired Inc., which allows users to view the tendencies of the labor market (Gage, 2010). In turn, a threat of new entrants is moderate, as it is apparent that the exit barriers remain insignificant, and companies such as Facebook and Twitter can quickly add job search engines to their interface.

Finally, the competitive rivalry is moderate. Despite having the moderate entrance barriers and increasing competition in this sector, LinkedIn remains the leader in this field, as it can combine a job search engine and social network. Nonetheless, other companies have a tendency to develop rapidly, and it might lead to the loss of its current position. In this case, LinkedIn has to ensure that the interface and features of the project remain unique.

Success Determiners of LinkedIn

One of the determiners of LinkedIn success is its ability to combine job search engine and social network. In this case, the most important factor, which will determine LinkedIn future, is the threat of new substitutes. It is evident that LinkedIn has to able to combine and develop these features, as the inability to notice that innovation trends might lead to the dominating positions of the substitute products and strategic failure in future.

Another factor is the necessity to expand the services and activities, which are presented via the interface, to remain competitive on the market. It is apparent that taking uncertainties into planning is an essentiality (Wilson & Ralston, 2006). In this instance, acquisition of supplies assists the expansion of the services and assurance of the absence of risks, which are related to suppliers. This factor determines LinkedIn’s success in future, as it is essential to discover the business relations as a system.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it could be said that Porter’s five forces models revealed that LinkedIn remains a leader on the market. One of the primary factors, which determines its success, is the ability to provide services by using the systematization of features of social media and job search engines. Another aspect is the capacity to discover the business relationships from the systematic perspective, as it is necessary to establish a sufficient flow of information and services within the organization.

References

Gage, D. (2011, Nov. 15). Job search engine simply hired adds director from Netflix. VentureWire. Web.

Harvard Business School Press and the Society for Human Resource Management. (2006). The essentials of strategy. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing.

Meadows, D. (2008). Thinking in systems: A primer. White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing.

Morgan, J. (2015, Apr. 28). What LinkedIn’s acquisition of Lynda means for talent management. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/

Wilson, I., & Ralston, W. (2006). The scenario planning handbook. Mason, Ohio: Thomson/South-Western.

Introduction

The economic environment of the 21st century requires companies to think beyond profit margins and performance indicators. To attain customer loyalty and build a true sense of community, modern business leaders have to shift their focus toward developing value-based relationships with the external world. They manage to accomplish that through the practices commonly referred to as corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which include various aspects. However, ensuring that the enterprise’s operations generate value for all the shareholders and stakeholders requires learners to master effective influence tactics. The purpose of this paper is to examine the CSR-related activities of Jeff Weiner, former Chief Executive Officer of LinkedIn, which is one of the world’s largest social networking sites. Based on the information gathered and scholarly research analyzed, this report offers recommendations regarding the use of leadership influence tactics in social responsibility initiatives to business executives in different fields.

Leader Contributions to CSR

The first CSR aspect that Jeff Weiner engages in is ensuring that LinkedIn remains a pleasant workplace for its many employees. In chapter 6, DuBrin (2018) notes that the company’s dedication to creating a comfortable and stimulating work environment is a crucial part of its overall CSR agenda since such efforts increase employees’ well-being. If an enterprise cannot promise its workers zero-tolerance policies in regards to abuse, bullying, or discrimination of any kind, it should not be expected to succeed in ethical activities targeted externally. In an interview with PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, Weiner reveals that he is committed to managing his venture morally (as cited in Schulman, 2019). Therefore, it is no surprise that LinkedIn is ranked 13th on Glassdoor’s 100 best places to work list (Columbus, 2021). Treating employees fairly and facilitating the best work conditions for them is the first step in operating ethically, which makes it the most crucial aspect of corporate social responsibility.

Another CSR vector important to discuss is the company’s efforts aimed at building a sustainable environment. DuBrin (2018) emphasizes that such initiatives should go beyond binding legal regulations an enterprise has to follow. LinkedIn’s sustainability activities go beyond the minimum requirements set by the U.S. authorities. Jeff Weiner has made sure that the social networking giant would transition to green sources of power and support alternative energy companies, according to the company’s official website (LinkedIn Corporation, 2021). LinkedIn Corporation (2021) proclaims that it is committed to removing its footprint and becoming fully carbon negative through the Carbon Disclosure Project. Zero waste initiatives, shifts towards alternative power sources, and support of green start-ups are all a part of Jeff Weiner’s coordinated efforts to ensure sustainability.

Leader Influence Tactics

In terms of the tactics Jeff Weiner has used to succeed in both of the aforementioned CSR aspects, they include leading by example, respect, and trust, as well as telling stories. In chapter 8, DuBrin (2018) notes that effective influence strategies result in commitment rather than apathetic compliance or aggressive resistance. Assessing the success of the LinkedIn sustainability and workplace equality initiatives, it is apparent that the tactics employed by Weiner remain efficient even after he departs from the CEO position in 2020. Weiner has mentioned multiple times the importance of compassion and respect in the process of attaining organizational goals to “create a virtuous cycle, where otherwise a vicious cycle would exist” (as cited in Schulman, 2019, para. 3). This tactic of leading concerning workers’ well-being, personal fulfillment, and dignity contributes to the company’s larger social responsibility agenda.

