Collaboration and Culture are Key

 In today's professional world we are facing employees of three different generations working together.  This can prove difficult in trying to have a collaborative group who are use to either, face-to-face, never-ending meetings or instant messenger. There are more collaborative tools coming out to help people break down those silos though it all depends on the culture. Also important to note that doesn't matter what technology is being utilized because it all comes to the culture that will allow it to foster. Will Kelly's article Corporate Culture, Not Technology, Drives Online Collaboration explains that to foster collaboration is through the organization's culture. 



Personally I have been tasked to foster collaboration at my new employment of three months. Not having solid grasp of everything yet I can implement baby steps that yield better return. One thing I noticed is there isn't any server to archive files for everyone to reference. So the organization is utilizing Google Documents to have access to share documents so I take it to another lever and built out calendars with necessary information for tight deadlines. My goal was not to change the collaboration already set but to make information more streamline and improve efficiencies.

I really enjoyed this week's reading as I am currently developing processes in improving collaboration at the workforce. One thing I feel is a universal theme and many organizations have this belief that collaboration and efficiencies are generated by the technology and tool being used but in reality its all stems to culture.