Collaboration 2.0

A friend of mine today talked about a new book he read, Collaboration 2.0. It seems everything today has a “2.0” after it—Web 2.0, Security 2.0, and now Collaboration 2.0. Though, when he told me about it, I was interested. I haven’t read the book yet, but one of our firm’s core values is “Active Collaboration” so I was immediately interested. I know how valuable collaboration has been to us, so I expect anything I can learn by reading this book would be valuable as well.

Collaboration is the hot new buzz word that everyone has adopted. However, it is not something that comes naturally to most people. Collaboration is often replaced with “teamwork”, but it isn’t that. It is so much more.

Collaboration, particularly as it is used at C/D/H, is the default problem solving approach that assumes others will have input on virtually every decision. It means that nothing is finally decided until others weigh in. Some of those opinions are gathered via IM, some via Web Conferencing (Collaboration 2.0 ideas), some face to face, some voice to voice, or the now rather pedestrian, email.

Collaboration 2.0 is the name we put on improved and enlightened communication. It is company portals, it is WebDav and document sharing, it is video projection of agendas and meeting notes, it is simultaneous document editing, it is presence awareness, it is “ping’ing” people to get a quick yes or no, it is providing systems that don’t dead end into voicemail, but route calls directly to the person who has the answer, it is not business as usual, it is a step above. It shortens the time to make decisions, it involves more people and integrates more opinions, it is not solitary and isolated but expansive and diverse. Collaboration 2.0 is a mindset that progressive businesses are adopting in order to be more responsive, more proactive, and more creative than those who use historical email and voicemail.

Are you thinking about Collaboration 2.0? Do you know the various solutions in the market that might help address this communication deficiency? Have you heard of Office Communications Server? How about Teaming + Conferencing? Webex? Microsoft Office SharePoint Server? These are some of the current tools other companies are using to facilitate their employees collaboration. These tools are just that; tools. The corporate will and culture must not just support, but encourage collaboration. Tools such as these will make that dream a reality.