Apart from the aforementioned influence tactic, Weiner tells stories to inspire the staff and ensure their commitment to organizational goals. LinkedIn’s former CEO is an excellent storyteller who can keep workers engaged through uplifting speeches. However, he utilizes this tactic on a larger scale and weaves narratives into the company’s vision, mission, primary objectives, and priorities (Bariso, 2018). He considers this one of the most emotionally intelligent strategies, which contribute to the success of the company.

Recommendations to Other Leaders

To call itself truly socially responsible, a company has to maximize the efforts it invests in aimed at increasing the welfare of society. Nevertheless, businesses should remain profitable and enter new markets to sustain themselves and not miss an opportunity for growth. Nygaard et al. (2017) argue that the only way to maintain a balance between gains and CSR is through values-based leadership, primarily focusing on leading by example. Nygaard et al. (2017) recommend learners avoid using coercive power due to its proven inefficiency in improving workers’ ethical behavior. Another piece of advice is to exercise the power of expertise to develop trust while leading by example. Researchers note that the workforce’s “ethical values are positively influenced by the perceived expertise of the headquarters central managers” (Nygaard et al., 2017, p. 137). These recommendations are integral for increasing the effectiveness of the aforementioned tactic used by Weiner and generating favorable ethical values within an enterprise, which will then be translated into its external operations.

One of the defining characteristics that distinguish leaders from general managers is the skill they have in telling fascinating yet efficient stories. In the context of social responsibility, executives often have to make sacrifices, find compromises, and disregard short-term gains to serve a larger goal. Thus, many shareholders and stakeholders may find it difficult to cooperate if they do not see any benefits for themselves.

An executive officer is tasked with persuading large groups of people, and storytelling proves to be an effective tool for that. Research demonstrates that creating and sharing engaging narratives as well as integrating them into the company’s vision positively affects customer and employee engagement (Snyder et al., 2017). Based on the study conducted by Kristen Snyder and her colleagues, other leaders can take away two important recommendations. First, they have to ensure their narratives convey one central message as it makes it easier for the audience to focus. Second, instead of relying on success stories, the theme of failure should be integrated into speeches but only if they contain lessons at the end.

Conclusion: Reflection on Learning

In conclusion, this project has taught me a lot about the relationship between leadership and corporate social responsibility. A successful leader frequently uses influence tactics to make sure their followers are committed to organizational goals. An employee or a customer can instantly make a connection if a storyteller manages to build their narrative off memorable associations. Effective executives maximize the efficiency of their speeches by demonstrating to the listeners that each problem is a learning opportunity while showing their imperfections through stories about failure. Another lesson I have gained is that to secure ethical changes within an organization, employees have to identify with its values, which is best achieved by leaders presenting as role models. As for specific objectives, I have set up a goal for myself to complete a storytelling course online. I believe that the insights learned will help me to generate inspiring and efficient narratives in the future.

References

Bariso, J. (2018). LinkedIn’s CEO just shared an uplifting story about his family –and the lesson it teaches is priceless. Inc. Web.

Columbus, L. (2021). Tech leads Glassdoor’s 100 best places to work this year. Forbes. Web.

DuBrin, A. J. (2018). Leadership: Research findings, practice, and skills (9^th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

LinkedIn Corporation. (2021). Environmental sustainability practices. Social Impact LinkedIn. Web.

Nygaard, A., Biong, H., Silkoset, R., & Kidwell, R. E. (2017). Leading by example: Values-based strategy to instill ethical conduct. Journal of Business Ethics, 145(1), 133–139. Web.

Schulman, D. (2019). Managing compassionately: My conversation with LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner. LinkedIn. Web.

Snyder, K., Hedlund, C., Ingelsson, P., & Bäckström, I. (2017). Storytelling: a co-creative process to support value-based leadership. International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, 9(3/4), 484–497. Web.

Introduction

In a highly competitive business of social networking platforms, it is challenging for a company to maintain its longevity and success for a long time. However, as the trends of LinkedIn’s growth in revenue and users’ activity demonstrate, persistent leading position in the market and deliberation to competitive advantage contribute to success. The present report is designed to identify trends in LinkedIn’s revenue and analyze the attributes of its continuous growth.

LinkedIn Growth Trend Determinants

The abundance of information and statistical data available on LinkedIn allows for thorough research of the company’s development and current trends in performance. Indeed, data availability indicates that the company is transparent and driven by its mission of building meaningful connections between people (Davis et al., 2020). LinkedIn was launched in 2003 as a professional network service, steadily occupied a stable position in the market, and was acquired by Microsoft in 2013 (Tankovska, 2021a). The company has gained the number of “more than 500 million users globally in 2017,” thus becoming “the dominating professional networking social medium” (Olsson et al., 2020, p. 2). As a leading constituent of the social networking sites sphere, LinkedIn provides its users with multiple opportunities to advance their career and employment opportunities on a global scale by interacting and forming connections with professionals from all over the world. However, the rate of annual revenue growth and an increase in the number of users is the most demonstrative determinants of the growth trend of the company, which is demonstrated in the evidence section.

