What is Groupware?
Groupware is technology designed to facilitate the work of groups. This technology may be used to communicate, cooperate, coordinate, solve problems, compete, or negotiate. While traditional technologies like the telephone qualify as groupware, the term is ordinarily used to refer to a specific class of technologies relying on modern computer networks, such as email, newsgroups, videophones, or chat. Groupware technologies are typically categorized along two primary dimensions: • whether users of the groupware are working together at the same time (“realtime” or “synchronous” groupware) or different times (“asynchronous” groupware), and • whether users are working together in the same place (“colocated” or “face-to-face”) or in different places (“non-colocated” or “distance”).
This article investigates the definition of groupware and the benefits it provides to the global workforce. The term groupware refers to software applications that are designed to help geographically dispersed groups of people work together towards one specific goal. Groupware typically utilizes computer-networking capabilities to streamline communications and facilitate the sharing of data among all group members. Groupware programs consist of the following two basic features: data storage and management functionality, and communication enablement features. In other words, groupware provides a centralized location for data storage and synchronization, and provides a means by which groups can collaborate efficiently regarding the data. The theory behind groupware software is that it helps people increase their productivity through the collaboration and sharing of information. The following are some of the key features that groupware programs offer and the benefits provided by them: • O
Groupware is software that facilitates a group of people working within the same system or application, no matter where they happen to be. Such groupware applications are commonly email, newsgroups, and chat. Common groupware applications that are easily recognized by today’s computer users include Lotus Notes, email server systems such as FirstClass and Microsoft Exchange, 24Seven Office, Livelink, and Workspot. Some experts divide groupware into three categories: communication tools, conferencing tools, and collaborative management tools. Communication tools include email, FAX, and voice mail. Conferencing tools include data, voice, and video conferencing; and message boards and chat rooms. Collaborative management tools include electronic calendars, project management systems, and workflow systems. Other experts divide groupware into two categories related to time and two other categories related to place. When employees are using an application at the same time, it is synchronous g
In the modern era, where enterprises are expanding beyond both local and national level, collaboration between employees from such disseminate groups can be a problem, but in order to be competitive, such diversity is required in the big companies. So, a proper collaboration is required among the employees is required and this is where Groupware becomes a prerequisite.
