Question

Why are systems for collaboration and social business so important and what technologies do they use? Explain the benefits of collaboration and social business. Describe what organizational culture is necessary for business processes and collaboration.

Answer 1

Collaboration : collaboration is a process by which we work together for achieving our goals. The main purpose of collaboration is to focus on the tasks at hand. It may take place for long term or short term. Collaborating and communicating has become an important part of business. Collaboration may be one to one or one to many. In cloud collaboration involves two or more people to come together.

Social business : Social business is a form of collaboration , where employees, customers and suppliers are connected via social media platforms. the goal of social business is information sharing it helps to innovate and also helps in decision making.

The technology used for collaboration is : the information technology is responsible for providing the hardware and software required for carrying out collaborative activities within the firm using the tools provided by the IT infrastructure such as video conferencing, google apps, social media networks.

importance of collaboration and social business :

the structure and nature of business activities is changing and evolving day by day. Nowadays organisation's do not follow a hierarchy, instead people of the organisation come together and work as a team, in this changing nature of business environment it is essential that collaborative practices are followed. More jobs are becoming interactive and people solve problems by coming together and having a face to face interaction. Working in teams , brigs out the best in employees. It enhances innovative and creative thinking in the employees and enhances their productivity levels.

Benefits of collaboration and social business:

• It enhances the productivity of employees:collaboration enhances employee productivity. as a single employee is less productive when working in isolation in comparison to employees working together as a team.
• It helps employees to innovate and foster creative thinking in them: When we work together as a group it enhances our creative thinking and makes us innovate.
• Minimises error: when we work together, it helps minimise errors and enhances quality of work in a collaborative effort.
• Resolves customer complaints : working together helps us provide solutions to the diverse range of consumer complaints that come before us.

Effective collaboration today requires a supportive organisational culture as well as information systems and tools for collaborative work. Collaboration tools include e-mail and instant messaging, videoconferencing systems, virtual worlds, social networking systems, cell phones, and Internet collaboration platforms, such as Google Apps/ Sites, Microsoft SharePoint, and Lotus Notes.