Cisco and Jabber

Cisco announced Friday their acquisition of Jabber.  Lots of opinions out there from this will make Cisco a force in the enterprise collaboration space to others wondering what is next for them–desktop apps perhaps?  Others are stating that perhaps that Cisco is just a bunch of patchwork stuff.  Opinions as always are all over the place!  My opinion is that it is a great move on top of other acquisitions of late and that they are definetly a force to be reckoned with in the collaborative space.  I agree with Michael Sampson’s comment about Cisco looking at acquiring an enterprise wiki.  You thoughts????  Share them here!

Penny for your thoughts…

Betsy blogged on an article she read on the social effects of sharing “tidbits” of information via collaborative tools like Facebook, Twitter, etc.  I love the blog and the content from the article in the NY Times that she refers to by Clive Thompson.  I have previously blogged on the importance of allowing this type of information exchange and display.  Remote teams need to feel connected and need to know something about each other to feel loyal to one another and to begin to truly collaborate.  You probably chat with people you see day to day in the office, why not have some repor with those that are across the country and around the globe.  The summary is what I love; it states in conclusion that:

Clive Thompson’s article illustrates that ambient awareness can be achieved by frequent electronic contact, and can have positive effects on relationships.  This is especially relevant to virtual teams, who often struggle to enable personal contact among members.  But that contact is crucial for team building, trust, and cohesion.  We suggest moving away from the matter-of-fact, directive email that may be the typical communication between team members.  See if your team can gain a better, deeper connection among team members by developing communication in this new way.

Thanks to Betsy for the blog and thanks to Michael Sampson for directing me to this blog from his blog today!  Happy Collaborating

Is your company using Social Networking?

The more that I meet with clients and network, the more I realize the vastness of the implementation efforts of Social Networking that are out there.  Some have never heard of this (or think they have never heard of it until you probe a little more), some want to but don’t know where to start, some have the tools at their company but no one uses them at all or correctly, some have implemented with a bang and then fizzled and some are in there, doing it and doing it well.  I learn more and more every day on this journey!  Today, I want to ask for your comments and I would love to hear on specific questions…

• Has your company implemented a Social Networking Solution?
• Are the employees using it, shying away from it, testing the waters or going crazy using it?
• What tools and pieces are you using?
• What works and doesn’t work?
• Who are the “evangelizers” of it at your office?
• Do you see any benefit?
• Did anyone ask you what you wanted in the solution or did it just “appear” one day and you were told to use it?
• Is your performance appraisal linked into it– for instance you must have so many posts in a forum, or have your own blog, etc?

Just give me some feedback today.  I know what my opinions are BUT I find it fascinating to hear yours and it always amazes me to hear about the good, the bad and the ugly. It helps me to help you and my clients.  Happy Collaborating!

Team Work

I am currently on a team of business owners that is assisting a national chain on the challenge of pulling in more women and women business owners into their store.  It is a fascinating team to be on.  There are 50 or so of us broken up into a few teams focusing on different areas–small business, financing, home products, green products, etc.  Our team is on small business solutions.  I always feel after a meeting like we are truly collaborating and moving forward.  Since we did not know each other, we did not know what to expect from one another, but we have all been open to the fact that each of us has something to offer.  AND we have been right.  It is incredible to watch action items being taken and completed, ideas built upon and some awesome ideas are now being presented to this company.  All of the team came together recently and we all presented what our ideas were.  One idea was better than then one prior but not as good as the next. It just kept getting better and better.  Then energy and intelligence of the women is amazing.  BUT what this is truly showing me, again is that sharing ideas is ALWAYS the best.  No one is hoarding an idea, but all “think out loud” and then we all build on it.  The ideas just keep getting better and better and more fine tuned.  By the end of October we will have our product lines in place; I cannot wait to see what is the final product. I guarentee it will be on time and on scope.  Collaboration in action going on here!!!!