NEW Collaboration and the NEWORKerIntuitively, everyone in the business world knows what it means to collaborate. Nevertheless, this concept is used in so many different ways that its exact meaning still remains somewhat fuzzy! Collaboration is broadly defined as the interaction among two or more individuals and can encompass a variety of behaviours or processes, including communication, information sharing, coordination, cooperation, problem solving, and negotiation. These processes do not work independently of one another but are usually intermingled and determined by each other. True collaboration tools will try to provide help for all those collaboration processes, but their main focus is mostly on one of these areas. Collaboration is the process in which three or more people interact with one another face to face in order to achieve some interdependent goal such as increased understanding, coordinated activity, or a solution to a shared problem. In the NEWORK sense, it is working together, bringing three or more people together to work together to complete a contractual outcome. People work together as a team to achieve the shared goals, everyone participating and contributing to the group s understanding, learning, and progress. Ideally all have a good time, get a lot done, and learn from each other. The NEWORKer is in a unique position to facilitate a group towards achieving common goals, finding that common ground with other staff, managers, or community members so that together they work toward a common vision. |
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