Big idea: More efficiency through close collaboration. Example: Engine manufacturer works closely with car factory during both development and production. In the development process, the car engine manufacturer contributes expertise. In production, the engine manufacturer takes responsibility for delivering engines just-in-time.
E-collaboration is understood as ”global access to and the management of a common pool of digital assets used to collaborate, support work processes and share information between the company and their customers, employees and business partners” (Statoil eCollaboration strategy, 2002). A simpler definition could be “IT-tools for collaboration within the company and with external partners”.
Using technology for communication and collaboration is not a new phenomenon. The first computerized collaboration technology was created by Douglas Engelbart at Stanford in the 1960s, when he envisioned hypertext, word processors and data conferencing. In the 1980s, the idea of automating the office had taken root, and in 1984, the term “computer-supported collaborative work” appeared, where the main idea was the merging of computers and telecommunication. Today, we take this for granted, but in 1984 this merger was a massive break through in digital collaboration. When this merging had begun, a number of technologies appeared under varying lables, such as knowledge management, digital collaboration, e-collaboration, c-commerce and others. What they all have in common is that they enable people to work together, regardless of time and place.
When we talk about collaboration technologies, it is important to be specific about time and place. Communication can take place at the same time or at different times, in the same space or in different spaces. Each of these combinations require different solutions.