Collaborative Document Management
Introduction
*Collaborative software or groupware refers to the set of computer programs that integrate work in a single project, with many concurrent users, who are located on various workstations, connected through a network (internet or intranet).[1].
Definition
At their most basic function, organizations establish teams both to respond to problems that have occurred and to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Carstensen and Schmidt (1993)[2] expose four general activities that teams perform: recommend, make, invent or set in motion.
The term groupware refers to software methods and tools that facilitate group work, improving its performance, and help people who are located in different geographical locations to work at the same time, either directly or anonymously, through networks. Many experts agree that teams are the primary unit of performance in any organization. Today there is a new type of "virtual" team, a team made up of people who communicate electronically.
Collaboration is becoming an increasingly important element in today's economy, the sharing of information and knowledge are vital components of a true collaborative relationship.[3] Groupware seeks to support the work carried out by groups and teams, taking into account the aspects of collaboration that are necessary to reap the maximum benefits. It is a very useful technological tool in our times since we can integrate our theoretical knowledge with technology. Increasingly, groups and organizations have to adapt their processes to the rapid changes brought about by new technologies, new customer demands, or new competitors. Alternatively, many organizations use communications support systems or Groupware to support their rapidly changing and non-routine processes. But these systems typically require users to do a lot of work themselves to keep track of and understand the
ongoing processes. Some authors define groupware loosely, as any application that works on a network and allows individuals to share data can fall into the category of groupware. Other authors such as Robert Johansen define groupware as "specialized computing tools designed for use by collaborative work groups."