Allyis facilitates sharing-based work

What: Allyis, based in Kirkland

Who: Ethan Yarbrough, 40, president and co-founder

Mission: Develop client systems that increase collaboration and knowledge-management abilities while incorporating social-networking techniques.

Social studies: Allyis' specialty is the application of enterprise social software, or "Enterprise 2.0." This involves the creation of corporate applications that emulate Twitter, Facebook and everything in between. The software is designed to encourage participants to contribute the material needed to complete a task. "We make it easier for people to find exactly what they need to know," Yarbrough said.

All or nothing: Yarbrough takes what he describes as a "holistic approach" in systems design, focusing on specific challenges before discussing specific applications to meet them. This includes an examination of a company's culture and relationships. "Every company is its own society, with its own social norms," he said. "By taking advantage of this, we give them the knowledge to make them faster and developing creative solutions."

Employees: 250

Financials: The private company says it's profitable but doesn't disclose details.

Pass the pie: Sharing requires a change in behavior, and some convincing. "You can't just ask [employees] to share," Yarbrough said. "You need to give them an incentive. This can be tangible, where every time they add a document or upload a video they can receive points, which can be redeemed for perks or benefits."

Accountability: Implementing a social-networking-based structure allows a permanent record of who said what to whom, cutting back on vagaries and gossip. Said Yarbrough: "The fact that everything is attributed keeps people honest and well-behaved."

— Charles Bermant

This article was originally published Sept. 28, 2009, and corrected the same day. Allyis' name was mispelled in the original version.