Collaborative network
Encyclopedia
A collaborative network, unlike an enterprise social software
, is a work-centric network that focuses on managing projects and solving issues within the corporate environment. As defined by Oliver Marks, who authors a collaborative blog
at ZDNet, it is less about (social network
s) and more about getting work completed through teams.
A collaborative network integrates blog
s, Wiki
s, forums and other social constructs, but weaves them together with enterprise data so that they are interconnected and relevant to the corporation. In effect, an employee-driven 360-degree information network that monitors and leverages enterprise data from Customer relationship management
, databases, Accounting Systems, Manufacturing resource planning
and allows corporations to collaborate with the data.
Collaborative networks consist of Intranet
s, Extranet
s and Knowledge Base
s and are work networks designed to solving issues more efficiently and leveraging the wisdom of the crowd
s. It is a web-based service, computing platform, and communications vehicle designed to merge enterprise data, microblogging
, wiki
s, forums, and social networking to solve business objectives.
, wikis, forums are stand-alone solutions. They are mainly used to communicate 'one to one' or 'one to many' in an unstructured format. They are not dynamically connecting to give a 360 picture of the issues or project the enterprise is attempting to solve.
With Collaborative Networks, corporations can use data mashups
to get a better picture of a business objective (a metric driven approach). Select team members to dynamically connect and collaborate around the data. Then solve business issues efficiently since all of the data, teams and content are in one location.
has faced similar challenges with security among social connections.
Enterprise social software
Enterprise social software , comprises social software as used in "enterprise" contexts. It includes social and networked modifications to corporate intranets and other classic software platforms used by large companies to organize their communication...
, is a work-centric network that focuses on managing projects and solving issues within the corporate environment. As defined by Oliver Marks, who authors a collaborative blog
Collaborative blog
A collaborative blog is a type of weblog in which posts are written and published by more than one author. The majority of high profile collaborative blogs are based around a single uniting theme, such as politics or technology....
at ZDNet, it is less about (social network
Social network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
s) and more about getting work completed through teams.
A collaborative network integrates blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s, Wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
s, forums and other social constructs, but weaves them together with enterprise data so that they are interconnected and relevant to the corporation. In effect, an employee-driven 360-degree information network that monitors and leverages enterprise data from Customer relationship management
Customer relationship management
Customer relationship management is a widely implemented strategy for managing a company’s interactions with customers, clients and sales prospects. It involves using technology to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes—principally sales activities, but also those for marketing,...
, databases, Accounting Systems, Manufacturing resource planning
Manufacturing resource planning
Manufacturing resource planning is defined by APICS as a method for the effective planning of all resources of a manufacturing company...
and allows corporations to collaborate with the data.
Elements
The seven essential elements of collaborative networks:- Search: Allowing users to search for experts, data or content
- Employee Driven: Approved users can add and share content in wiki fashion with low barriers to authorship
- Data integration: Must allow enterprise data to be integrated into the system
- Dashboards and Monitoring: Measure success, adoption, projects through dashboards and monitoring tools
- User Follow: Ability to follow users and their content in the collaborative network
- Content integration: Connects and links content dynamically
- Governance: Controlled access to content and data
Collaborative networks consist of Intranet
Intranet
An intranet is a computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to securely share any part of an organization's information or network operating system within that organization. The term is used in contrast to internet, a network between organizations, and instead refers to a network...
s, Extranet
Extranet
An extranet is a computer network that allows controlled access from the outside, for specific business or educational purposes. An extranet can be viewed as an extension of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside the company, usually partners, vendors, and suppliers...
s and Knowledge Base
Knowledge base
A knowledge base is a special kind of database for knowledge management. A Knowledge Base provides a means for information to be collected, organised, shared, searched and utilised.-Types:...
s and are work networks designed to solving issues more efficiently and leveraging the wisdom of the crowd
Wisdom of the crowd
The wisdom of the crowd refers to the process of taking into account the collective opinion of a group of individuals rather than a single expert to answer a question. This process, while not new to the information age, has been pushed into the mainstream spotlight by social information sites such...
s. It is a web-based service, computing platform, and communications vehicle designed to merge enterprise data, microblogging
Microblogging
Microblogging is a broadcast medium in the form of blogging. A microblog differs from a traditional blog in that its content is typically smaller in both actual and aggregate file size...
, wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
s, forums, and social networking to solve business objectives.
Use cases
MicrobloggingMicroblogging
Microblogging is a broadcast medium in the form of blogging. A microblog differs from a traditional blog in that its content is typically smaller in both actual and aggregate file size...
, wikis, forums are stand-alone solutions. They are mainly used to communicate 'one to one' or 'one to many' in an unstructured format. They are not dynamically connecting to give a 360 picture of the issues or project the enterprise is attempting to solve.
With Collaborative Networks, corporations can use data mashups
Mashup (digital)
A digital mashup usually is in reference to:1. Digital media content containing any or all of text, graphics, audio, video and animation drawn from pre-existing sources, to create a new derivative work...
to get a better picture of a business objective (a metric driven approach). Select team members to dynamically connect and collaborate around the data. Then solve business issues efficiently since all of the data, teams and content are in one location.
Challenges
If collaborative networks evolve and become increasingly popular with corporations and their extended networks, governance and security issues will need to be addressed. For example, what are the implication of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act and collaborative networks? FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
has faced similar challenges with security among social connections.
See also
- InnovationInnovationInnovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
- Knowledge engineeringKnowledge engineeringKnowledge engineering was defined in 1983 by Edward Feigenbaum, and Pamela McCorduck as follows:At present, it refers to the building, maintaining and development of knowledge-based systems...
- Knowledge managementKnowledge managementKnowledge management comprises a range of strategies and practices used in an organization to identify, create, represent, distribute, and enable adoption of insights and experiences...
- Semantic webSemantic WebThe Semantic Web is a collaborative movement led by the World Wide Web Consortium that promotes common formats for data on the World Wide Web. By encouraging the inclusion of semantic content in web pages, the Semantic Web aims at converting the current web of unstructured documents into a "web of... - General theory of collaborationGeneral theory of collaborationfor detailed steps and processes used in progressive business, academic and creative groups see collaborative method.-General theories:By explaining more phenomena, with increased economy, a general theory provides more scientific power...
- Collective intelligenceCollective intelligenceCollective intelligence is a shared or group intelligence that emerges from the collaboration and competition of many individuals and appears in consensus decision making in bacteria, animals, humans and computer networks....
- PolytelyPolytelyPolytely can be described as frequently, complex problem-solving situations characterized by the presence of not one, but several goals, endings.Modern societies face an increasing incidence of various complex problems... - Global Information GridGlobal Information GridThe Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense.It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to...
- Information Routing GroupInformation Routing GroupAn Information Routing Group is a component of social networks consisting of a semi-infinite set of similar interlocking and overlapping groups...
External links
- "The Future of Collaborative Networks" by Aaron Roe FulkersonAaron Roe FulkersonAaron Roe Fulkerson is an information technology businessman and founder of MindTouch, Inc. Fulkerson helped pioneer the open core business model, collaborative networks, and the application of Web Oriented Architecture to enterprise software....
- "How Collaborative Networks will Replace Social Networks" by Mark Fidelman
- "New Collaborative Networks more than Just a Wiki" Read Write Web