“Science is a method to keep yourself from kidding yourself”. So said the ever inspiring Edwin Land. By the same token, learning something new on a regular basis is the way to betterment. Welcome to this week’s list of ROADMENDER’s recommended readings; the largest such depository of all […]
Most people have heard about collaboration. In fact, the majority of senior business leaders, executives and managers probably bombard their employees with messages extolling the virtues of collaboration. And therein lies a slight problem, as with all change management that comes from authority. Making things slightly more complicated […]
If you had a major stake in a business, would you employ someone who is not engaged with the role they are applying for? The bleeding obvious answer would seem to be a big fat NO. However, the sad fact is that the overwhelming majority of employees are […]
Anyone who has collaborated would have experienced some mistakes. What are the mistakes we commonly make in collaboration; particularly in intra-organisational collaboration? While the long list of candidates for the easiest and costliest collaboration mistakes is worth addressing in full, this week I have chosen the simples one […]
My memory is a bit foggy now but when I was a child and was asked many times what I would like to do when I grew up, I never thought that I would like to fail. I am pretty sure this is a universal reaction. Children simply […]
One thing that I find truly great is the fact that we can collaborate globally. Distance collaboration is not as much reliant on infrastructure, as it is on strong social and cultural attitudes. At this point it still looks like people are far more likely to work with […]
If there is one major obstacle that can threaten collaboration working at its best, it is the attitude of those who see collaboration as a perfect opportunity to be part of a group, but without having serious intent or capability to play a part. Good intentions simply count […]
I am never sure if the popularity of the term ‘collaboration’ makes it better understood, or if it actually creates an illusion that collaboration is something that is easy to understand and do. Results clearly tell us that collaboration is still a hit and miss affair for way […]
Enterprising Collaboratives (EC) are one of the models of collaboration created by ROADMENDER. This particular model emerged after years of mixed activities: designing collaborations; facilitating workshops; analysing collaborations, old and new; researching and testing new concepts; innovating; and discussing with like-minded professionals as well those who were new […]
So many things impact on collaboration. It is not always an easy task to keep everything under control but it is critical nevertheless. This week’s selection of recommended reading is a reflection on the diversity of some of the angles from which collaboration can be considered during both […]
Making collaboration easier by using superbly designed technologies is important. But that alone does not constitute a strategy, and without a plan there is no collaboration. Even with all the will in the world, collaboration is not going to work unless the strategy is well thought out and, […]
The workplace is constantly evolving. Some changes are an adaptation to disruptions, others are the evolutionary results of a combination of factors. Collaboration has emerged as a strong contender as a practice that can significantly reduce the stress of adaptation, enhance innovation and make any enterprise more competitive. […]
A noted researcher in the field of human creativity, Prof Barry M Staw, once wrote a paper arguing that the majority of people are not actually prepared to do what is needed in order to be prepared. Despite what seems like a universal desire among people to be […]
In the world of music, C major is synonymous with simplicity and it is commonly considered that C major is the best key for beginners. No matter how much we discuss collaboration, it always raises questions that are really basic. This week ROADMENDER’S focus will be on a […]
Over the years I have learnt that some things really make a difference to collaboration outcomes. A really big difference I should say. Collaboration with colleagues internally or people from other businesses (cross business collaboration) is always dependent on the people factor more than technology or process. Good […]
Have you noticed how often we talk about the possible threat to our jobs as a result of robots and artificial intelligence? Most of this dialogue is often expressed in the context of disruption, and especially digital disruption. We have heard some notable pundits suggest that we may […]
Those were the words uttered by a robot computer in a short, science fiction story by the legendary Isaac Asimov. The storyline is placed in distant 2061, but its relevance is timeless. Regardless of your literary interest, reading Asimov is much more than science fiction. It’s about ideas […]
One day you may find yourself in a position as Director of Collaboration, reporting to a Chief Collaboration Officer. The career prospects for such work are now a reality, however are yet to reach full potential. To help you along the way to what could be the most […]
Good things can get even better, despite what our cultural norms sometimes tell us. Not meaning to sound flippant when implying that even when things are challenging they are good as they give rise to opportunity, but there’s something in it. What is meant by ‘good news everyone’ […]
Some people simply won’t collaborate. Not really that surprising except when you find there are senior managers in the mix. I suppose, because collaboration is a disruptive process since it is creative and innovative, and as long term researcher into creativity Prof Barry M. Staw points out, most […]
To collaborate one needs to face the pressures that come with it. Like, for instance, what happens when we run out of things to say to one another? Well, maybe that’s not a problem for all of us, but the gist of the point is this; in the […]
Do you know the one about the fox and the hedgehog? No. Let me gist it for you. A long, long time ago (around 700 BCE) a smart (ancient) Greek man remarked that the fox knows many things and the hedgehog knows one big thing. Fast forward to […]
Humans are social beings. We crave connection with others and we define purpose in life in strong reference to fellow human beings. The workplace today is a dominant social organisation and as such it has become the most central point for us to define and live out our […]
It is rare to have a conversation about collaboration and not hear something like “trust is important”. But I have never heard anyone mention that courage is also important. I recently read a really cool piece in Forbes by Liz Ryan (see link below**) who examines why so […]
Strategists of all persuasion are well aware of the growing importance of creativity in the solution design process. It’s not only analytical skills that can define competitive strategy. With that in mind, it is useful to reflect on what has become a well-established fact about collaboration: it is […]
.ROADMENDER 