Evidence

Within the past four years, LinkedIn has gained unprecedented rates in revenue growth and a number of registered users. As the data on the company’s operation indicate, LinkedIn continues to attract the interest of users online, with the Google search rate having increased by over 60% within the past decade, despite the long-term existence of the organization (Osman, 2021). Overall, a vivid indicator of the growth trend is the number of registered users on the platform. As Figure 1 demonstrates, the number of users registered on LinkedIn now has reached the point of 740 million members in 200 countries of the world (Osman, 2021). Thus, such a significant number demonstrates that the company occupies a solid place in its market and has a potential for sustainable development in the future.

Despite the importance of the data indicating the number of members, the essential indicator of a company’s growth is the statistical data on its annual revenues. Indeed, LinkedIn has grown significantly between 2017 and 2020, gaining over 8 billion dollars in 2020 (Tankovska, 2021b). As Figure 2 shows, LinkedIn earned somewhat more than 2 billion dollars in 2017, after which the annual revenue rate steadily increased, reaching its highest point in 2020.

Conclusion

In summation, the provided statistical data and research results demonstrate that LinkedIn is a highly competitive growing company with a rich history of business success and global dominance of the market. In terms of its attraction of users, the trends show that the company occupies the leading position among other social networking websites. The biggest and most developed countries are leading users of the platform, which contributes to its continuous growth. The increasing number of users and their readiness to pay for premium accounts predetermines the annual revenue growth of LinkedIn, which characterizes the financial performance of the company during the past few years. The analyzed trends indicate that the company holds a stable competitive position in its market and is likely to remain a leader in the niche of professional networking in the future.

References

Davis, J., Wolff, H. G., Forret, M. L., & Sullivan, S. E. (2020). Networking via LinkedIn: An examination of usage and career benefits. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 118, 1-15.

Olsson, A. L., Snellman, M., Deppert, K., & Lövkrona, I. (2020). Professional networking by gender: A case study on LinkedIn contacts for a professor in science.Center for Open Science. Web.

Osman, M. (2020). Mind-blowing LinkedIn statistics and facts (2021). Kinsta. Web.

Tankovska, H. (2021a). Leading countries based on LinkedIn audience size as of January 2021(in millions). Statista. Web.

Tankovska, H. (2021b). LinkedIn: Annual revenue 2017-2020. Statista. Web.

The strategic linkage model (SLM) or strategy map represents cause-and-effect relationships between strategic goals. The SLM offers two main perspectives, “activity” and “outcome” (Rabe & Ali, 2019, p. 15). The bottom part of the model contains goals related to LinkedIn’s most important activities. It covers business processes, cycle times, and productivity. Further, it describes what needs to happen to sustain and further develop these processes in terms of people, product, and process development. LinkedIn should undertake the following steps to succeed in its strategy. The first is to increase the proportion of non-English speakers joining this networking platform. The second is to encourage a higher participation rate of medium-small businesses in this venue. The third is cooperating with local recruitment platforms to be more attractive and relevant to the regional population. Next, LinkedIn should aim to rebuild its privacy protection facility and rules. Lastly, lessening the gap in the quantity between job hunters and recruiting companies will be helpful.

The top part of the model contains goals related to the desired outcomes of the activities undertaken, for instance, how the company wants to be perceived by external stakeholders and how this will ultimately affect its financial results and economic value. Each of the discussed activities may lead to one or more outcomes, and multiple consequences may similarly be defined by more than one action. The first desired outcome is for the company to be profitable, achieving 15 billion in revenue in 2025, which the new members and businesses can determine. The second anticipated result is being inclusive, which entails building a corporate culture of diversity, harmony, and motivation. Non-anglophone members and the lessened recruitment gap will most likely lead to it.

Third, LinkedIn should expect to become influential, evolving into the most popular recruitment platform in the Asian market. This outcome is predicted to be caused by a diverse membership and local cooperation. The fourth outcome is being trustworthy or, in other words, having a reputation for keeping users’ information strictly confidential, which a better privacy policy may achieve. Lastly, the last effect focuses on the sustainability of its existence, becoming a long-term venue for the users; this can be completed through local cooperation and privacy protection.

Good knowledge of the company’s industry allows one to carefully select a strategy model or a combination of strategy models. LinkedIn’s implemented strategy is a combination of intentional and emergent strategies. Moreover, their main driver in strategy management is the total customer solution. LinkedIn’s performance metrics design has three main principles: it should be flexible, simple, and effective. However, various metrics can be implemented and tracked, like customer integration or dominant exchange. The presented model of strategic connections is implemented based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPIs are combined to form composite KPIs that clearly illustrate how an organization progresses and controls quality. For example, processing time efficiency or value-added time can be chosen as simple decisions, which, in turn, will affect the low-cost item in the model.

Reference

Rabe, M., & Ali, M. (2019). Balanced Scorecard development over the last 26 years. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 21, 13–16.