It could just be me, but my experiences with document collaboration remind me of a football game. It sounds crazy, I know, but working with a group and sending emails off to other members of
group caries with it that familiar uneasy sensation of Thanksgiving Day football games, where I often play quarterback and just as often wonder whether members of my family will catch pass, and if they do, what they will do with ball. Using groupware in document collaboration is similar to having a game plan that separates “Turkey Bowl” family football team from real competitors.
Groupware on Three
Now, this doesn’t have to be team cheer. But it could be, because groupware is distinguished from other document collaboration software by three characteristics designed to work way businesses do. Since businesses frequently experience ad hoc document collaboration, groupware designed using Digital Thread, Digital Signature, and Version History most effectively manages and controls ad hoc editing and keeps businesses informed.
As a document manager, groupware helps businesses piece together puzzle of ad hoc document collaboration. However, when sifting through millions of indexed pages under “groupware” in any search engine, it is important to know what you are looking for. To that end, let me explain a little more of “Groupware on Three” concept. Another helpful resource is my article Groupware: 3 Tips for Sifting Through Collaboration Suites.
Digital Thread
Business collaboration requires a lot of document sharing through email. Often document sharing creates a lot of confusion. Emails are being sent out, drafts are being edited, drafts are being saved in multiple locations, and changes are getting sent back to you out of order. Everything is jumbled up like a dog pile of lineman at end of a play. The temptation at this point is to be a ball hog, and to run ball ourselves. In football, Steve Young could do it, but in business, nobody can. It just doesn’t work.
