Collaborationin

Workplace Communications

Why collaborate?• Subject: expertise from different areas

– Research project for paraplegics: biomedical engineering, electronics, neurophysiology, physical therapy

• Process: alternative viewpoints – Industrial engineer to improve production capability

for cabinet company: materials buyers, cabinetmakers, schedulers, shippers (industrial design team for concepts/designs + mechanical engineering team ensures designs can be manufactured)

Why Collaborate?

• Product: websites, newsletters, user manuals require various experts:– Website for families of people w/cystic

fibrosis• Healthcare pros, patients, relatives, medical

researchers

Why Collaborate?

• Benefits: workplace and personal– Post-911 alternatives to travel: Web

conferencing increased 61.5% (although travel is increasing in 2005), video/voice conferencing

– Beyond safety, more work done, faster decisions, more competitive, enjoyable, ability to work with otherwise unavailable colleagues, overall increased productivity

Possible Problems

• Time • Discomfort• Control• Credit• Conflict

• Criticism• Ethics• Style• Responsibility• Technology

Is there a possibility of an open clash between opposing

groups?

• Attitudes of group members

• Methods of enforcement

• Content of project

• Background and expected outcome differences

How do we collaborate?

• Two or more people share the responsibility and credit for designing, editing, and putting out the report.

• Team members get advice from co-workers who are experts in their particular department.

• In a larger team project, a coordinator will need to combine all the different teams’ effort into one report.

Types of Collaboration

• Coauthoring– Manager of hardware/software design company

co-writes article for technical report series:• Shared responsibilities: planning, drafting,

revising technical report• Initial meeting includes discussion of content,

purpose, organization, evidence and schedule plan

• Agreement to rough out ideas separately and meet again (ideas exchanged through email)

• Document moves through review and editing

Types of Collaboration

• Consulting with Colleagues– Manager prepares info sheets for new product

line. Must link new product to design of info sheet, create sense of corporate competence, arouse customer interest to seek additional info:

• Works with colleagues in engineering (specs), marketing (target), graphic design (artist), communication (editor), publication (corporate publishing specs, printing costs), quality control (technical review/user testing).

Types of Collaboration

• Contributing to Team Projects– Manager must coordinate team of

hardware engineers, software designers, systems analysts, info designers, budget planners. Each member responsible for individual section of document.

– Individual contributions will vary. Each must understand his/her role.

How can we ensure successful collaboration?

• Be involved and accommodative.• Identify/acknowledge your

strengths/weaknesses.• Be an “active listener”.• Be inquisitive.• Contribute your research.• Think over the ideas other’s have

contributed.

Manual Groups

• Choose Project Leader• Read assignment

together• Choose “recording

secretary” • Assign tasks• Plan next meeting• Exchange digits

• Discuss conflict management

• Contribute your ideas and be a good listener

• Let others know if you will be late or absent

• Keep your eye on the big picture

• Each member writes a memo