Groupware Overview

Do you provide groups for certain projects at work? Or do you have group discussions with certain team members when discussing important issues within the company? If you have held group discussions in the past you know how hard it is to get people to these meetings and for the groups to meet under fair conditions. Something usually goes wrong with technology, the facilities, or the people in the group. If you are the manager of your department, your goal is to establish communications with all parties and to relay information to them in the best way possible. You do this through either technology, or by handouts. The main purpose for the group meeting is to discuss problems, concerns, or new items of interest to your department or group. This can sometimes become hard to do, especially when you may have old technology that just doesn’t want to cooperate anymore, or other issues surface. This is where you need groupware. Groupware, what is that? Groupware is a technology that allows groups to come together and help with communication, force people to cooperate together, coordinate activities in the meeting, solve problems and more. What are the characteristics of groupware software? Here are a few to keep in mind:

 

·        Rely on networks: Groupware is unique in that it doesn’t just use a computer. It relies on a network to transmit information including email, allow users to get involved with newsgroups, use videophones, or even chat with another party.

·        Time: Groupware focuses on when people get together at the same time or at other times. There is a difference and groupware can be configured for it. Because if the group were meeting at the same time, they could vote on issues that came up, and hold presentations for all to see. If they did not meet at the same time, this would mean that the computers may need to be shared.

·        Location: Groupware is also concerned about location. This means whether they are in the same place or in different places. If the group was held in the same place they could offer support on many issues that came up in the meeting. If the group was at a different place, the group leader would have to hold a video conference for all parties to join in the discussion, or they could hold a chat session.