First Class Collaboration

Yes, it is. We long ago passed the time when we continued to need middle management at least in the numbers that we have it.

This is a great question. The article includes a 160 page PDF article.

Very authoritative study.

Really interesting article on the future of collaboration and communication.Can't wait to try the 3D immersive environments in particular.

I am not sure collaboration is the new normal. It should have been there all along. Linear progress is not always the case. It is hoped for.

"Working smarter in the future workplace starts by organizing to embrace networks, manage complexity, and build trust. The 21st century connected enterprise is a new world of work and learning." We are trying to build community and not just teams. Trust is a community quality. What happens when we disagree? Trust answers that question.

On the negative side, we are seeing that simple work keeps getting automated, like automatic bank machines. Complicated work, for which standardized processes can be developed, usually gets outsourced to the lowest cost of labor.

On the positive side, complex work can provide unique business advantages and creative work can help to identify new business opportunities. However, complex work is difficult to copy and creative work constantly changes.

But both complex and creative work require greater implicit knowledge. Implicit knowledge, unlike explicit knowledge, is difficult to codify and standardize. It is also difficult to transfer.

Implicit knowledge is best developed through conversations and social relationships. It requires trust before people willingly share their know-how. Social networks can enable better and faster knowledge feedback for people who trust each and share their knowledge. But hierarchies and work control structures constrain conversations. Few people want to share their ignorance with the boss who controls their paycheck.But if we agree that complex and creative work are where long-term business value lies, then learning amongst ourselves is the real work in organizations today. In this emerging network era, social learning is how work gets done.

Becoming a successful social organization will require more than just the implementation of enterprise social technologies. Developing, supporting, and encouraging people to use a range of new social workplace skills will be just as important. Individual skills, in addition to new organizational support structures, are both required.

Personal knowledge management (PKM) skills can help to make sense of, and learn from, the constant stream of information that workers encounter from social channels both inside and outside the organization. Keeping track of digital information flows and separating the signal from the noise is difficult. There is little time to make sense of it all. We may feel like we are just not able to stay current and make informed decisions. PKM gives a framework to develop a network of people and sources of information that one can draw from on a daily basis. PKM is a process of filtering, creating, and discerning, and it also helps manage individual professional development through continuous learning.

Collaboration skills can help workers to share knowledge so that people work and learn cooperatively in teams, communities of practice, and social networks. In order to support collaborative working and learning in the organization, it is important to experience what it means to work and learn collaboratively, and understand the new community and collaboration skills that are involved. “You can’t train someone to be social, only show them how to be social.” Practice is necessary.

The power of social networks, like electricity, will inevitably change almost every existing business model. Leaders need to understand the importance of organizational architecture. Working smarter in the future workplace starts by organizing to embrace networks, manage complexity, and build trust. The 21st century connected enterprise is a new world of work and learning.

For example, traditional training structures, based on institutions, programs, courses and classes, are changing. Probably the biggest change we are seeing is that the content delivery model is being replaced by more social and collaborative frameworks. This is due to almost universal Internet connectivity, especially with mobile devices, as well as a growing familiarity with online social networks.

Work is changing and so organizational learning must change. There is an urgent need for organizational support functions (HR, OD, KM, Training) to move beyond offering training services and toward supporting learning as it is happening in the digitally connected workplace. The connected workplace will not wait for the training department to catch up.

Simple concepts often overlooked. From WIIFM to putting strategy before tech.

Simple, easy to read, colorful inforgraphic on the 'Principles of Collaboration'. Nice!

How are you collaborating?

This very good article describes the history, foundations, mindset and obstacles of 'Collaboration'. Must read!

You'll never achieve a customer centric organisation wthout engaged employees that will need to constantly collaborate.

Collaboration likely is part of the Darwinian notion of survival of the fittest. Competition, as we understand it, does not lead to survival.

Qu'est-ce que la collaboration ? Comment cela fonctionne-t-il ?  Peut-on l'imposer ou doit-on l'encourager ?

A good looking infographic and article are combined. Who does the structuring? Is it collaboration if the boss says this will be the outcome?

This looks like a good presentation asking god question. Where is social collaboration happening? It is in a vacuum which means context is important.

As is pointed out in the presentation, most of the concepts are not new. What is new, is the many new platforms which can merge with traditional ones and be used mindfully to be more effective with collaboration. Good practice is essential, otherwise it is not purposeful.

This is a great visual and their is depth in the article to explain each point.

Collaboration does not always make sense in the hands of people who use it as only a word. Collaboration is as much about effective communicaiton and explaining what is getting done plus listening to the impact of what was done.

Walking Talk = KSF

Walking the collaborative talk is a Key Success Factor. "What do you think," have there ever been 4 more loaded words in the English language? We've all been in the meeting when someone who really doesn't want to know the answer asks that question. 

We get the culture we create. If your company is open, honest and supportive the answer to the most loaded question in the world will be collaboration. Collaboration doesn't mean we always love each other. Collaboration can be contentious and messy, but it beats the alternative. 

Recently I wrote about The Commons Revolution (http://www.atlanticbt.com/blog/the-commons-revolution/ ) and created a Commons Revolution feed on Scoop.it (http://www.scoop.it/t/collaborative-competition-revolution ). Collaboration becomes MORE likely when there are large support systems such as The Commons. We do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

All that sounds great, but the rubber still meets the road when someone asks, "What do you think". I hope you work in an environment where such a question is matched with messy contentious collaboration since that is when life is most fun and your process most aligned with the future’s undeniable trend.