One sure sign that collaboration is becoming an indispensable part of business strategy for smart businesses that understand competitive advantage, is an increasing investment in collaboration-focused technology. A very exciting aspect of this is immersive technology. How technology might shape collaboration is yet to be seen. Ultimately it boils down to complex human factors, but I think it is a safe bet that technology such as immersive video conferencing is a sign that more people will be able to collaborate with diverse groups more effectively. Included in this week’s list of recommended reading is an article on immersive videoconferencing by Patrick Nelson (author of the cult-classic novel Sprawlism) and first published in IT World. Also worth noting are articles on the importance of personality and collaboration.

Thanks to those who have suggested articles for this edition of Roadmender Recommends.

If You Want Your Team To Collaborate, Self-Awareness Is A Game Changer

Over the past few years as an executive business coach, I have noticed the rise of words such as “self-awareness,” “mindfulness,” and “radical responsibility” in business contexts. Let me confess that I’m a believer. Too many professionals, however, still pay only lip service to emotional intelligence. To them, hard technical skills lead the way, while soft skills remain secondary…READ ON

Collaborating With A Passive-Aggressive Non-Collaborator

What is a passive aggressive-person? Webster defines it as “being, marked by, or displaying behaviour characterized by the expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive passive way (as through procrastination and stubbornness).” On the surface they appear in agreement, polite, friendly, down-to-earth, kind and well-meaning when below that surface there if often manipulation going on. And they do not always show that they are angry or resentful but may make inappropriate comments instead…READ ON

Collaboration Is The New Competitive Advantage

In 1985, a relatively unknown professor at Harvard Business School named Michael Porter published a book called Competitive Advantage, which explained that by optimizing every facet of the value chain, a firm could consistently outperform its competitors. The book was an immediate success and made Porter a management superstar…READ ON

Technology and the Future of Collaboration

The construction industry is slow to change. We are not early adopters, nor do we tend to be technology leaders.

The implementation of computers on construction sites was a long, long way behind their adoption in other areas such as manufacturing, law and the world of business and commerce. Law and resolution of construction disputes remains remarkably similar to procedures undertaken as far back as the 16th century. It is fair to say we are comparative dinosaurs. Whilst labour input on sites is gradually being eeked out by mechanisation (no more hod carriers now!) and certain site elements such as reinforced concrete are highly labour intensive, it is clear that we are, due to the fragmented nature of what we do, probably most in…READ ON

Immersive video collaboration is around the corner

Here’s a question for you: Why isn’t video conferencing bigger? I don’t know about you, but the webinars and so on that I’m invited to consist of audio- and whiteboard-only. It appears to me that the hype of the on-board camera promising to bring remote co-workers together hasn’t really worked out—we’re still picking up the phone and stabbing away at messaging. Even my Skype calls tend to be audio-only. Part of the reason might be that despite the conveyed image, we still feel distanced—so what’s the point of the extra effort? Video chat feels remote, and even stunted…READ ON