Groupware and social networks: will life ever be the same again? (original) (raw)

Groupware: A Tool for Interpersonal Computing

1993

Computer networks have provided a foundation for interpersonal computing, and new tools are emerging, the centerpiece of which is called "groupware." Groupware technology is reviewed, and the theoretical framework that will underlie interpersonal collaborative computing is discussed. Groupware can consist of hardware, software, services, and support. It utilizes networking, communications, concurrent processing, and windowing environments. It creates a shared work space for dynamic collaboration in a work group over space and time constraints. The collaboration that it provides also opens many problems that must be addressed in the implementation of groupware in organizations. (Contains 7 references.) (SLD)

Collaborative Development of Groupware Applications

2004

Groupware aimed at coordinating the actions of people is faced with a dilemma. In order to support a group at work, the groupware must be configured into applications that accurately reflect how the group works. Yet, organizations are constantly changing both their structure and the way they work, leaving the groupware application inaccurate, or at least out of date. Implementers of groupware applications are finding that the cost of implementation comes not from the hardware or the software, but the effort needed to capture and codify their organizational processes, and then to maintain the applications to keep them up to date. This paper explores how the implementation of groupware is a collaborative activity. Methods to define processes, such as BPR, are group activities. A powerful way to solve this is to develop the groupware applications collaboratively. In a sense, this is groupware to help in the development of groupware. Four key capabilities are described that are needed t...

Evolution of Groupware: A Boon for Business in Group Environment

1. Introduction Business is a set of complex activities which is performed by coordinating the tasks of different persons of the same group or people of different groups. The intelligent execution of business needs accurate and timely information for decision making. Business activities involve meeting, discussion, scheduling of tasks, communication, managing work flow etc. There is traditional way of doing these activities in business which is time consuming and in situations where members are situated at different locations cannot be performed. Information Technology has extended its help and support in doing these complex activities efficiently and always possible even when people are not physically available at the central place of execution or at the time of execution of the particular activity. Groupware is the term used to denote a type of software that supports group tasks. The commercially available Groupware are the set of software tools having capability to support many group activities. Our research reveals that the Lotus Notes was the first commercially available groupware. Today, we have large number of groupware and some of them are available as open source. The application of Groupware in group environment has improved the quality of group tasks in terms of time saving, efficiency, effective communication and coordination. The present paper is an effort to trace the evolution of groupware and its early use in group work environment. This paper includes defining the Groupware (the digital collaborative tool), evolution of various tools, Groupware as part of CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work) research, Scope of Groupware current status of groupware in groupware, findings and suggestions. Literature has been reviewed to find the initial efforts that has resulted in development of groupware technology. The paper tried to scan the literature to reveal the process of development in the technology and its application in business process improvement. Important tools of groupware have evolved over the years to meet the increasing requirement in group work environment.

Groupware in Practice: An Interpretation of Work Experience

1990

Observers have identified a potential for major improvements in organizational productivity made possible through the use of personal computers serving as a means to link people into task-oriented teams. The study we conducted, given in overview form here, offers an early examination of how people are using personal computers for such electronic exchanges via networking. Our interviews of 223 people who were using several "groupware " systems in a sample of 25 enterprises indicate how they employ these software tools to support their group work. We conclude that complex interactions of social and technical factors affect the use of groupware systems in organizations. We outline issues which both the developers of systems and the managers implementing groupware systems must understand in order to facilitate the design, introduction, and use of these systems. Acknowledgements: The authors wish to acknowledge the many individuals who agreed to be interviewed, and interacted w...

Groupware comes to the Internet: Charting a new world

ACM Sigmis Database, 1999

Early experiences with Web-based groupware point to new collaboration opportunities within and between organizations. We report the results of a study of more than 100 organizations that have used Web-based groupware to understand better how they are using it and what advantages and disadvantages they have experienced. We then use these data to develop a framework for analyzing and assessing the fit of groupware systems to organizational needs. We close with a discussion of the evolution and future of groupware.

Groupware: a strategic analysis and implementation

Industrial Management & Data Systems, 1999

The term groupware is widely used but not clearly defined. Owing to ongoing rapid developments, a consistent definition of the term has proved elusive. However, there is a good reason to view groupware as a technology that addresses the vast areas of collaboration, human‐computer interaction, and human‐human interaction through digital media to bring substantial improvement and transformation to organizations. This paper analyzes the definitions, implementation, and management of groupware. The focus is on the strategic considerations rather than technical solutions. Factors that contribute to the future development of groupware are also discussed.

A Meta-Analysis of Studies on Groupware for Collaborative Work Environments

Proceedings, 2021

This meta-analysis examines the studies on groupware published between the years 2010 and 2020. Descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the distribution of studies in terms of publication year, time–space matrix category, targeted sectors, research methods, and the academic field of the journals that published these studies. Although groupware played a significant role in communication, collaboration, and coordination of users in various collaborative work conditions and sectors, the majority of studies focused on asynchronous and distributed collaborative work environments in the software engineering field, and the research method preferred was design science.

Introduction to Special Issue on Evolving Use of Groupware

Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), 2003

More often than not, users appear to use groupware in another way than the groupware designers intended or IT departments expected. Users tend to 're-invent' the technology by developing novel uses, giving rise to what we call 'the evolving use of technology'. This innovative use of groupware in time leads to changed and changing work processes and individual working practices change (