Netcooler.com - The Company WaterCooler Gets High Tech

NetCooler is essentially Digg for company related news. Users such as yourself submit news stories, gossip, and information about the company they work for or simply about companies they’re interested in. It takes the office water cooler to cyberspace. Users can comment on each item, give their 2 cents, agree, disagree, complain about its veracity or merit, etc. By voting, items get demerits or promotions. The aggregated tally gives an overview of what the community as a whole thinks. While users can post info about the quality of coffee or break rooms at their respective companies, no compromising or confidential info is allowed. Users can use the site to ask questions, to get opinions, to get things changed possibly. Management could use it to float ideas, job seekers to get fair answers. Joining is free.

“ Netcooler marries the prototypical workplace watercooler with some powerful new communication tools.
From the moment of launch, folks could interact with their existing contacts and networks to inform, talk, ask, answer, vote… in short, organize information around companies and other places of work. The site is open to all, so with enough people contributing, communities are built around these workplaces. As each community becomes more active and robust, its value as a resource to folks also grows.
We think that Netcooler has the potential to blow away the physical watercooler as the center of workplace community. It may even be powerful enough to change the balance of power in the workplace, in some respects.”

Netcooler isn’t merely another Digg with another agenda. It could actually become a springboard for launching company changes, for promoting transparency and community engagement. The site presents itself as a means to discuss and question work places so that members can gain insight (wisdom of the crowd) and pertinent information.

Will this site actually accomplish what it’s designed to do? Will it merely become an outlet for company specific news, or will users actually use the site to get things changed, to discuss etc? Is this the best format to do so?