The emergence of collaboration.
Collaboration can develop over a period of time when groups of people come together with a common purpose. Common purpose is not, in and of itself, not enough, but it is a key ingredient. Collaboration, as a way of working, enables groups to deliver more, to a higher quality, faster than they could without that spirit of collaboration. They share success. It’s a powerful mix.
The features of a collaborative group.
Collaborative groups have common aims, and they do more than co-operate. A common goal draws people together. Shared experience gives people a common framework. Knowledge of each other, across many contexts gives people a friendly supportive environment. Deep understanding of the individuals gives a group resilience, through knowledge of skills and experience and personal drivers and pressures. Resilience allows a group to be both flexible and self healing. It’s a step beyond co-operation where some aspects of the collaborative group are missing.
Creating a collaborative group isn’t done before the group starts being a group, it’s done as it grows and develops, it’s an evolution, a journey. Sometimes the group is formed and then a common purpose emerges, sometimes a common purpose emerges and a group forms around that area. Neither will yet be collaborative.
Elements of the Societal Web support making collaboration more likely and I’ll be looking at that in future posts.
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