The Power of Collaboration We hear the word collaboration with such frequency, there is the danger it will become merely a buzzword, and its core value largely ignored. At its essence, collaboration can be loosely defined as one or more people working together to achieve a common goal. People can collaborate effectively when they agree on a goal and are motivated to attain it, regardless of the context. AKG provides a humorous example of office collaboration in our new video.
Whether it is a team of 20, only a pair, or an entire organization attempting to collaborate, there are likely to be different styles and meanings of collaboration in each group. The hard truth is that defining collaboration is much more involved than most people think. Every situation has a unique set of challenges and circumstances, including differing work styles, locations and level of expertise. Some can be attributed to people having different definitions of collaboration and never learning to define it within the parameters of the team, or not having clearly stated goals.
AKG helps teams and organizations effectively implement collaborative technology by giving employees an understanding of what is required. Our consultants work with you to identify your collaboration needs and requirements and also help you define processes and norms, so the solution fits your business. We also help develop strategies for online collaboration, change management, and user adoption to ensure the technology is being used to maximum advantage. Not only do we help companies implement this technology but we train people how to manage their information with techniques and strategies that will ensure productive collaboration in any project and with any group. Long-lasting, valuable solutions involve strategies for integrating People, Process, Learning, and Technology—the four pillars of every AKG engagement. Our new video helps demonstrate that people are capable of collaborating quite effectively when motivated. AKG helps you to unleash that power for clear business gains.
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The Next Level - Advanced SharePoint Options The beauty of SharePoint lies in its amazing flexibility and scalability. In particular, MOSS 2007 has added significantly more functionality to SharePoint. In its basic form SharePoint is easy to learn, and new users feel comfortable quickly. But SharePoint does not have to stop at plain vanilla. Advanced users with Web Designer or Site Owner rights can take their SharePoint worksites "to the next level" by going beyond the basics. Use Create a Workflow for a Standard Document Library or List to increase productivity and improve your SharePoint experience.
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g Linking the knowledge of people
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Data Visualization in SharePoint We often describe SharePoint as a platform that serves as a blank canvas. It can begin at the finger paint stage, but has the ability to develop into a masterpiece. A growing area worthy of DaVinci are solutions that render geospatial images in SharePoint overlaid with a variety of critical datapoints. Often called “mashups,” this data visualization brings clarity to data, and translates it into meaningful knowledge. Or, as the old proverb goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Learn more
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They Said It "Social networking isn’t new; it is what we do as social beings. The new part, of course, is the technology that brings us in closer conscious proximity, even when at great physical distance”
Stuart L. Weibel, Ph.D. Consulting Research Scientist
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SharePoint® Quick Tip
Use Workflows to Automate Processes If you have Manage List permissions on a site, library, or list, you can create and apply workflows to documents or items. Workflows are sequenced tasks or actions applied to documents or list that achieves a business process. They can be huge timesavers, and are “greener”, since you eliminate hard copy printing. A workflow will route the document appropriately, send an email alert to the person(s) who must take action, send an overdue notice, and also provide a view into what has happened during the process.
SharePoint 2007 has a few simple, native workflows built in that are easy to set up. These workflows can be either serial or parallel, and have some additional features that offer you some flexibility. These built in workflows include: ►Approval -- routes the document to different individuals for approval
►Collect Feedback-- routes the document to different individuals for review
►Collect Signature-- gathers signatures needed to complete the document
►Disposition Approval-- a workflow that manages a document’s expiration and retention
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AKG Debuts New Seminar Topics
AKG continues to present its popular free seminar sessions, but this year we’ve added some new topics in response to client requests. All of the seminars will be held at the Microsoft Offices in Washington D.C., which is conveniently located right on Metro’s Red Line. Each event features a lively, interactive discussion as well as door prize drawings. Welcome and networking begins at 9:30 a.m. and the seminar runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with morning refreshments and a light lunch being served. The speakers are available for additional discussion after the sessions.
Governance, Training and Collaboration Strategies for Microsoft SharePoint will be presented Friday, June 6, 2008 and will outline some important areas you should consider as you develop your organization’s governance and training strategies. Appropriately designed, these strategies will propel your employees toward active participation that delivers results. Mark your calendars and register to attend this valuable and informative session. Learn more about our other new seminars.
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