Collaboration, Not Competition: A Winning Small Business Strategy

…small business can benefit from collaboration strategy more than traditional competition….

No matter how many times it’s repeated, it is worth doing so again for the simple reason that the message that collaboration is ‘good for you, your business and your life’ should be more of a mantra until we start to see the fruits of all the hard work.  This piece by Nicole Fallon focuses on collaboration and small business and is a good opening for this week’s selection of recommended reading.  As the author points out, small business owners sometimes can feel like it is “dog eat dog” out there; I wonder if we could aim to make it “dog feed dog”.  READ ON…

The Parts We Play: Building Trust, Collaboration & Partnerships

Andrew Armour attempts to disentangle the complex web of relationships, partnerships and collaboration that all cross paths at the inevitable link – ‘trust building‘.  I particularly appreciate the author’s effort in making the concept of trust conceptualised as a practice that goes beyond conventional attitudes.  READ ON…

Teamability®

It is unavoidable to talk about collaboration without talking about teams.  The relationship between the two is instinctive.  While a lot has been said about teams over the decades, the changing context poses new challenges in how teams can be built to last for the duration of the necessary work or project.  Dr Janice Presser, the CEO of The Gabriel Institute and a guest blogger on ROADMENDER, offers what I would consider clearly one of the best approaches to ‘teamcrafting’.  Dr Presser’s Teamability is brilliant and highly recommended.  READ ON…

“When social nodes are coherent, they are free of noise and distortion” – @Dr Janice

Collaboration Isn’t Just for Knowledge Workers

Every topic that gains momentum, such as collaboration in the context of work and business, risks creating gaps in its audience.  One of those instances is the way the collaboration discourse has at times seemed non-inclusive.  As Jed Cawthorne from BMO Financial Group eloquently explains, there are many dimensions of collaboration that are equally suited to all workers.  This should be self-evident but may be equally overlooked for a variety of reasons.  Among a range of points which the author shares with a number of other collaboration thinkers, one that tells a lot about good understanding of collaboration is the idea that “collaboration is NOT information sharing”.  READ ON…

The Nuances of Collaboration

Talking about teams and collaboration is also a nice introduction to some less explored areas of collaboration such as politics and hierarchies.  While these factors are true topics in their own right (and which I will return to later) I thought this piece by Kyla Crisostomo should be read and shared.  The author looks at the above mentioned factors through a study of what is a part of American culture and tradition: quilting.  The fusion of art, culture and business is increasingly revealing layers of understanding of collaboration.  This is one such an example.  READ ON…

Three tiers of collaboration. Written by James Robertson. http://www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/three-tiers-of-collaboration/

IBM, Thiess partner on Big Data collaboration

It should not surprise anyone that big data can be a critical element of any kind of collaboration.  While realistically more suited for mega scale collaborations, big data is becoming adaptable to all forms of collaboration.  One of the first blogs on ROADMENDER was about big data.  This piece by Peter Dinham explains how better big data can improve operational efficiency of Thiess’ Mining haul trucks and excavators.  READ ON…

…and now for something completely different…

Mr Allen Klein,
the jollytologist

Allen Klein – Jollytologist and Best-Selling Author

Have you ever seriously considered the importance of humour and play in your working life?  A man once described by comedian Jerry Lewis as “a noble and vital force watching over the human condition” certainly is the right introduction of the topic. Allen Klein, a ‘jollytologist’ is dead serious about humour and its benefits; and the serious people listen to him and laugh with him. READ ON…

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