More collaboration! That seems to be the loud and clear message across the business world in its endeavour to deal with a host of business challenges; from disruption to business slumps. While reports continue to indicate that collaboration can temporarily frustrate people, it should be remembered that collaboration itself is a form of disruption. For many strategists looking to make their business more competitive, be they from a university, a commercial enterprise or a government department, collaboration can prove tricky. This should not be surprising given the time and money invested in work practices and cultures that for decades ignored what is now an unavoidable business factor. However, with the acceptance of a new reality comes an opportunity to learn, innovate and take a shot at the collaborative way. Some examples are revealed in this week’s list of recommended readings on all things collaboration.

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

5 ways to encourage collaboration

Make it clear that collaboration is the minimum standard in your team. While an individual’s workload is enough to create a system of isolation at work, if collaboration is made a core value and integrated into everyone’s workflow, then employees are less likely to view it as a deterrence to their individual jobs…RAED ON

Why collaboration is essential for creativity

The image of the lone artist in the garret is pervasive and even mythic. But research and practical education shows the benefits of collaboration for enhancing creativity and creating diversity in the arts…READ ON

The age of brand, agency and customer collaboration: four ways to translate marketing visions into engaged customers

A report by Forbes Insights, ‘The age of Brand, Agency and Customer Collaboration,’ offers four ways to successfully translate marketing visions into more engaged customers. Key findings from the report show recognition of the changing nature of the industry, but difficulty in collaboration between brand and agency counterparts to create successfully targeted content…READ ON

Innovation and collaboration are the keys to a sustainable energy future

Electric Vehicles. Solar Powered Communities. Smart Appliances. At one time these technologies sounded like something out of a futuristic movie, but today, these innovations are common in many of our homes and workplaces. While they aren’t in every home, the costs associated with sustainable technologies continue to decrease and in very little time, these innovations will go from cutting edge to mainstream. From generating your own power sources in your…READ ON

Fintech revolution in India: Tech-finance collaboration has fired up entrepreneurs

Freecharge, the digital wallet company owned by e-commerce major Snapdeal, last week took its ‘chat n pay’ feature to the next level by introducing Freecharge on WhatsApp. It allows consumers to WhatsApp ‘money’ to any of their contacts in less than 10 seconds. Also, with ‘chat n pay’, merchants and customers can connect over chat and initiate payments…READ ON

‘Collaboration’ new corporate strategy to survive slump

Samsung-Asiana smartphone, Korean Air-BC check card, LG-Swarovski OLED TV: what do these unfamiliar names have in common? They are the examples of unlikely collaborations between different companies and industries to survive the global business slump through what industry watchers are calling “cross-breeding.” Particularly noticeable this year is the series of alliances among apparently unrelated industries, such as airlines, IT firms, financial service firms and apparel makers. “As the domestic market for most industries has reached its bottom…READ ON

‘More collaboration needed if the north’s tech clusters are to thrive’

The region’s digital tech industry maybe booking but better collaboration with local industries and public services is a must if the tech clusters are to thrive. According to a new report, The Digital Powerhouse, the digital sector is fuelling economic growth in the north with jobs in the sector increasing at ten times the rate of jobs in non-digital sectors. The productivity of digital workers is 53 per cent higher than that of non-digital workers, says the report, and this in turn has fed into higher earnings, with digital workers in the north enjoying a 60 per cent wage premium over their counterparts in the rest of the economy…READ ON