How to Restrict Web 2.0 Applications Use in the Workplace? Example of Google+ Hangouts

Abstract

This paper presents a system that ensures the compliance of Web 2.0 applications use with organizations' policies. These applications are usually perceived as distractions more than productivity booster. To this end, guidelines are provided as restrictions that capture how, when, and where to use Web 2.0 applications' social actions (e.g., chat, post, and comment). The restrictions are formalized and then implemented into an application deployed on top of Google+ Hangouts. Examples of restrictions that the application enforces at run-time, include maximum number of messages to exchange and authorized time slots for exchanging messages.