Collaboration+Software

=Collaborative Software=

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 * Collaborative Software** is software designed to allow people to work together on a given project or task. It improves the performance of teams by supporting the sharing and flow of information. (Management Information Systems) Software such as e-mail, chat, and wiki’s fall into the collaborative category. Collaborative software is believed to follow Metcalfe’s law which states the more people who use something, the more valuable it becomes. (Wikipedia). Web 2.0 applications also fall into this category.

**Electronic Communication Tools**
Electronic communication tools send messages, files, data, or documents between people. Some examples of this type of collaboration are email, instant messaging, and voice mail. (Wikipedia)

**Electronic Conferencing Tools**
Electronic conferencing tools facilitate the sharing of information in a more interactive way. An example of this is discussion boards which allow a virtual conversation platform to take place where users can post questions or comments. Another example is video conferencing where individuals are connected by networked PCs that share a video signal where all the conferencing participants can see each other. (Wikipedia)

**Collaborative Management Tools**
Collaborative management tools facilitate and manage group activities. An example of this would be an enterprise-wide collaboration where employees have access to each others calenders, schedules, and automated work flow. Another example would be a peer-to-peer collaboration system which works almost like napster where a individual has the ability to communication in real time and share documents between peers without going through a central server. (Management Information Systems)

Enterprise-wide Collaboration
Is the utilization of software to allow employees to have access to each other's calenders, group scheduling, imaging, automated workflow, task and document management, as well as email. Companies can buy off the shelf collaboration software such as Locus Notes. Typically the need for enterprise-wide collaboration is more pravelent within companies which are large in size and often involved in different markets/ locations. Collaborative information systems bring issues of security as well as privacy. Another topic that brings interest is the need for constant monitoring and trust of fellow administrators of a document.The need to provide your employees the right information at the right time is higher in demand than ever. With the influx of information technology, business as we know is an "adapt or die" business.

Supply Chain Management
SCM focuses on working with your suppliers and distributors to effectively manage inventory. The main goal for SCM is to reduce inventory cost by controlling planning, production, and selling by implementation of a well integrated network of communication. Once again, SCM relies on collaboration software to create direct by the minute communication between companies, individuals, and systems.

Peer-to-Peer Collaboration
Works on the principles of being able to communicate without the use of a central server between peers in real time. Most of us know about Napster, the same functionality and utility provided by Napster exists in business P2P applications. However, instead of popular music/videos, corporations collaborate together in the creating and modification of documents.

Wikipedia (2006) Collaborative Software. Online at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_software Consulted on: November 3rd, 2006 Haag, Cummings, McCubbrey, Donovan, and Pinsonneault. (2004) Management Information Systems. McGraw-Hill Ryerson. Toronto, CA.

Cummings, Donovan, Haag, Mc.cubbrey, and Pinsonneault. __Management Information Systems for the Information Age__. 3rd ed. Toronto: Mc-Graw Hill, 2006. 206-208.