Collaborative Technologies and Organizational Learning (Series in Information Technology Management) [Paperback]

Robert E. Neilson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Series in Information Technology Management | Publication Date: January 1997

Collaborative Technologies and Organizational Learning provides new insight from a longitudinal study of a public sector organization's experience with implementing a specific collaborative technology, Lotus Notes. The book includes a discussion of theoretical bases for organizational learning as well as practice prescriptions for those interested in installing or using Lotus Notes to leverage the intellectual capital already existing within an organization. From a theoretical perspective the book discusses a multiplicity of theoretical bases underlying organizational learning including single and double loop learning, expectancy theory, experience curve theory, reciprocity theory, coordination theory, open systems theory, optimal curve theory, and need-pull theory. Tom Davenport, a well-known management "guru" recently lamented that "if you can find a case in which Lotus Notes has fundamentally changed the organizational culture and dynamics of information exchange, I'll waterski from Boston to Nantucket in January." This book addresses some of Davenport's concerns by focusing on the all important first step in implementing a collaborative technology--determining what implementation approach(es) work best in a given organizational environment. Large scale organizational investments in collaborative technology have skyrocketed. However, little empirical evidence exists to justify large expenditures on these technologies and associated training and operating costs. Collaborative Technologies and Organizational Learning is intended for readers seeking greater understanding in how collaborative technologies such as Lotus Notes helps foster organizational learning

Editorial Reviews

Review

...

In Collaborative Technologies & Organizational Learning, Robert Neilson reports on a case study conducted at the National Defense University involving collaborative technologies. The central research question was: How is organizational learning advanced by transferring intellectual material via collaborative technologies?...Neilson defines such technologies as a set of tools which support two or more people to achieve common objectives, with groupware such as LotusNotes as an example. Groupware is networked computer software and hardware that enables synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (delayed-time) collaboration.

Neilson incorporated three distinct groups and approaches to using LotusNotes in his study. The approaches were (1) Field of Dreams, which he described as "if you build it they will come," (2) Champion, which used a group member other than group leader in a pivotal role, and (3) Business Reason, which required the use of groupware as an integral part of everyday business. To further tease out interrelationships surrounding the transfer of intellectual material using collaborative technologies, a series of eight propositions were advanced to address information exchange, technology use, and learning. Neilson describes each proposition in detail with an excellent review of literature that makes the study even more insightful.

For corporate trainers preparing to initiate collaborative technologies, Neilson's results provide a starting point for designing similar projects. For one thing, his study indicated that relying solely on a Field of Dreams approach does not work. Obviously, just because a company spends the time and money to install elaborate groupware resources does not mean that employees will be enticed to participate freely on the system. Also he found that even while initial training in using the groupware product is important, it alone is no guarantee that the trained individuals will contribute more than others....The study also indicated that respondents who have had prior negative first-hand experiences with collaborative technologies will continue to have negative reactions to these technologies regardless of training and peer pressure. These findings seem to indicate that groupware projects must be introduced carefully, leaving very little to chance...This research illustrates that a complicated web of relationships exists, and much more needs to be learned. Neilson stresses that additional proposition development and testing needs to grow from his study. Companies can not just install collaborative technologies and simply think that employees will use it. The results of this study show that corporations must put many resources into implementing these new technologies, and then learn from failure and successes. -- Educational Technology & Society Journal, Volume 2, Number 1, January 1999

About the Author

Robert E. Neilson is chair of the Information Strategy Department at the Information Resources Management college of the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Neilson has written on a broad array of topics especially national security policy, including the newly emerging field of information warfare. Dr. Neilson's recent foray into the organizational learning and collaborative technology arena draws from his 25 years of experience in studying and managing information technology applications and projects in domestic and defense-related organizations. His work in the area of collaborative learning technologies is now recognized throughout the U.S. and abroad.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: IGI Global (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 187828939X
• ISBN-13: 978-1878289391
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,229,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent academic treatment of collaboration, March 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Collaborative Technologies and Organizational Learning (Series in Information Technology Management) (Paperback)

I liked the book, not so much for its evaluation of Lotus Notes, but rather for the perspective it brings to evaluation of information sharing. As a practical instantiation of qualitative research, Neilson has written an excellent style manual for research study design and reporting. Using "Collaborative Technologies" as a reference, and a model, makes the evaluation of other knowledge based tools or organizational learning situation much easier. I recommend it to students studying collaborative learning as a starting point for research. I also recommend it to company information managers as practical information as to the state of the art and expected return on investment from collaborative tools.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great integration of literary resources & case study process, March 30, 2000

By 

G. Hebb (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Collaborative Technologies and Organizational Learning (Series in Information Technology Management) (Paperback)

I found this book to be an interesting book to read, but challenging at first. I suggest that one starts with the appendix and then reads the book front to back. The first 72 pages "provides valuable sound bites," as David A. Wilson comments on the back cover, however previous knowledge of learning theory and organizational learning is required to understand these bites of information. "Theories examined in this section of the literature review include: double loop learning theory (Argyris, 1977, 1992, 1994)..." (pg. 21), the theories he discusses are many, and relayed so quickly to provide the foundation for the study that it may take awhile to engage your interest. If you need to find other reference material about organizational learning, this is a good resource, since he references so many in the first few pages. I also found value in the way he walks methodically through the research and case study process, specifically as it relates to Lotus notes and other collaborative database technologies. His discussion of the case was interesting to me from a process standpoint, however as a businessperson it was a bit too academic. It isn't until the last two chapters that the meat or content of the study is revealed.

Too much time is spent on giving the reader an understanding of the case study process, as a businessperson I want to know how did it work, right away. Therefore I found the "Summary: The `Top Ten' practice prescription" (pg. 109) steps in the last chapters were great! I also enjoyed the section that discussed the "relationship between prior training and intellectual material contribution rates, Myers-Briggs-Type Indicators (MBTI)." (pg.86) The correlations by personality types and learning styles are fascinating.

I found no new ideas here, however the way he brings together several areas of organizational learning and collaborative technology combined with a methodical approach are worth the effort to read this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful recommendations across multiple organizations, August 31, 1999

By 

(Dr. Linda Fenty, President, Global Insights... (Orlando, Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Collaborative Technologies and Organizational Learning (Series in Information Technology Management) (Paperback)

Dr. Neilson's contention that technologies should and can be used as force multipliers is a positive message to the workforce of the future. As students and employees are expecteded to learn more,learn faster, and apply newfound knowledge to increasingly complex problem-solving situations, realistic and practical guidelines are needed for managers and learning specialists within organizations to facilitate effective applications of chosen technologies. First, technologies must be selected that are helpful to the user, then personnel have to be able to use those technologies to effectively address their job requirements. This book introduces strategies for technology insertion, reviews succinctly the various theories on learning organization and knowledge management principles, and uses a case study approach to show how these strategies can be utilized to successfully implement new technologies within an organization. Most importantly the book re-emphasizes that the human interface is the most critical component of successful technology application. Dr. Neilson's theories and guidelines have practical applications across any organization that is considering new technology solutions--because the focus is on the end-user, the learner; and although Lotus Notes is the case study technology in this book, the concepts discussed here and the recommendations for successful implementation are pertinent to any technology insertion program. I have already shared this book with my clients and intend to list it as recommended reading for executives and learning specialists alike. The straightforward approach, the easy to read format, and the concise summaries of multiple areas of research make this an excellent introduction to the fields of knowledge management, learning organization principles,and collaborative technologies.