What is the system for collaboration and social business and what technologies do they use?
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March 18, 2019 Thanks to today’s workplace collaborative tools, productivity is no longer chained to a physical desk. The office can be anywhere you have an Internet connection, meetings held from the comfort of your home and tasks ticked off on one teamwide, real-time collaborative software suite. These tools help colleagues today be more communicative, more collaborative and more cooperative than ever. Yet what seems like a straightforward series of software and hardware is actually a web of ever-developing collaborative tech products in dozens of forms, each offering its own unique platforms, capabilities and benefits. What are the essential types of collaboration technology for today’s office? We’ve outlined a definitive guide of collaboration technology to help you determine which tools glitter and which are actually gold — all to better position your teams toward success. What Is Collaborative Technology?Collaborative technology refers to tools and systems designed to better facilitate group work, both in-office and remote. Also known as groupware, these pieces of technology trim the costs and time associated with facilitating group work, from designating roles and responsibilities to routing in-situ documents to checking and approving project parts. They allow for more intuitive and coordinated group problem solving across an entire team’s workflows. While there are dozens after dozens of choices for collaborative enterprise technology in the marketplace, the majority of tools are defined by the following core features:
What Are Collaborative Methodologies and Techniques in the Workplace?The dominant collaboration methods in an office or workplace will be a reflection of the organization’s broader culture. 1. TeamworkOrganizational psychology research has shown there are three fundamental elements to successful group work regardless of setting:
2. Two-Way TelecommunicationsTelecommunications allows groups to collaborate even when not in close physical proximity via voice, video and data-based technology. This means coordination and activity at times and in locations that otherwise would be difficult, if not impossible. Travel expenditures are reduced and the pool of subject-matter experts widens, strengthening overall work. 3. Proprietary or Premise-Based SoftwarePremise-based collaborative software is bought and installed onto individual desktops on a company’s network. These tools expand the shared project management functions and capacities of teams, allowing members to track and organize project tasks as well as locate important network files, make informational updates and message anyone with access to the on-site software. 4. Software-as-a-ServiceSoftware-as-a-service (SaaS) is the next iteration of on-premise software. Rather than installing software onto individual computers, an organization instead purchases a software subscription, which allows anyone to use that software regardless of location so long as they’regranted permission via your virtual private server (VPN). SaaS combines the team-enhancing communications of traditional proximity and two-way voice, video and data collaboration tools with the project management features of proprietary software, unlocking truecollaborative technology for the office. What Are the Types of Collaborative Software Tools?There are three software types, or three “C’s,” comprising today’s collaborative software tools. While each focuses on simplifying a particular aspect of group work — such as calendar sharing, meeting conferencing and document updating — together, these classifications of collaborative software technology open the door for borderless team project management. 1. Communication TechnologyCommunication technology is the first “C.” As its name suggests, communication software tools allow for messages, chat groups and conversations to be conducted between individuals and parties via the Internet, whether those parties are in different parts of the office or different parts of the world. Communication tools also tend to be unstructured. They do not require prior scheduling or calendar sharing to be effective — in fact, they’re not intended to be formally preemptive at all. Examples of communication technology include:
2. Conferencing TechnologyConferencing tools are the second “C” of collaborative software. Two core features define them:
It’s this second component distinguishing conferencing technology from sheer communications technology. Depending on the software used, conferencing technology allows for everyone to access, make changes and work on the unified screen all at once or for a single presenter to control screen movements and functions, such as during a presentation. Types of conferencing tools for the workplace are:
3. Coordination TechnologyCoordination technology rounds out the three main types of collaborative software. Arguably the most holistic of collaborative tools, coordination software is designed to integrate both teamwork and taskwork functions. In other words, they allow individuals and groups to connect interpersonally as well as coordinate work tasks and activities — making end-to-end workflow management simpler, unsiloed and more efficient. Some examples of today’s types of coordination tools include:
What Are the Two Dimensions of Collaborative Software?There are two key dimensions, or operational uses, for collaborative software — synchronous and asynchronous. Together, these two software dimensions define how a tool or technology can be used — that is, at what time, in what place and by how many people. All communication, conferencing or coordination software will either be synchronous or asynchronous. Let’s break these software dimensions down further. 1. Synchronous or Real-Time Collaborative SoftwareSynchronous collaboration programs work in real-time, meaning two or more people are communicating, reviewing and collaborating on the same platform at once. There are no lags or delays in responses regardless of the communicator’s location. You can expect to receive an answer or hear a solution to a particular question, prompt or task almost as soon as you relay it. Some examples of synchronous collaborative software in the office today include instant messaging, chat forums, VoIP calling and digital whiteboard applications, to name a few. Like most technology, real-time collaboration has benefits and drawbacks:
