Team Collaboration

• Wikis in the Workplace … Patrick looks at how wikis are being used in the workplace, and how some uses are replacing email traffic. Use cases include: project collaboration (BonaSource), expertise discovery (BusinessObjects), dictionary of company acronyms (Intel), and more. Global and Mail
• Wikis for Requirements Management … Oscar looks at how wikis could be used in the software development requirements management process. “To me it seems reasonable that a wiki could increase stakeholder participation in the requirements management process. With a wiki, it will be easier for team members and stakeholders to access and find information. For novice users of versioning systems, it is often problematic to access and find the information. A wiki would also allow them to tag any conflicts and misunderstandings as well as incorrect, incomplete or missing requirements, and to discuss with each other on how to solve these. In addition, instead of mailing word documents to stakeholders for review, they can simply visit the wiki and read the documentation online. A wiki also provides versioning and a detailed revision history for each page (document), which is essential for managing changes of requirements. But most importantly, it is the collaborative aspect of wikis that make them interesting as tools for requirements management.” The Content Economy
• Tools for Remote Workers … Key tools for keeping remote / satellite workers in the flow: instant messaging (by itself and as a back channel to phone calls), Skype (for low cost calling, plus presence), email (for building and sustaining connections between people), and more. Video conferencing isn’t seen as a particularly helpful tool. IT Manager’s Journal

Mobility

• Visto in China … Visto announced two contracts with Chinese firms for its mobile email solution to support GPS data sharing requirements. WebITPR
• The Perfect TXT Device … Strategy Analytics argues that there isn’t yet the perfect text messaging device on the market. It has identified 20 areas that need improvement … “From our end-user research, we found that none of the leading text messaging devices out there have yet mastered all four of these critical features, and so the perfect text messaging device does not currently exist.” ConnectIT

Productivity

• The Measure of a Meeting … Measure the value of a meeting by the clarity of the next actions that result. And be less liberal with agreeing to meetings. Behance
• … But Many are Disorganized … Kevin reports on recent research about the poor quality of many meetings we’re involved with, and a list of cardinal sins: allowing too much time, interruptions from others, people falling asleep during meetings, and no bio-breaks, among others. NorthJersey
• Enjoy Solitude … When you come into a period of silence, get the most from it: (1) cultivate friendships, (2) fill your day, (3) reflect, (6) start projects, and more. Scott Young
• Keep Trying (the x40 Rule) … If you are struggling with work/life balance, keep striving / trying. Take comfort from the lady who passed her driving test on the 40th attempt. FASTCompany
• 46 Productivity Tips … Leo’s rounded up 46 productivity tips for freelancers (and employees alike), including (2) learn to beat daily stress, (8) simplify your online life, (11) create a chain of success, (21) find your ideal career, and 42 more. FreelanceSwitch