Why do Enterprise 2.0 proponents write off almost two decades of history and say their stuff is so new and better than what’s come before? I … just … don’t … get … it. Eg.

Interview with Andrew McAfee, by Kathleen Gilroy
Andew McAfee on enterprise 2.0:

• Enterprise 2.0 is about new forms of collaboration and unlike previous enterprise computing efforts, e20 enables the expression and capture of judgement.
• E20 will not happen just by building new technologies and expecting people to use them. It is hard to get e20 to become part of the DNA of a company and it will require sustained management and leadership through coaching, rewards and incentives, leadership, and building a culture that is attuned to the benefits of working in this new way.
• E20 is very different from groupware (Notes, Sharepoint) in that it is very unstructured. Groupware often failed because it demanded too many rules and the terms of interaction were defined from the start.

See FASTforward Blog

My response (in a comment, awaiting moderation … if they’ll approve it!):

How can you support such views? There is no support for it in the academic literature, nor in practical experience if you open your eyes and look beyond selling the latest stuff:

Re #1 … Lotus Notes and SharePoint enable the expression and capture of judgment. It depends on how it they are used in the enterprise.

Re #2 … And when is that not true of other collaboration platforms?

Re #3 … Notes and SharePoint can equally be unstructured (discussion database anyone?) Yes, if there are too many rules set in place and demanded by MANAGEMENT and expressed in SOFTWARE, usage may be impacted. But equally … if poor policies by MANAGEMENT are put in place around usage of E2.0 stuff, the same issues will happen. And … equally … unstructured is good in some situations, and structured is good in others. It’s not an either/or, it’s a “where appropriate”.

I’ve previously analyzed Andrew’s views here … www.michaelsampson.net/2006/10/thoughts_on_and.html

Time for the weekend … I feel my blood pressure rising …