Order Number |
23R56778678 |
Type of Project |
ESSAY |
Writer Level |
PHD VERIFIED |
Format |
APA |
Academic Sources |
10 |
Page Count |
3-12 PAGES |
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit II Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
7.1 Discuss how collaboration tools can improve team communication. 7.2 Identify the tools that will help create a successful collaboration IS.
Course/Unit Learning Outcomes
Learning Activity
4.1
Unit Lesson Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Unit II PowerPoint Presentation
4.2
Unit Lesson Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Unit II PowerPoint Presentation
7.1 Unit Lesson Chapter 2 Unit II PowerPoint Presentation
7.2 Unit Lesson Chapter 2 Unit II PowerPoint Presentation
Reading Assignment Chapter 2: Collaboration Information Systems Chapter 3: Strategy and Information Systems, Q3-1 – Q3-8
Unit Lesson Chapter 2 investigates ways that information systems (IS) can support collaboration. It defines collaboration and discusses collaborative activities and criteria for successful collaboration. It also discusses the kind of work that collaborative teams do, requirements for collaborative IS, and important collaborative tools for improving communicating content.
The chapter ends with a discussion of collaboration in 2024. Collaboration and Cooperation Cooperation occurs when people work together toward a common goal. For example, in teamwork, each team member is given a task to complete such as a project component. Collaboration occurs when people, together or remotely, work together toward a common goal (Kroenke & Boyle, 2017).
For example, a team member in California and a team member in Texas might meet using Skype to discuss ideas for a project. Figure 1 below illustrates collaboration in a team environment. In this illustration, the project manager is responsible for collaborating with team members who are in different departments. For example, the project manager may assign a project administrator who will document the various stages of project development,
Collaboration Information Systems and Strategy and Information Systems
BBA 3551, Information Systems Management 2
Title
assign a person from software development to develop the software application, and assign a person from operations to set up a testing environment. Each of these team members would work with the project manager and with each other throughout the project; however, the project manager would be the main point of contact.
Feedback and iteration are involved so that the results of the collaborative effort are greater than could be produced by any of the individuals working alone. Let’s take a corporate strategic document as an example. This document is not created by one person but, rather, is created by various individuals in the organization. Each individual incorporates his or her statements into the document and then passes it along to the next person.
When it is finished, someone will usually review the document and provide critical feedback. Based on this feedback, the document will be revised and inserted as a part of the final document. As each section of the final strategic document is completed, the final document will then be ready for submission to a corporate body for approval; these revisions are called a series of stages or iterations.
Collaboration tools can be used to manage shared content such as shared content with no control, shared content with version management on Google Drive, and shared content with version control (Kroenke & Boyle, 2017). Some examples of collaboration tools are using Google Drive or Microsoft (MS)
SharePoint to share documents and other tasks and using Skype or Adobe Connect to meet and discuss ideas, progress, or other information. In short, a collaborative group works together to achieve a common goal via a process of feedback and iteration by communicating, sharing information and knowledge, combining skills and sharing time. There are 12 qualities, attitudes, and skills of a good collaborator as explained by Kroenke & Boyle (2017).
After reviewing the Unit II Reading Assignment, think back to the Falcon Security scenario at the beginning of Chapter 2. We can see what happens to collaboration when communication breaks down. It is apparent that Felix was not in collaboration with his teammates. He had missed several meetings and did not read his e- mails regarding the team project. As a result, the team had trouble getting a prototype of the drone finished. Perhaps, if the team used better collaboration tools, they might have been more successful. For example, they could have developed procedures for collaboration such as requiring all team members to be present.
If a team member could not be present, they could have used Skype or some other communication tool to meet and collaborate. Sometimes, team collaboration can fail for other reasons such as conflict. Most people think that avoiding conflict and having similar ideas and opinions makes a group better. While social ability is important, research indicates the importance of being able to have different ideas and opinions expressed.
Team members must have the skills to accept critiques, criticism, and revisions of their work. In some student teams, the focus is strictly on fulfilling a requirement and not necessarily producing the highest quality of work possible through the collaborative efforts of the team members. Another problem that can affect team collaboration is ineffective team members.
The characteristics of an ineffective team member will include lack of interest and commitment, unwillingness to give or take criticism, unwillingness to listen, and indifference. Students are typically not too tolerant of ineffective team members, but they are not always willing to boot them off the team, preferring instead to just work around them. Characteristics of collaborative success center on the output of the group being superior to the output that could have been created by an individual working alone, including such things as being more productive.
