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Now we can put all of the information from the last three chapters together to form a picture of what collaboration 2.0 is all about. With the concepts of collaboration from chapter 2 and the idea of cloud computing from chapter 3, we can examine the specifics of what collaboration in the cloud can do for an organization.
Distance
One of the benefits of collaborating using Web 2.0 services is that it does not matter where in the world a collaborator is working- everyone can access and contribute equally. Web 2.0 collaboration will work for a small group within a single organization or a large project team spread around the world. All of the data, the methods of creating project deliverables-reports, articles, presentations, pictures, or other media-in support of your project, and editing or collaborating tools are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week online. What Web 2.0 brings to the equation is the ability to use many different channels of communication in your collaborative efforts. Built-in instant messaging, bulletin boards, comment "walls," and other methods of communication are easy to install and use in most Web 2.0 services.
This communication infrastructure, along with the always-on nature of the Internet, removes the need for team members to be physically close to one another. It also removes the need for expensive long-distance conference calls and delivery services. All of the data is available to all of the team members all of the time, and people can work when and where it suits them. This ability to work without regard to distance means that project managers can choose the best possible members for a team, not just the ones who are physically closest.
Asynchronous Communication
Along with its ability to eliminate the constraints of distance between collaborators, Web 2.0 communication and collaboration channels can also reduce some of the problems associated with having collaborators in multiple time zones. Many of the services that will...