I don't know about you, but I have seen an huge increase in discussion around collaboration in the last month. Initially I thought that maybe this was me re-framing my thought processes, but my RSS feeds keep bringing up more discussion on collaboration. Interestingly, these discussions have not focused on collaboration tools, but rather on the people aspects of collaboration and the absence of vendor led discussions has also been noticed!
Recently, I have been dedicating a lot more of my thinking around the move to a networked world, and what is refreshing is that collaboration is a key aspect of this fundamental shift that is now occurring. But we are talking about collaboration not only face to face but also in a distributed framework, where teams are not co-located but can be located globally. Some are calling this Collaboration 2.0 which in reality is the focus shift from technology being the solution to an enabler for people to collaborate.
What I did find interesting is how collaboration can be regarded as one of the catalysts underpinning the four drivers I have previously mentioned that are moving us into a networked world:
Web 2.0 - it is people's desire to communicate and collaborate that has driven the development of Web 2.0 tools, rather than technology for technologies sake. So in utilising these tools, I believe people are now beginning to ask how they can truly collaborate. Rather than having some technology thrust upon them and being told "here you go - no excuse not to collaborate" people are selecting tools and processes that more closely fit their needs around collaboration.
The Rise of the Participation Culture - the new generation just beginning to come into the workforce are intuitively collaborating as this is the way they have always interacted and got what they wanted. The challenge now is how to collaborate in groups that span a multi-generational divide
Changing Business Models - the move to greater transparency, co-opetition, peer-to-peer networks etc are constantly challenging the traditional command and control structures. Connection across company and even industry boundaries is driving new ways to innovate. Central to this is how to effectively collaborate in these networks.
Shift back towards community - a desire to more effectively contribute to participate in the community also requires effective collaboration both at an individual and group level. If anything the challenge is for people to understand how to sharpen their listening skills!
However, I also see lots of organisations and businesses who do not have a clue about the change that is occurring around them. It almost seems that we are on the cusp of a "phase transition" i.e from water to ice - unless you recognise the fundamental shift that is going to happen, your chances of adapting to a changing environment are significantly less.
