All knowledge work is either individual or group based, and it is always performed in an individual, shared or open environment.
The Enterprise Collaboration Maturity Model depicts these work models, and incorporates the cultural journey that enterprises take to reach each stage. Currently, Janssen-Cilag provides an open Wiki (high capability maturity) but primarily uses it as Groupware (medium usage maturity).
To continue our journey, Janssen-Cilag needs to become comfortable with the idea that published content is not finalised. Specifically, we need users to:
- Make contributions in an open space that are not policy or announcements.
- Edit work or information that is owned collectively.
Successful Enterprise 2.0 style collaboration requires both technical and cultural maturity. While technology opens immediate potential, organisations must grow towards new patterns of usage and collaboration.
The two cultural barriers to collaboration
There are dozens of reasons and millions of excuses as to why people won't share knowledge; but they all fall within two areas:
- Sharing knowledge adds more work (“I don’t have time to share”); and
- Sharing knowledge increases personal risk (“I don’t want to share”).
These negatives cannot be eradicated, but they can be minimised.
