The People Part of Enterprise Collaboration and Virtual Teams

• A consulting firm released the results of a recent survey, noting that mid-sized firms are more keen on SaaS than large enterprises and small ones. The key reason: flexibility to grow without being constrained by IT systems. “Unlike in the midmarket, where SaaS is more likely to be a full-blown deployment, the size and structure of IT at a very large organization allows for more flexibility in the way of testing, Guptill said. Larger IT departments have more room to test a program in just one area or department. Small companies, on the other hand, just aren’t focused enough on IT to tread too far into the SaaS waters.“
• A research study from a couple of Universities found that instant messaging leads to fewer workplace interruptions than other forms of communication. “Research showed that instant messaging was often used as a substitute for other, more disruptive forms of communication such as the telephone, e-mail, and face-to-face conversations. Using instant messaging led to more conversations on the computer, but the conversations were briefer.” The key is in how it is used, eg, “Instead of dropping in unexpectedly, many are using the technology to check in with coworkers to see when they are available. Many also use the technology to get quick answers to general questions or to inquire about current work tasks instead of engaging in longer face-to-face conversations.“
• A recent IntraLinks-sponsored research programme found that pre-announcement leaks of a pending merger or acquisition frequently leads to failed deals. The research was carried out by a business school in London. “The Cass research — which included results among more than 350,000 mergers and acquisitions between 1994 and 2007 — found that 49 percent of all leaked deals are completed, for example, compared to a 72-percent completion rate for those not leaked.“

The Technology Trends of Enterprise Collaboration and Virtual Teams

• Funambol released an update to its mobile email client for BlackBerry devices. “The push email component enables BlackBerries to work with consumer email services such as Yahoo! Mail, AOL Mail, Hotmail and Gmail, as well as any POP or IMAP server. The PIM sync component enables BlackBerry users to wirelessly sync PIM data with a Funambol server, which in turn can sync with a wide range of backend email and PIM systems as well as email clients such as Outlook. The free open source Funambol BlackBerry software performs push email and over-the-air (OTA) sync of contacts, calendars, tasks and notes with consumer email systems as well as groupware systems beyond Exchange, Domino and GroupWise that are supported by BlackBerry Enterprise Server.“
• At the Enterprise 2.0 Conference in Boston next week, LaunchPad will give 5 companies the opportunity to show their wares. The five finalists are: GroupSwim, NewsGator, Project SocialSite, Spaceo.us, and Veodia.
• IBM announced its Business Content Services strategy, an integrated approach to managing business content and documents. Key thrust: combining IBM’s ECM tools with a variety of collaboration tools, eg, Microsoft SharePoint, Lotus Quickr, and more. “IBM ECM Services for Lotus Quickr will enable customers to collaborate on business content, leveraging IBM ECM for business process optimization, auto-classification and regulatory compliance. The new services allow IBM customers to mix the Web-based collaboration and desktop integration of Lotus Notes, IBM Lotus Sametime, Microsoft Office, and Windows Explorer with IBM ECM capabilities. The IBM ECM Services for Lotus Quickr are the subject of a Design Partner Program with customers and Business Partners and are available in beta release today.“
• Brosix released a secure instant messaging tool for businesses and enterprises. “Like a traditional, free public instant messenger, the new solution ensures fast and inexpensive communication between team members. However, unlike conventional tools, it provides highly secure communication, as very strong encryption is applied to all data transfers. Thus, instant messaging is made possible for discussing confidential and company-sensitive issues. Furthermore, using a special enterprise instant messenger automatically eliminates the risk of viruses.” Available immediately.
• SpringCM released Version 4.3 of its document management service, with new document rules capabilities, streamlined editing and approval with integrated email collaboration, and more. “Streamline Editing and Approval with Integrated E-mail Collaboration — Previously, collaborating on documents with people who were not users of a document management system was a challenge. Sending documents by e-mail introduces the challenges and risks of managing edits in attachments without version control. SpringCM’s new Integrated E-mail Collaboration enables any document in SpringCM to be e-mailed to any recipient for editing. When the recipient replies to the original e-mail, SpringCM will upload the new version into the system while maintaining a complete audit trail. External parties and internal users can work within their familiar e-mail tools and collaborate on content while retaining the benefits of full version control and audit trails.“
• IBM released the Lotus Foundations Start software appliance, a Linux-based offering for businesses with 5-500 employees. “This new, Linux-based IBM solution provides staple collaboration tools such as email, file sharing, and remote access and affords peace of mind through automated network security features, data protection, backup and recovery. Lotus Foundations Start manages and heals itself, obviating the need for IT staff skills and costs. It automatically detects the network, secures data and configures applications.“

Insights on Being Productive and Effective as an Individual

• Challenges of being a web worker: (1) your work will become more dependent on technology, (2) most of your business relationships will feel weaker, (3) you can’t fake through your workday, (4) tougher work/life balance, (5) you are forced to look long and hard at your priorities and goals, and (6) only a few people will understand what you actually do.