Collaboration

Definition

Collaboration

the common task during which producers work together to achieve a common goal and fulfill common objectives

Objectives

The typical objectives of collaboration are to:

• Help each other succeed:
  • Achieve a common goal.
  • Fulfill common objectives.
  • Fulfill common responsibilities.
• Improve quality and productivity.
• Improve communication between collaborators:
  • Roles.
  • Persons.
• Improve morale.

Preconditions

Collaboration can typically begin when the following preconditions hold:

• Human producers interact.
• People playing roles on the endeavor have been adequately trained (or have sufficient experience) in collaboration.

Completion Criteria

Collaboration is typically complete when the following postconditions hold:

• A common goal has been achieved.
• Common objectives have been fulfilled.
• Common responsibilities have been fulfilled.

Steps

Collaboration typically involves persons playing roles performing the following steps in an iterative, incremental, and parallel manner:

• The collaborators gather to work together.
• The collaborators work together performing either the same or related tasks.

Techniques

Collaboration can typically be performed using the following techniques:

• Discussions.
• Meetings.
• Telephone calls.
• Electronic chats.

Work Products

Collaboration typically results in the production of the following work products in an iterative, incremental, parallel, and time-boxed manner:

• E-mails.
• Meeting minutes.

Guidelines

• This task is typically ongoing during the duration of the associated endeavor.