tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662858581791799812.post3895420402357393535..comments2009-05-20T16:37:42.246+01:00Oscar Berghttps://profiles.google.com/109479022314471643787noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662858581791799812.post-43508660143271611882009-05-20T16:37:42.246+01:002009-05-20T16:37:42.246+01:00Martin, I agree with you that collaboration in transactional processes is important. Although we have traditionally focused a lot of our improvement efforts on these processes, I believe that the introduction of new practices and tools for "free-form" spontaneous collaboration can increase efficiency and productivity in those processes (problem solving exists there to, for sure). But, I believe that the biggest potential lies in improving knowledge work. As knowledge work is increasing and becoming more and more business critical, there is a great and unrealized potential to boost productivity and increase efficiency in knowledge work - and to innovation. We have not focused on this. We are way better at reducing headcount by streamlining and automating transactional processes than we are at empowering knowledge workers so they are able to do their jobs better - together.Oscar Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13364324951599654650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662858581791799812.post-75049623278086283572009-05-20T14:53:43.678+01:002009-05-20T14:53:43.678+01:00Oscar: I agree. But I do find that when we discuss knowledge and collaboration in the context of an enterprise, we tend to focus on the persona of a knowledge worker - perhaps because that is what most of us are. However, within many organizations there many staff who have more structured, often repetitive, task oriented jobs (e.g processing accounts payable). For such people 'collaboration' is most useful when it helps them complete a task more easily and/or in less time. I have found that mapping business process steps and specifically noting the 'collaborative tool of choice (e.g. phone, IM, email, social network) helps to elucidate where the newer 2.0 tools add demonstrable business value.Martin Sumner-Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01278261442670898730noreply@blogger.com