Collaborative Tools

Groupware is an excellent category of software for project management. Lotus Notes is probably the best known and most widely used software in this category. Groupware allows you to organize folders in the project. Groupware also allows you to establish a folder for each specific issue or lesson learned. This is much easier in managing, dealing with, and tracking issues than e-mail.

Let’s give two examples of successful use. A firm that is involved in launching satellites into space had many difficulties in sharing information between the remote satellite launch site and home offices. Groupware was implemented. The benefits were immediately felt. Lessons learned and issues were available on-line at any time. Project plans were immediately available and could be viewed anywhere in the world. The groupware provided the structure for useful collaboration. The second example had the same benefits for the deployment of new banking products in South America.