Creating Collaboration Takes More Than Technology

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Before using collaborative tools to collaborate with competitors, aerospace companies first needed to shift their culture and realize that collaborating with competitors on a nondifferentiating process like purchasing creates value for each consortium member.

• Adopt Spontaneous Work Styles

Many companies are investing in unified communications, which integrates instant messaging with voice calls, Web conferencing, and videoconferencing. Unified communications lets businesspeople see on their computer screens whether colleagues are available, out to lunch, or on the phone. It's the same idea as consumer IM services like Yahoo! Messenger (YHOO), Microsoft Windows Live Messenger (MSFT), or AOL AIM (AOL) in a secure framework for enterprises.

Also, unified communications enables spontaneous connections and escalation from text chat to voice and video. Too often, companies get mixed results from unified communications, because the culture and work styles are out of sync with the tools. Culturally, the organization may expect people to make appointments with leaders and schedule meetings. In contrast, unified communications gives everybody immediate access to everybody else regardless of level, role, region, function, or business unit. No appointment necessary. To maximize unified communications, formality and hierarchy must take a backseat to results.

• Use Tools to Develop Products and Services

Fit the tools into product or service development processes. This involves integrating collaborative tools with the applications that engineers use to design products. So rather than simply using tools for project status updates, the tools become part-and-parcel of product development, design, and production. This can significantly reduce product cycle time. Boeing (BA) uses high-definition videoconferencing combined with advanced aerospace design software so that engineers around the world can collaboratively design the 787 Dreamliner and other aircraft.

DreamWorks Animation has created Virtual Studio Collaboration, which combines telepresence with animation design tools so that globally dispersed artists can collaboratively create the next blockbuster movie in real time while virtually sitting across from each other.

This is a departure from the pass-along approach of doing one's work, then e-mailing the work product to a colleague, meeting to exchange ideas, and then following up by working solo. Using telepresence and high-definition videoconferencing as key tools in a global virtual design environment creates far greater value for Boeing and DreamWorks Animation (DWA) than just using these tools for meetings. It's about changing the business model and the way we work from serial to real time.

• Give the Entire Organization Access to the Same Tools

Some companies reinforce command-and-control culture by creating a hierarchy of tools. Executives get access to high-end collaborative tools, and everybody else uses lower-end ones. Telepresence—technology that creates the illusion that people are sitting across from each other—is the most obvious example. If your company invests in only a few such systems, it's more effective to reserve them for particular functions rather than for particular people. The most collaborative organizations give everybody access to the same tools regardless of level, role, or region. This eliminates unnecessary hierarchy, reinforces collaborative culture, and creates greater value.

Evan Rosen is author of The Culture of Collaboration and executive director of The Culture of Collaboration® Institute. He also writes The Culture of Collaboration® blog. Evan creates collaboration strategies for both the private and public sector, delivers workshops, and speaks globally on collaboration. He can be reached through www.thecultureofcollaboration.com.

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