Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Framework for a Collaborative Enterprise

A 26 segment × 3 exposure (78 frames in total)...Image via Wikipedia

While I wait with baited breath if I will be able to jump through all the hoops in time to get all the approvals required for an international travel at short notice and thus be able to board the flight to Hong Kong in less than 11 hours now, I created a short deck on my notes about various collaborative aspects needed in an organization. As I have been stating for sometime now, collaboration is needed not only both inside and outside an organization, but also between inside and outside. (Which has been immortalized by the infinity continuum of Esteban Kolsky.) But how do you become collaborative? And how much do you collaborate? (This 2nd question was asked by Graham Hill who has always provoked me think even further, thank you Sir.)

In this deck I have captured some of the salient points in various journals I went through and try to provide an answer to what types of collaborations are needed. How much of a collaboration is needed is dependent, among other things, on the situation too. You certainly can't wait for a collaborative response to a crisis. A leader is required to take decisions, for the good or bad, under those circumstances. But that's for later, at more saner times when am not on the verge of a nervous breakdown thanks to the rigid processes of a large organization.

Do let me know your thoughts on the notes in this deck as well as the rudimentary maturity model I have drawn up at the end.
Collaboration framework
Posted by ScorpFromHell at 4:21 PM
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Location: Padmanabha Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560070, India

2 comments:

  1. Collective IntellectNov 30, 2010 07:37 AM

    Prem,

    This is a really great look at the different levels of collaboration; I think your collaboration maturity model does a great job of visually describing the different types of collaboration and certainly represents the different comfort levels organizations have.

    One thought I am somewhat wrestiling with is how you measure the success of a collaboration or recognize its absence. It sort of like looking for something when you are not really sure what you are looking for - how do you know your organization is collaborating as efficiently as it could if projects are completed on time.  Or conversly what happens if collaboration muddies the waters of a project's goal.  I guess I am just figuring out how an organization integrates high level of collaboration in a systematic way that still fosters innovation.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

    -Jennifer

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  2. Thank you for the comment Jennifer. :)  Measuring success of collaboration would depend on what your collaborating for. But figuring out where you are missing out, thats a blimey! :s


    As I said, these are just the initial notes. Lots more to brood over!

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts! This is collaborative knowledge building I suppose? ;)

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