What Is Groupware Software And Why Is It Important?
What is groupware software? It's always a good idea to figure out what the technical terms mean before you try and read an article about them. In this instance, groupware (also called collaborative software) is simply referring to programs that help people work together in a collective fashion at remote locations. By the way, you can also have real time collaboration - but that's another definition. So let's stick to the basics of groupware. Groupware software is also a critical part of a field of study called the Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
Groupware software can include things like sharing calendars, collective writing, e-mail handling, shared database access, and e-meetings where every person is able to see and show information to others in the meeting. As a package, groupware software is pretty dynamic and can make a significant difference in how your workplace operates.
Another interesting thing about groupware software is the fact that it can be broken down into categories for group members who work in synchronous groupware and asynchronous groupware. So what kinds of products are we actually talking about here? Groupware software includes programs like Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange.
Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange expedite calendar sharing, e-mail handling and file duplication across the system so all users see the same information. In addition, e-meetings where users are screen to screen (or face to face) are handled by CU-SeeMe and Microsoft NetMeeting. Great software with great applications, but, how do you get people to use it? Good question. This is actually one of the biggest stumbling blocks in implementing groupware software. And why is that? In a word - training! People need to be comfortable using it (meaning they need to be trained) and if they aren't comfortable, they won't use the software. So at this point, you offer incentives - financial or psychological. Another reason groupware software is difficult to implement is because the idea of everyone working together towards a common goal is foreign to many corporate cultures. Translation: politics gets in the way and competition drives the corporation, not cooperation. Shifting the dynamics of the organization will have to take place at every level in the company - starting at the top. Assuming the collaborative/cooperative corporation model, and that the organization would use collaborative software management tools, here are some of the systems they could implement: project management, workflow, knowledge management, extranet systems, hosted intranet, social software, and online spread sheets. As you can see, groupware software is powerful mojo and can make a world of difference to an organizations financial and corporate bottom line.
Knowledge Management
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