Syndicom

Etymology of Collaboration

One of the cruxes of business process today is the quandary regarding innovation: in a time where true innovation seems fleeting, as if its all been done before, from where do the true quantum leaps emerge? Images of a CEO with a very large, pulsating brain sitting in a locked room with a chalkboard, a pot of coffee and a very focused look on his/her face seem archaic and representative of a waste of energy. Business over the decades has relied heavily upon hierarchical systems of innovation and contribution, with the people on the top getting paid to be creative, or at least borrow someone else’s imagination.

Along comes collaboration. At first glance it gives off the suspicious glimmer of dreamy higher ideals, rainbows and unicorns. People find it difficult to trust a theory before the discourse has changed in its favor, that’s the way of the world. But let’s take a step back; this is an idea that’s time has come. Business processes have evolved to the point where there is a need, and if the need isn’t filled, it becomes a vacuum. Traditional roles have been defined, finance has been explored, markets have emerged and survived, and the time of the innovator is upon us.

Collaboration, as its defined “is a recursive process where two or more people work together toward an intersection of common goals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaboration).” The definition goes on to explore issues of egalitarianism, and true collaboration is dependant upon this social philosophy. Good ideas stem from an environment of mutual respect, and this is where the old hierarchies and the new ideals may find a graceful union: nothing feels better than having your “boss” include you in the creative process and champion your ideas.

This is the naissance of a revolutionary model; the dialogue is recognizable in little pockets of progressive industry, a whisper here, a hum there. Resistance is a necessary part of the process, but ultimately futile. The next hurdle will be adoption of collaboration not just as a utility, but as the entirety of the process. Therein lies the challenge.

Tags: business process, collaboration, innovation, respect, revolutionary model, trust, utility