There's a lot of buzz around Web 2.0, although there's still some debate on exactly what this technology entails, how it applies to today's business models, and which components bring true value. Some use the term to describe a social phenomenon, others a web economy platform, yet others focus almost solely on the technical framework.

Truth is, there’s something to all of it, but far from everything is probably of relevance to you or your company. This guide will help you research key aspects of Web 2.0, such as social networking in an enterprise setting, security concerns, governance, and the true value of Web 2.0 frameworks like Ruby on Rails.

Remember that you can sign up for ebizQ's Web 2.0 and SOA roundtable discussion on March 19 to learn more. It is sure to be interesting, so sign up now!

• Origins of Web 2.0
• Web 2.0 Technologies
• Technological Backend
• Case Studies and How Web 2.0 Boosts Business
• Trends
• Security Concerns
• Governance and other IT issues
• Resources

Origins of the term

Web 2.0 (Wikipedia)
It is fitting that Wikipedia provides one of the most comprehensive sources of information on Web 2.0, as it is itself one of the best examples of how “the power of many” can create an exceptional source of knowledge. This entry has an extensive definition of the term, characteristic, a brief technology overview and criticisms of the fundamentals of Web 2.0 itself.

What is Web 2.0 (O’Reilly)
Industry guru Tim O’Reilly is generally credited for putting the Web 2.0 concept firmly on the map through his 2004 Web 2.0 conference. This article outlines the main findings of that conference and the refinement and clarification that took place in the year afterwards. If you’re not sure of the basic concept, the list of comparisons between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 on the front page will help.