7 tactics to gain big savings through collaboration
TRANSCRIPT
Sharing: The Foundation of Social InstitutionsCan we bravely collaborate?
Stephen AbramOttawaOct. 18, 2014
Where I’m coming from…
The Obligatory Definitions Collaboration the action of working with someone to produce
or create something. Wikipedia -- “Collaboration refers abstractly
to all processes wherein people work together.”Oxford Dictionary -- “United labour, co-operation; especially in literary, artistic or scientific work.”Webster -- “To work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor.”
The Obligatory Definitions Collaborator A person who works jointly on an
activity or project; an associate.
The Obligatory Definitions Risk and Risk Taking A person or thing regarded as likely to
turn out well or badly in a particular context or respect.
The Obligatory Definitions Risk Taker Someone who risks loss or injury in the ho
pe of gain or excitement
Not a bad definition… Collaboration is highly diversified teams
working together inside and outside a company with the purpose to create value by improving innovation, customer relationships and efficiency while leveraging technology for effective interactions in the virtual and physical space. (Cisco)
What Collaboration is NOT Used interchangeably with
“innovation” – There is clearly some confusion with the relationship between collaboration and innovation. By being innovative you aren’t necessarily being collaborative and vise versa. There are interdependencies between the two but they are not the same thing.
Collaboration is NOT Simple Cooperation A Buying Club Old-style Consortia Teamwork Partnerships A Confederation of Equals
Collaboration IS… Collaboration is both a process and an
outcome for people and by people who work together to create value and solutions they could not create individually.
Collaboration IS … Goal driven Common goal(s) Agreed goal(s) Measurable (caution – a measurement
such as savings, client growth or surpluses are not goals but measurements of goals achieved.)
The BIG decision Bad collaboration is a waste time and
resources and produces no results. Deciding not to collaborate is a better option than bad collaboration.
Basic Principles Win Win Win Failure as milestones and learning moments A partnership of equitable participation (not
necessarily equal and no junior partners) Everyone has a valid role or isn’t invited Everyone brings something of value to the
table Openness Shared technology (as a tool) Risk – but no one dies(!)
Teeny Bit of Library History Various levels of success… OCLC – global non-profit ‘co-operative’ Open Source initiatives Consortia Associations Vaults and standards Infrastructure Data collection (e.g. IMLS, ODI, ARL, etc.)
Collaboration Technology ToolsKnowledge Management Intranet ToolsBookmark Sharing Systemse-Book Management SystemsPresentation Management SystemsCourse Management SystemsLearning Management SystemsCollaboration EnvironmentsSocial Networking
Obligatory Dilbert
Barriers(?) Culture Fetishization of rules – especially unwritten rules Turf and Competition, Hoarding Bad History Not Invented Here Failure to Act Lack of a common vision Leadership Gaps Competency Gap Minimal Organization Structure links Over coalitioned community Cash Investment viewed for short-term benefit 20th C rules applied to 21st C context
7 Tactics aimed at Results
What is it? What outputs do
we need to achieve?
How do we adapt over the longer term, maintain relevance, and evolve?
What are the Benefits?
Scalability Sustainability Replicability Measureable
Success
Tactic One
What is it?What are the Benefits?
The Cloud and Our Back Room
Tactic Two
What is it? Integrated
marketing and communication that is opt-in and driven in a cost-effective way
Branding Communication Cost-effective Integrated story-
engine
What are the Benefits?
Social Networks & Community Engagement
Tactic Three
What is it? Beacons are
awesome (latest shiny thing)
NFC, post QR codes
Everything digital Can be interactive
Hyper-local Contextual Inexpensive
What are the Benefits?
Beacons and Reaching Out
Tactic Four
What is it? Public Opinion Technology Trends Market Research Local
demographics Economic Studies
Less cost per system
More knowledge driving decision-making
What are the Benefits?
Research for Ourselves
Tactic Five
What is it? Responsive design Multi-platform Multi-device National and Global –
not a per-library system island
Shared library cards and cardholders
E-Commerce
Distribution Diffusion Initial Development Long term upgrades
as the word adapts and changes
What are the Benefits?
Mobile and Avoiding Isolation
Tactic Six
What is it? Program ideas LibGuide
Frameworks Website Templates API Vaults Document
Libraries
Speed to implementation
What are the Benefits?
Program Replicability & Diffusion
Tactic Seven
What is it? Shared state- or
province-wide LMS Self directed Competency-based and
needs gaps analyzed Mentoring Hundreds of trainers and
programs Supervisor involvement
Shared Structure Saveability Coordination Asynchronous and
Asymmetrical 24/7/365 Certificates
What are the Benefits?
Staff Training and Community Programs
The List of Opportunities1. The Cloud and Our Back Room2. Social Networks and Community
Engagement3. Beacons and Reaching Out4. Research for Ourselves5. Mobile and Avoiding Isolation6. Program Replicability and diffusion7. Staff Training and Virtual Programming
Manifesto Start to collaborate more! Address and align with the culture Agree on the outcomes Remove the barriers
Takeaways Collaborate for Results (but know your real
measurements) Define the REAL problem (not the
measurement) Focus on the Long Term (But know your
milestones) Spot and tear down barriers Keep competition on the outside, collaboration
on the inside Focus on people and culture, not just tools and
technology Celebrate successes along the way
All organizations exist to make a difference,but the most admired ones distinguish themselves by putting their people first.
When the fear of meeting expectations overtakes the trust you have in your people,you’ll paralyze their ability to make decisions.
The modern organization creates engagement because they ditch hierarchies, and instead build a cohesive culture whereeveryone works in tandem towards a common purpose.
Evolved leaders make it a priorityto contribute more to the organization than they consume.
Building a collaborative culture starts with appreciating the human condition.Remember the 6 C’s:
Building a collaborative culture starts with appreciating the human condition.Remember the 6 C’s:Connect with others first & always
Building a collaborative culture starts with appreciating the human condition.Remember the 6 C’s:Consider options
Building a collaborative culture starts with appreciating the human condition.Remember the 6 C’s:Communicate your decisions
Building a collaborative culture starts with appreciating the human condition.Remember the 6 C’s:Create opportunities
Building a collaborative culture starts with appreciating the human condition.Remember the 6 C’s:Confirm what you did is what you wanted to do
Building a collaborative culture starts with appreciating the human condition.Remember the 6 C’s:Congratulate the results, efforts and learning - celebrate
Modern learning structures are part formal, part informal, and part social - because ‘the best meetings were meetings that happened spontaneously in the hallway.’
In an era of ‘Lean In’ women leaders,it’s wise for males to ‘lean back’ and leverage more of their soft skills.
Astute leaders rarely talk too much.They listen instead to what others have to say.
Talent is attracted first to purpose, and then they evaluate the opportunity.Present work that matters.
We’re not here to see through each other,we’re here to see each other through.
REALLY REFLECT...Do others see in you what you think you see in yourself?
5 Frameworks to be Flat but Connected Open Leadership Attributes CLAM: Collaborative Leader Action
Model PLN: Participative Leader Framework Pervasive Learning – Ubiquitous Collaboration Technologies
Stephen AbramLighthouse [email protected]@sabramStephen’s Lighthouse blog416-669-4855