Greetings - I'll introduce myself in a separate message. But I want
to respond to your thoughts on groupware.
Groupware needs to be understood and separated from EMAIL. EMAIL is
the capability for a person to direct a message to a target audience.
EMAIL may or may not support complex documents. (Documents that contain
graphics, charts, etc.) Groupware is the capability to publish
information in a common repository where: 1) Receivers choose the
information they receive; 2) There is tracking capability to follow
the flow/change of the document.
It is significant "who" controls access to the information.
If accessed is controlled by the sender it is EMAIL and the technology
is providing "scale" for organization. If accessed is controlled by
the receiver then is is groupware and it is technology for effectiveness
(in Rick's terms).
EMAIL does not foster learning beyond capabilities of the traditional
hierarchial organization. (And so it is readily accepted in hierarchial
organizations.) Groupware eliminates the organizational controls on
information and so disrupts hierarchies. The ramifications of true
groupware are significant.
By the way LOTUS NOTES, the epitome of groupware, is actually a lousy
EMAIL system.
FORBES ASAP, June 5, 1995 has an excellent discussion on groupware.
--
Bill Mitchell <arch1@texas.net>