Our+Collaborations

=Our Collaborations=

Collaborative software takes in lots of different software and applications.
====Software systems such as email, calendaring, text, chat and bookmarking belong to this category. There is a saying that the more people use something, the more valuable it becomes and this definitely applies to these types of software. ==== ====You will have heard of some of the social software systems which apply to systems used outside the workplace, for example, online dating services and social networks like Friendster, Twitter and Facebook. **Collaborative software** is used in the workspace to create a collaborative working environment (CWE) where people can share documents, ideas, plans and discussions. ==== ====A collaborative working environment helps people in their individual and cooperative work allowing them to work together irrespective of their geographical location. ====

====As collaborative software grows and is on the Internet, it brings a host of collaborative features to everyone that were originally planned for the business world. These include functions such as document sharing (including group editing), group calendars and instant messaging along with web conferencing.====

We can collaborate by:

 * ==== [|conferencing] ====
 * ==== [|e-mail] ====
 * ==== [|faxing] ====
 * ==== [|voice mail] ====
 * ==== [|Wikis] ====
 * ==== [|Web publishing] ====

Examples of how we can share information include:

 * ==== [|Internet forums] ====
 * ==== [|Online chat] ====
 * ==== [|Instant Messaging] ====
 * ==== [|Telephones] ====
 * ==== [|Videoconferencing] ====
 * ==== [|Data conferencing] ====
 * ==== [|Application sharing] ====
 * ==== [|Electronic meeting systems] ====

When you are thinking about collaborating on a particular document you need to know that other people can change “your” work. As a result, you want to think about the document as a group effort and not something that you own. The vast majority of the time, the additions from other members will make the output better, so be careful to look at changes for improvements and not get defensive about other people changing or rewording your document.

Why Is Collaboration Good
==== Working with a group of people can be tricky especially if you are not all in one place. Even when your team is located in the same building, sharing and collaborating on documents and content can be tricky if you aren’t using the right tools. ==== ==== All too often, there are people working on the same document and shipping it around via email, and before long, you have multiple copies made by several people. Yes, it may seem like creating a document and sending it to a few team members over email is the easiest solution, but it can quickly become a nightmare of lots of versions, all going in different directions. ====

How will Our Business Class Use This Wiki
==== During the next few weeks you will be using this Wiki to view class news items and to participate in a group story writing activity. You can add items to the news page and read what others have contributed to the page. This is our site so, as a class group, I want you to feel free to add any items that you think will interest the others in the class. ====

==== As part of the course you will be required to participate in this site. Each one of you should contribute a part to our business story. The beginning is provided and you will need to add a section to it. You can also change anything that is already in the story. This will be printed off at the conclusion of the course and form part of your assessment portfolio. ====