Renata Cooper
All For One And One For All:
Collaboration In 2015
2015 will see us, as a society; work together more than we
ever have in the past. Technology, shifting work ethics and
the need to deliver greater good has seen collaborative
practices going mainstream in workplaces, manufacturing,
consumption, resource management, recycling and how we
perceive competition. Increasingly, we are working together
for our benefit and that of those around us.
Beyond classic examples such as eBay and the less
decorous ones such as Pirate Bay, many community driven
collaborative movements are shaping our economy and
culture. From 3D printing, co-creation, to software as
services technology that is allowing brands to connect
directly with customers and consumption platforms such as
Freecycle, our world is getting smaller and more intertwined.
So how will collaboration impact small businesses and
entrepreneurs this year?
SOCIAL MEDIA IS AS IMPORTANT
AS EMAIL AND PHONES:
Research firm Gartner predicts that by 2016, 50 percent of
large organisations will have internal Facebook-like social
networks, and that 30 percent of these will be considered as
essential as email and telephones are today.
Entrepreneurs and smaller businesses will take cue from this
trend and use social mediums to build brands and manage
conversations. Social engagement will become an important
part of their business plan and strategy. Community
managers – internal employees or external facilitators
such as CloudPeeps – will play a bigger role in channeling
relevant information across different platforms.
Likewise, the role of content will evolve to focus more on
key influencers, leadership and relationships. Businesses
with global footprints will also use social platforms to create
more cohesive workforce across cities and countries – at a
fraction of the cost.
EMPLOYEE VOICE AND NEW WORK STRUCTURE:
In the past, employee performance management was reliant
on management teams and the opportunities they provided.
Flatter work structures and access to social networks, within
and outside the organisation, have given a stronger voice
to employees to showcase their work, interests, skills (both
intuitive and taught) and potential.
Employees will be more empowered to work with
entrepreneurs and businesses that fulfill not just pay check
requirements, but also support them through collaboration
and are prepared to engage in their interests. Employers