The Connected Workspace

[Podcast]
A key component to a cohesive Universal Collaboration (UC + Web 2.0) strategy is the "connected workspace". As cited in the Facebook example a few weeks back, a workspace can be described by four key characteristics that include:

• Usability – an easy-to-use graphical interface that can be customized for each individual user based on context (i.e. project based, team, work habits, relevant information, etc.)
• Accessibility – the ability to access the workspace application from a myriad of devices, operating systems, wired or wireless.
• Participation – a workspace should not be limited to file sharing. Members should have full read/write access to promote discussion, debate and innovation.
• Collaboration – via any device in one-to-one or one-to-many communications. Leverages a full range of unified communication capabilities.

The connected workspace can be built around an individual or a team. In my experience, for the workspace concept to catch on with users, all four of these defining characteristics have got to be present. In the case of an individual workspace, the idea is to provide a user experience that follows the employee across devices, location, networks, etc.

In order to maximize its effectiveness and truly promote Universal Collaboration, workspaces (especially those that are team-based) must also cross trust boundaries, per the last blog topic. This allows all members of a given ecosystem to have full access to all features and functions of the connected workspace including: file sharing, editing, real-time and asynchronous collaboration, and sharing of presences/availability information. One of the key advantages of traversing trust boundaries, which commonly exist between different corporate domains, is the ability to federate presence. Presence federation allows all members of the workspace to view each other's availability regardless of what instant messaging engine/client they are using (Lotus Sametime, Microsoft Office Communicator, Cisco Personal Communicator, AOL, etc.).

The workspace is key component to realizing the business transforming value of Universal Collaboration and Web 2.0 in the enterprise.