Cloud Computing and Collaboration … Vijay provides an excellent overview of the cloud computing opportunity, talking about cloud storage, applications, and computing. He also addresses why cloud computing is at a tipping point: “Some critics argue that all the elements of cloud have been around for sometime now and don’t understand why there is all this hype suddenly as if a new technology revolution has taken place. While I agree partially with the critics, I think what has happened recently is that the cloud has reached a tipping point. IMO, there are 3 reasons for this tipping point. The first reason is bandwidth.” More

Use Metadata, But Don’t Use the Term … Eric talks about a recent engagement with a client, where the need to decide between folders and metadata in SharePoint came up. “With him being a novice to Sharepoint, I was able to really relay best practice decisions. Other more experienced Sharepoint users aren’t as open to these ideas in the collections they have built up. He appreciated and respected the guidelines I was offering. Not once did I mention the term metadata when referring to this column. That probably would have derailed the train and lost my user. Instead, I just stated this column will store information particular to the file being uploaded. The reality is that this bit of information is acting in the same way a folder does, without the physical structure that he was used to. He was a bit confused with this at first, but it became real clear, real fast when we uploaded 2 files with different metadata tags and they were grouped nicely.” More

PBworks Project Edition … PBworks (formerly PBwiki) released PBworks Project Edition, a new hosted collaboration service. “PBworks Project Edition introduces two key innovations: multi-workspace Networks as well as Project Management. A Network allows a PBworks customer to easily create new workspaces for every project and manage them in a single enterprise-wide environment. Team members can freely join any workspace in the Network and can add clients, partners, and contractors as “guest” users on the relevant workspaces. This allows a Project Edition customer to set up a custom workspace for each client, or even each client project. Users can also conduct full-text searches (including within document contents) across the entire Network, as well as within a particular workspace. Project Management brings traditional project management concepts such as tasks and milestones to PBworks. Team members can assign tasks and roll them up into bigger milestones. Each user can view tasks and milestones for a particular workspace/project, as well as their personal tasks and milestones across the entire Network.” More
– The Project Edition is $20 per month (compared to $6 per month for Standard).
– There is no cost for guests and clients.

Google Wave for Recruiting … Jeff outlines a variety of ways that the forthcoming Google Wave service could help with the recruitment process: phone interviews, group interviews, connecting with candidates, career fair, and international recruiting. Eg, “1 on 1 phone interview/prescreening – A phone interview is often the first step of the recruiting process where a recruiter or hiring manager gathers preliminary info from an applicant and adds notes written directly on a printed resume or typed into an ATS/Applicant Tracking System. The interviewer also shares the job description with an applicant and will discuss additional info on the position and company. Using drag and drop file sharing within Google Wave, the interviewer and the applicant can easily conduct this phone or Wave interview within a Wave. Interview questions can be discussed and embedded onto the applicant’s resume document in real time. The Interviewer can also share the job description, company information (benefits info, photos from the holiday party, equipment specs., etc.) with the applicant within this Wave.” More

Document Management Inefficiencies … Using email, courier and fax technologies are inefficient for document sharing in clinical trials, according to a recent study by IntraLinks. “The survey revealed heavy document-related administrative duties and repetitive requests for information as significant contributors to time delays in clinical study communication. Some highlights of the polling results include: (1) The majority of investigative sites (67 percent) are asked to resend information to their sponsors once or twice a week when using e-mail, courier or fax. (2) One-quarter of investigative sites spend more than three hours per week looking for documents they need and more than half (52 percent) ask sponsors to resend documents when information is delivered by traditional methods. (3) Currently, document exchange with investigative sites is still primarily conducted via e-mail (67 percent), via courier (16 percent) and via fax (7 percent). When asked how online study management tools might help them manage clinical trial document management, survey participants indicated it would be easier to keep track of information (27 percent), paper use would be reduced (19 percent), information sharing would be up-to-date (15 percent) and time spent on study management would be reduced (15 percent).” More

Other Items
– Jason is almost ready to release his first book, The Promise Doctrine, co-authored with his Dad.
– Peter wonders if Microsoft is the next GM.
– Brainloop released a whitepaper on dangerous collaboration practices.
– Cisco publicly said that the recent HP and Microsoft alliance around UC is bad for partners.
– Your environment dictates your actions (or at least, has a big impact).
– EverNote for the Mac was updated.
– Xerox is trying to help people solve information overload.