Figure 1: Collaboration in a team environment
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being more creative, and generating more and better ideas. When forming a collaborative group, it is useful to begin with a discussion of critical feedback guidelines. Refer to Figure 2-2 on page 42 of the textbook in uCertify, and review the guidelines and examples of constructive and unconstructive feedback. Collaboration IS A collaboration IS is composed of the five components of an IS, as noted by Kroenke and Boyle (2017).
A collaboration IS exists for the purpose of sharing information, making decisions, solving problems, and managing projects. Referring back to the Falcon Security scenario at the beginning of the Chapter 2, notice that a collaboration IS could have provided the team with a better way to manage the project (e.g., discussing solutions to the prototype problem).
It could have also helped to solve meeting attendance issues for Felix such as using Skype from home or other remote locations so that he could have attended project meetings. The team could have also used another collaboration tool such as MS SharePoint so that Felix could have downloaded project-related documentation if he had issues with his e-mail. Solving Problems There are several steps to take when solving problems, which are listed below.
Egocentric Versus Empathetic Thinking Egocentric thinking centers on the self. A person who is egocentric believes that his or her view is the only view available and is often not able to think outside the box (Figure 2). Empathetic thinking is the ability to see more than one view (i.e., the ability to understand the other person’s perspective).
A person who is empathetic is able to consider multiple viewpoints and realize that people who hold a perspective different from his or her own viewpoints are not necessarily wrong (but he or she does not have to be wrong either). Using empathetic thinking is smart and results in better relationships because you do not need to change your way of thinking to match the other person’s thinking. Business is people working together in relationships. Better relationships equate to better business.
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Negotiators, for example, need to know what the other side wants, what is important to the other side, what issues can be negotiated, and what issues are nonnegotiable. Another example is a business meeting that appears to be going nowhere. Whenever we find ourselves in such a meeting, is the problem due to different perspectives? If so, one can sometimes find the root cause by engaging in empathetic thinking.
Competitive Strategy Refer to Figure 3-1 on page 83 of the textbook in uCertify, which summarizes a planning process used by many organizations. We start with Porter’s five forces model to analyze industry structure, and then we use the model of four competitive strategies. Next, we evaluate the value chain and then the business processes; finally, we analyze how IS can provide competitive advantage.
Competitive strategy determines value chain structure by primary activities in the value chain, support activities in the value chain, and value chain linkages. An IS provides competitive advantages via products and via business processes. Think back to the Falcon Security scenario presented in the textbook reading for this unit.
What is Falcon Security’s competitive strategy? Falcon Security chose the differentiation strategy of using drones to provide security surveillance services to its customers. Falcon Security had the proper system processes to provide these services, but other questions remained; for instance, what should they do if they cannot obtain the security contracts they need, and if they do get security contracts, do they have the systems and processes in place to handle the increase in resources needed?
Summary Effective collaboration is key to success. Suppose Falcon Security expands beyond its current location. How can collaboration provide them with a competitive advantage? Let’s assume that the parent location or headquarters has a research and development (R&D) department. The R&D team is searching for ideas for improving the current security drones. How can they do this?
They can collaborate with other departments that may have suggestions based on customer surveys or other customer interactions. They could also hold a virtual collaboration conference with all of the Falcon Security branches and brainstorm new ideas for improving their security services. Consider another example; the R&D team developed a new drone model that can provide better and faster services than their competitors.
How can Falcon Security share this news? The answer is through collaboration. These are just a few of the many ways to use collaboration for advancing and securing competitive strategies.
Figure 2: Characteristics of egocentric thinking
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Reference
Kroenke, D. M., & Boyle, R. J. (2017). Using MIS (10th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.
Suggested Reading In order to access the following resources, click the links below. The following two articles may be helpful to you as a resource when completing this unit’s assignment. A new artificial intelligence solution has been developed to help people who are visually impaired.
This technology helps people to not only experience the world more fully but also to be more productive at work. This article further explores this technology and its creation. Accenture develops new AI-powered solution to help the visually impaired. (2017). Food and Beverage Close
– Up, Retrieved from https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=https://search-proquest- com.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/docview/1926270443?accountid=33337
Learning Activities (Nongraded) Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information. To test your knowledge of the material covered in this unit, complete the activities listed below.