Long ago, in the days before Mark Zuckerberg's betrayal was a hot topic on Twitter, the tech industry had unlimited potential to improve the world. Plus, there was money making no limits! Then trolls, criminals, predators and demagogues invaded the public places built by technology, and the tragedy of digital commons unfolded on a global scale. And big technology was not opposed to mounting that either.
Technology has therefore been disastrously tarnished – until a few weeks ago, when, torn from our open-plan offices and pulled into our homes, we discovered that the digital tools that connect us are lifesavers. Those of us who are fortunate enough to continue to work while the economics of industry collapse compulsively embraces collaboration software, from project planners to videoconference applications. Suddenly, the public's appreciation for what engineers are working tirelessly to build has once again increased.
While it's great to explore what can be accomplished with popular tools, from Slack Trello to GitHub teams for Zoom, collaboration isn't just about software. The processes and precautions regarding how we work together remotely are evolving rapidly as group interactions swirl everywhere.
In recognition of the new vital role of collaboration, Computerworld, CIO, CSO, InfoWorld and Network World have teamed up to deliver five articles to help you optimize your collaboration efforts. Share them with people you know.
Office? Which office?
Senior reporter Matthew Finnegan, who covers the collaboration for Computerworld, answers the question in everyone's mind: "Distance work, now and forever?"Surveys show that the majority of people prefer to work from home – and in organizations that have had mature homework policies for some time, many employees have moved into their new reality as if it doesn't matter. office won "But as long as productivity persists and collaboration tools inevitably improve, why not allow people to work where they want? Matthew and IDG TechTalk Juliet Beauchamp of TechTalk discuss these and other possibilities on a special episode of Today in Tech.
One thing is certain: videoconferencing has a proven track record in remote work. But can networks manage it? By all accounts, the public Internet and even cloud services held up remarkably well. However, as analyst Zeus Kerravala observes in "Quick video conferencing solutions need to be rethought when the pandemic is over"Written by Network World contributor Sharon Gaudin, those who return to the office and want to continue zooming or Webexer may face obstacles." Companies thought they had good networks, but now they find they need to be upgraded, "says Kerravala, and richer and future video conferencing experiences will demand even more from business networks.
A more urgent request is the safety of those who work from home. CSO contributor Susan Bradley addresses this issue in "8 key safety considerations to protect remote workers", which details the efforts you need to make immediately. Some are obvious, like implementing two-factor authentication. Others are less, like adjusting the effect on security event logging. Like the clarifies Susan, the security of the terminals is very different for the attached home users than for those integrated in an office.
Having the right technology in place does not guarantee the success of the collaboration. In "7 secrets of efficient remote IT teams, "CIO contributor John Edwards explores the roles and responsibilities of teams collaborating remotely. It is not surprising that many of John's recommendations, especially those regarding leadership, can apply to most management situations. But it also covers best practices for healthy group dynamics.
The time may have come to remind you that the true pioneers of successful remote collaboration processes were, you guessed it, developers. InfoWorld editor Isaac Sacolick guides us "7 best practices for agile distance teams", starting with choosing the right tools for your collaborative workspace. Isaac offers clear advice on everything from adjusting sprint rates to adapting agile" skills "for distance work. The last sentence of his history offers words for living: "A large part of being agile, and not just following agile practices, is recognizing when and how to change. "
We are all discovering this right now. As we innovate in our own collaborative processes and rules, the tech industry would do well to make more money by taking notes and coming up with new creative solutions.
Copyright 2020 IDG Communications, Inc.
