| The word 'Collaborate' gets used frequently in today's | | | | Well the answer to that lies in the fact that you need |
| workplace but what does it really mean and how can | | | | to define what your collaboration needs are and then |
| your organization benefit from it. | | | | how to achieve this. There is as much point in stating |
| By definition, collaboration simply means working | | | | simply 'we need to collaborate' as there is in saying |
| together to achieve a common objective or goal. All | | | | 'we need to do something' without working out what |
| facets of life, including work, involve some element of | | | | that something is. |
| collaboration as soon as more than one person | | | | You need to define your business process needs |
| engages in any part of an activity. Simply talking with | | | | clearly and establish how the areas, departments and |
| someone about a problem, challenge, idea, etc... is a | | | | projects in your organization can benefit by being more |
| very rudimentary example of collaboration. | | | | cohesive and collaborative. |
| Taking this a step further in the business world, | | | | - Do you need people to work together on design |
| collaboration usually extends to the routing of | | | | documents? |
| information (usually in document or email form), so all | | | | - Do you need to efficiently assemble project status |
| parties are 'kept in the loop'. | | | | information? |
| However, today's collaboration software and | | | | - Do you need the ability to solicit feedback from your |
| applications add rich features such as | | | | team without gathering them together in a meeting |
| - centralized document and information management | | | | room? |
| - process and document workflow | | | | - Do you need to log, assign and track issues, task or |
| - project or team workspaces | | | | work requests? These and more questions need to |
| - shared calendars | | | | be asked before you rush out and implement any |
| - discussion areas | | | | system. |
| - surveys | | | | So it's really up to you to define 'collaboration' and |
| - blogging | | | | what it means to you. |
| - wiki | | | | Once you do you will be in a position to design what |
| - etc... Studies have shown that effective workplace | | | | you need and select the correct tool(s) for the job. |
| collaboration on projects, tasks and day-to-day | | | | If you and your team engage the philosophy or |
| activities, can dramatically increase teamwork and | | | | working together and you use the systems available |
| efficiency while reducing stress, conflict and rework. | | | | to you, it won't be long before you are celebrating the |
| So why don't we all just collaborate? | | | | success of your next venture as a collaborative effort. |