<p>Collaboration software, starting with Lotus Notes, have mostly been structured into "groups". A "group" is a gated pocket of information and tools, accessible only to members of that group. This structure is a reflection of how organizations are structured into "divisions", or "departments", or "teams" or "offices".</p><p>Designing collaboration software this way is a massive improvement over the previous (and still persistent) generation of collaboration software email.</p><p>The email approach to information sharing is by its nature unstructured every time you need to share something with someone, you simply create a new email and sent it out. It in no way distinguishes between people within a group, outside that group, or even outside the organization.</p><p>However, in a company, a "group" is a coherent unit, with a defined purpose, with people who need to work together closely, often on repeat activities, sharing the same information much of the time (a Sales team accessing a standard contract form for example). It is massively inefficient to create a new email everytime you need to share information with a colleague.</p><p><a href="http://www.sys-con.com/node/2371226">Keep reading...</a></p>