Definition of Collaboration Software

Collaboration Software

From wikipedia.org: Groupware is sometimes divided into three categories depending on the level of collaboration. They are communication tools, conferencing tools, and collaborative management tools.

• Electronic communication tools send messages, files, data, or documents between people and hence facilitate the sharing of information. Examples include:
  • e-mail
  • faxing
  • voice mail
  • Web publishing
• Electronic conferencing tools also facilitate the sharing of information, but in a more interactive way. Examples include:
  • data conferencing - networked PCs share a common “whiteboard” that each user can modify
  • voice conferencing - telephones allow users to interact
  • video conferencing (and audio conferencing) - networked PCs share video or audio signals
  • discussion forums - a virtual discussion platform to facilitate and manage online text messages
  • chat rooms - a virtual discussion platform to facilitate and manage real-time text messages
  • electronic meeting systems (EMS) - a conferencing system build into a room. The special purpose room will usually contain a large screen projector interlinked with numerous PCs.
• Collaborative management tools facilitate and manage group activities. Examples include:
  • electronic calendars (also called time management software) - schedule events and automatically notify and remind group members
  • project management systems - schedule, track, and chart the steps in a project as it is being completed
  • workflow systems - collaborative management of tasks and documents within a knowledge-based business process
  • knowledge management systems - collect, organize, manage, and share various forms of information