Collaboration is a key indicator of success in the workplace and despite the widespread agreement on the importance of using tools for work, some organizations have yet to implement greater working strategies, while others enlist dozens of applications with no defined method – what some might refer to as, “organized chaos.” 86% of employees and executives cite the lack of effective collaboration and communication as the main causes for workplace failures – which means our technology environments are often not the result of strategic decisions, but rather an ad hoc approach.
Unifying Team Collaboration
One way to unify team collaboration and improve overall productivity, is to utilize an all-in-one platform with knowledge sharing functionalities built-in. Simplifying workplace communication can allow more time for input and participation, enabling members to build upon each other’s strengths to become a robust, highly productive, and cohesive team where productivity soars!
Consider the top benefits of online collaboration tools when evaluating your current methods.
Top Benefits of Online Collaboration Tools
1. Saves Time
Web-based solutions provide a centralized location for project documentation, allowing teams to exchange ideas and coordinate group problem solving strategies. By implementing one source for all needs, organizations avoid losing hours spent searching for relevant documents and accelerate project timelines.
2. Improves Decision Making
Collaboration tools allow project managers to base their decisions and recommendations on the most current information, and gather input from team members who might have otherwise been unable to participate in the discussion.
3. Strengthens Team Relationships
Working towards the same goal instills team members with a strong sense of purpose and collaboration enables them to fill in each others’ skill gaps and play to everyone’s strengths. These tools also improve workplace morale by eliminating factors that alienate team members, like wasted effort and breakdowns in communication.
4. Cultivates a ‘Learning Environment’
When teams collaborate, they get the opportunity to learn new things from each other, which contribute to overall personal and professional development. Collaboration propels your firm to become a learning organization—a phrase that often refers to organizations with structures in place to support ongoing learning and opportunities for growth in all aspects of employees’ lives.
Collaboration Tools in IEEE DiscoveryPoint
IEEE DiscoveryPoint for Communications makes it easy to work with user colleagues with these tools:
- Connect – share content and collaborate with other users in your organization on specific topics by using My Colleagues and My Groups.
- Bookmarks – links to favorite documents—yours and those created and shared by your colleagues within your organization.
- Search Results Actions — every search result record has a variety of actions that you can perform: Bookmark and Share, Email, Copy URL, More Info.
Each tool, and how to use it, is described in detail in the User Guide, which can be accessed in the User Help section in IEEE DiscoveryPoint.
Creating an End-to-End Adoption Strategy
Adopting technologies with collaboration might involve some initial changes to a company’s existing business process, but the changes begin to pay off almost immediately in a variety of areas. Here’s a pro-tip: Ensure your end to end product team from research to design are using a tool that makes it easy for them to find the information they need at each phase of the process and easily collaborate along the way.
Request a demo and take a close look at the easy-to-use collaboration tools in IEEE DiscoveryPoint for Communications.
IEEE DiscoveryPoint for Communications helps engineers transform ideas into marketable products.