2. Asynchronous or Non-Real Time Collaborative SoftwareAsynchronous software makes up the other category of today’s collaborative tools. Unlike the immediate interactions that define real-time software, asynchronous platforms are not designed for instantaneous tasks or activities. Brief waiting periods between when someone initiates interaction and when that interaction is satisfied is not only expected, it’s often beneficial. Asynchronous collaborative software examples include email, group calendars, document sharing and some enterprise resource management systems. They include pros and cons depending on the needs of the collaborators:
What Are the Classifications of Collaborative Tools?Today’s suite of collaborative software can be classified even further, allowing organizations to adopt the tools and technologies truly suited for their type of work. 1. By HostAll software must “go” somewhere — that is, it must be installed or set up someplace where it will be accessible to your workforce. How that software is set up, and subsequently how approved users can log in and use it, is part of a broader IT concern called hosting. Today, most collaboration software can be “hosted” in several ways, each with its own advantages:
2. By Domain ServedCollaboration tools can also be classified according to what tasks or activities they help manage. Certain business functions are essential no matter what industry or niche your organization falls under. The near-universal demand for assistance in these domains means many pieces of software with a particular focus or function. Some of the more prominent domains-focused software includes:
3. The Three C’sCollaboration software is also widely classified according to the three C’s described in the previous section — communication, conferencing and coordination. What Are Other Types of Collaborative Tools?Video conferencing, screen sharing, employee scheduling, project managing, spreadsheet programming — the list of collaborative enterprise software is long and diverse yet often classified by their primary functions. Yet what about those pieces of software that blend activities, or perhaps don’t fall neatly into one collaborative category? We’ve compiled a few of these types of communication tools as well. 1. Document SynchronizationEver been forced to manually, line by line, match two different versions of a document? Three versions? Even more? With document synchronization software, tracing the breadcrumb trail of document tweaks, tailorings, additions or deletions takes only a few clicks. Plus, these pieces of software synthesize separate documents into one fresh sheet based on directory inputs, saving teams from redundantly creating documents. 2. Digital WhiteboardsWhiteboarding software takes the meeting room wall staple from the physical to the digital. It’s a dream tool for remote teams during a conference video call. Colleagues can take turns drawing graphics, plotting charts, mapping concepts or even jotting down quick notes on a shared screen, then save or erase those images once the next person needs the board. 3. Collaborative Screenshots and VideoshotsShare pictures and even videos of your screen using communication software that turns screengrabs into condensed links. This collaborative feature makes both real-time and asynchronous troubleshooting easier. Imagine you’re having problems saving work in your team’s new document-management software. You can send a video illustrating your process difficulties to a team member, who can then send you a link of their own with a step-by-step, visual tutorial. No more complicated or difficult-to-follow written directions or long-chain responses. 4. Collaborative Accounting and Budgeting SoftwareTeam members sprinkled remotely can use financial planning, accounting (FP&A) and other budgeting software to generate and send invoices, track expenditures, view outgoing payment deadlines, submit time sheets, approve reimbursement reports and more, all from one platform. Make the Most of Your Company’s Group Work Through Next-Generation Collaborative TechnologyIt’s no secret — businesses today must manage their technology before technology manages them, causing more headaches than the initial collaboration task they were meant to solve. Consolidated Technologies, Inc. is here to help you better manage the ever-changing, exponentially fast world of today’s — and tomorrow’s — technology. We offer unified communications and managed IT services for small and mid-sized companies who know there’s a better way — find out how. Contact our system experts to see how managed software services can grant your wish for better office group work today. What technologies do collaboration and social business use?The most widely used are Internet-based audio conferencing and videoconferencing systems, online software services such as Google Apps/Google Sites, cyberlockers, corporate collaboration systems such as Lotus Notes and Microsoft SharePoint, and enterprise social networking tools such as Salesforce Chatter, Microsoft ...
Why are systems for collaboration and social business Soimportant and what technologies do they use?Why are systems for collaboration and social business so important and what technologies do they use? It is important for globalization. Collab/Social business enhance innovation, productivity, quality and customer service.
What are the tools and technologies for collaboration?From instant messaging to video conferencing tools (the best alternative to face-to-face meetings), there are many options for team collaboration tools:. Flowdock. Flowdock is a group and private chat platform. ... . GoToMeeting. ... . Slack. ... . Dapulse. ... . ProofHub. ... . Redbooth. ... . Trello. ... . What is collaboration and social business?Social collaboration is the process through which multiple people, groups, or departments can interact with each other to achieve common goals. At the most basic level, social collaboration happens when people work together as a team on a particular project.
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