Consumer toy or corporate tool: the iPad enters the workplace

When the iPad was first released, its marketing was geared largely toward consumers. But now the iPad can be seen in the hands of all sorts of professionals, from doctors to executives. The iPad's entry into the business world is a textbook example of consumerization -- the process of bottom-up integration into the workplace by consumers and employees versus a traditional, top-down corporate-leadership push. Companies should approach the iPad from an employee's perspective, a customer's perspective, and a personal perspective. Here are several tenets that a company can follow to change how they adopt new devices and ensure their iPad solution is a good fit: 1. Encourage iPad exploration and feedback in the workplace. 2. Conduct behavioral research. 3. Challenge the "Me Too" syndrome. 4. Be open-minded with your solution creation. 5. Build in flexibility for post roll-out. 6. Communicate.