Too many platforms?

Chris raises the question as to whether or not there are too many collaboration platforms out there in his recent post.  I was at an event last week where the social media expert speaking pulled out a database spreadsheet that listed every social network out “there.”  It was over 750 pages and I do not even know how many lines per page.  Granted, many are used one time only or experimental, but even a fraction of the number is overwhelming.  I agree with Chris’ point that many still go back to email to collaborate because it is easy and no thought goes into it.  So many people in businesses still give the response “I have a facebook account and do not even keep that up, how can I mess with this stuff at work?”  Everytime that question is asked of me I realize that the basic question is not answered for this person, which is “how can this help me work better, less and more efficiently?”  Rather than just throwing collaborative tools at people, we need to help them answer this question for themselves first and find the need to use something other than email.  Before you can tell folks to complete their profile and tag stuff we need to give them the WIIFM.  Otherwise it is fragmented and just something else to do.  Thanks for the blog Chris!

Collaborating is NOT technology

As a true geek at heart, it pains me when I say this, yet I say it over and over and over again.  Collaboration starts with the person THEN successful implementation of tools can be initiated.  Great article on enterprise collaboration today summarizes some problems and some solutions to this. 

How do you help people find people that wil help them on the job?  How do you share info?  Using collaborative technologies forces the issue of changing one’s habits and being open to the idea that others have something to add to your decision making process.  If you already think you know it all, you won’t shift to using collaborative tools.  If you think you know it all, you cannot see the value in collaborating.  Understanding that you have something of value to share and so do your peers, etc. is where it all begins.  It is an inside job!  Get that straight then bring on the technology!  Happy Collaborating!