COLLABORATIVE WRITING & MEETINGS AT WORK

Occurs when...

A group of 2+ individuals do the following: Combine their efforts to prepare a single document Share authorship Work together for the common good

Valued Skills

Interact successfully on an interpersonal level Network to access and achieve information Participate and provide feedback Give and take constructive criticism Raise important and relevant questions Get assistance from resource experts in other

departments and fields Put the good of your company above your ego Work toward consensus Contribute to costumer service and satisfaction

Advantages

Collaboration builds on collective talents Allows for positive feedback and critique Increases productivity and saves time and money Ensures overall writing effectiveness Accelerates the decision making time Reduces corporate risk Boosts employee morale and confidence while decreasing

stress Contributes to customer satisfaction Affords a greater opportunity to understand global

perspectives

The Writing Process

Groups must work together Plan before they write Do research Prepare drafts Revise and edit

7 Guidelines for Success

Get to know one another Set up a preliminary meeting to establish guidelines Agree on the group’s leadership Identify each member’s responsibilities and roles that

allow for individual skills and talent Establish the time, places and length of group meetings Followed an agreed upon timetable, but leave room for

flexibility Use standard reference guides for matters of style,

documentation and format

10 Proven Ways to be a Valuable Team Player

Sources of Conflict

Resisting constructive criticism Giving only negative criticism Dominating a meeting Refusing to participate Interrupting with incessant questions Inflating small details out of proportion Being overly deferential to avoid conflict Not respecting cultural differences Violating confidentiality Not finishing on time or submitting an incomplete

document

Computer Supported Collaboration

Advantages

Increased opportunities to “meet” Reduced stress by updating new group

members Expanded options for communicating

worldwide Improved feedback and accountability Enhanced possibility of complete and clear

information

Groupware

Email Document Tracking Software Web-Based Collaboration Systems

Wikis Online Word Processing Systems Google Docs