Are business networking sites such as LinkedIn an asset or a liability?

Business networking site LinkedIn has over 50 million members, including Sir Richard Branson and Lord Sugar. The Daily Telegraph estimates that over 10 per cent of the world’s professionals have already signed up.

Of course, online networking still has the potential for time-wasting and the risk of users damaging the organisation’s reputation. But banning access altogether could be counterproductive for any business that thrives on people information.