Spotlight on Productivity

Get a "Second Life" at work
Avatar universe giant Second Life has launched an open beta version of a corporate virtual world aimed at improving interactions and collaborations with virtual workers, Kit Eaton writes. It comes with seven pre-built environments, including an auditorium and a conference center. A dedicated server for a company costs $50,000. FastCompany.com (11/4)

B-School Management Insight

Twitter users double as product developers
Twitter is "smart enough" or "lucky enough" to have its own users come up with new innovations for its product, management innovation professor Eric von Hippel says. For example, a new feature on Twitter called "Lists" allows users to find key people to follow, but also allows them to design new elements for it. MIT Sloan Management Review (subscription required) (11/2009)

Best Practices

5 ways to improve your company's career site
To attract top talent to your corporate Web site, make sure you have a "job search" box on the home page and send out job alerts via several media sources not just e-mail. Also, provide candidates with a variety of ways to connect with your company and focus on "compelling" aspects of a program or value. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Workforce (11/4)

3 ways to avoid costly classification missteps
Make sure your employee classifications are in compliance or you could risk an IRS audit as government scrutiny intensifies, Mike Zambon warns. To reduce your risks, perform internal audits, move misclassified workers to a managed-service provider and pre-evaluate job candidates. The Seamless Workforce blog (11/3)

Man's sex-discrimination lawsuit costs Lawry's
Lawry's restaurant chain will pay more than $1 million as part of a settlement agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over a sexual-discrimination lawsuit. A Lawry's busboy filed the complaint, saying he was prevented from earning more money by waiting tables. Google/The Associated Press (11/3)

Managing Your Own Career

5 tips for using social media to boost your personal brand
To develop and strengthen your personal brand through social media, make sure you post information that reflects positively on your work and demonstrates your skills. Also, don't post negative information about your manager or company and focus on career-related posts during work hours. CubeRules.com (11/4)

Blogging is not a load-bearing wall in the building of your career
Don't let anyone insist you have to maintain a blog to boost your career, Lance Haun writes. While you should always have an easy-to-find online profile, you can help your career in other ways such as speaking and volunteering through local associations or using various social media. Rehaul.com (11/3)

Featured Content The Benefits of Outsourcing Your Billing  Michelle V. Rafter Network-Attached Storage Is the New "Multifunction Printer" for SMBs  Jon Stokes  from Ars Technica Proper Credit Policies & Procedures Can Help Minimize Your Cash Flow  Denise O'Berry

The Water Cooler

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Look waaay up: It's the world's tallest building
The latest world's tallest building will open in Dubai on Jan. 4, a month later than planned. While the final height has not been revealed, the skyscraper already stands more than 2,600 feet and has more than 1 million square feet of glass panels on its facade. That's enough to cover 14 soccer fields. ABC News/The Associated Press (11/4)

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