Team working in Team working in distributed environmentsdistributed environments

M253 M253 Communicating, Communicating,

Cooperating & Cooperating & Collaborating on LineCollaborating on Line

Intisar O. HussienIntisar O. Hussien

Faculty of Computer Studies Faculty of Computer Studies Arab Open UniversityArab Open University

Kuwait BranchKuwait Branch04/10/23 1Intisar O. Hussien/Kuwait Branch

COMMUNICATING

COMMUNICATINGThe exchange of thoughts, The exchange of thoughts,

messages, or the like , as by speech, messages, or the like , as by speech, signals or writing.signals or writing.

To express oneself in such a way To express oneself in such a way that one is readily and clearly that one is readily and clearly

understood.understood.

If you can honestly achieve that If you can honestly achieve that goal, you are communicating. goal, you are communicating.

Communication is shared feelings / Communication is shared feelings / shared understanding.shared understanding.

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Methods of communication:Methods of communication:

Phone call, chat, in-person.

Memo, fax ,e-email, letter, voice mail.

One Way:

Two Way:

Means of Collaboration & Means of Collaboration & CooperatingCooperating

What is Collaboration?What is Collaboration?

Collaboration :Collaboration :

Cooperative arrangement in which two or more Cooperative arrangement in which two or more parties (which may or may not have previous parties (which may or may not have previous

relationship) work together towards a common relationship) work together towards a common goal.goal.

Collaboration in higher education: discussion Collaboration in higher education: discussion boards gain a higher knowledge of a topic from a boards gain a higher knowledge of a topic from a

diverse group of people.diverse group of people.

Electronic Collaboration Tools:Electronic Collaboration Tools:

•ForumForum

•Wiki

•Instant messaging Instant messaging

•Video conferencesVideo conferences

1.1. Forum is a place where people can start Forum is a place where people can start communication (in the form of threads) and communication (in the form of threads) and

reply to other people's threads. reply to other people's threads.

2.2. Forums helps us in many different ways to Forums helps us in many different ways to support the team communication and develop support the team communication and develop

collaboration.collaboration.

3.3. Forum allows users to post questions or Forum allows users to post questions or discussion topics and invite the respective discussion topics and invite the respective

community to react by reply to the original community to react by reply to the original message. message.

The term Wiki refers to a collaborative

website that allows visitors to change or add

contents and it is easy for anyone to

contribute pages, and link them together. As

simple to edit as it is to read, the wiki makes

for the perfect online collaboration tool.

WikWik

ii

The most important characteristics:The most important characteristics:

1.1. If team member writes (a part of) a document and circulates If team member writes (a part of) a document and circulates it to the rest of the team. They may then get back multiple it to the rest of the team. They may then get back multiple

modifications to pull together into an updated version, which modifications to pull together into an updated version, which itself may then be re-circulated and re-modified more than itself may then be re-circulated and re-modified more than

once.once.

2.2. The way in which the wiki is implemented means that only The way in which the wiki is implemented means that only one person can edit a section of a wiki page at any given one person can edit a section of a wiki page at any given moment in time moment in time – only asynchronous working is possible. – only asynchronous working is possible.

The system will lock the section automatically and not allow The system will lock the section automatically and not allow anyone else to access it until the current editor has signed anyone else to access it until the current editor has signed

off and released that section of the page. off and released that section of the page.

WikWik

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The major The major drawbacks: drawbacks:

By using the History tab at the top of the page we By using the History tab at the top of the page we can found who did, what, when, in each wiki can found who did, what, when, in each wiki

page’s history, but it is not very easy to follow page’s history, but it is not very easy to follow given the potentially large number of changes given the potentially large number of changes

made to a page over time.made to a page over time.

If you do not go back and save the work after If you do not go back and save the work after previewing it, otherwise the system will just lose previewing it, otherwise the system will just lose

all your work, which can be very frustrating.all your work, which can be very frustrating.

Notes:Notes: Only one person can edit a section of a wiki page at any Only one person can edit a section of a wiki page at any

given moment in time – only asynchronous working is given moment in time – only asynchronous working is possible. possible.

The system will lock the section automatically and not allow The system will lock the section automatically and not allow anyone else to access it until the current editor has signed anyone else to access it until the current editor has signed

off and released that section of the page.off and released that section of the page.

If you have any significant amount of text to add to a page, If you have any significant amount of text to add to a page, that you prepare your material offline and then cut-and-that you prepare your material offline and then cut-and-

paste it into the wiki page in a single access, rather than paste it into the wiki page in a single access, rather than staying online whilst you are thinking about what to add.staying online whilst you are thinking about what to add.

It easier to use the wiki comments facility for commenting It easier to use the wiki comments facility for commenting on the actual contents of each wiki page more directly.on the actual contents of each wiki page more directly.

When you have added content to a wiki page, the system When you have added content to a wiki page, the system lets you preview what you have done before you save it lets you preview what you have done before you save it

permanently.permanently.

You can delete work entered by other people.You can delete work entered by other people.

SummarySummary

Forum and Wiki let you and your team communicate Forum and Wiki let you and your team communicate

collaborate online. They are easy, efficient, and intuitive to use.collaborate online. They are easy, efficient, and intuitive to use.

Forums and Wikis can be used to facilitate various online Forums and Wikis can be used to facilitate various online

activities. activities.

Instant messaging.Instant messaging.

Video conferences.Video conferences.

Audio conferences .Audio conferences .

There are two key points while using, other communication tools..

Firstly, a summary of what you discuss, agree, and Firstly, a summary of what you discuss, agree, and create must be relayed back to the forum or wiki so that create must be relayed back to the forum or wiki so that everyone in the team and your tutor, knows, or is able to everyone in the team and your tutor, knows, or is able to

find out, what is going on. find out, what is going on.

Secondly, if your team is going to take some Secondly, if your team is going to take some responsibility for identifying additional modes of responsibility for identifying additional modes of

communication and collaboration that the team can use, communication and collaboration that the team can use, you must obtain team agreement about the use of such you must obtain team agreement about the use of such

a tool.a tool.

Instant Messagi

ngIM

Is a form of real-time direct text-based communication Is a form of real-time direct text-based communication

between two or more people using Personal computer or between two or more people using Personal computer or

other devices, along with shared software clients? The other devices, along with shared software clients? The

user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the

Internet. Internet.

Advanced Instant MessagingAdvanced Instant Messaging

Allow enhanced modes of communication, such as live Allow enhanced modes of communication, such as live voice or Video calling. voice or Video calling.

You can format your text, past in images.You can format your text, past in images.

In contrast meeting conducted by instant messaging are In contrast meeting conducted by instant messaging are more flexible than face to face meetings.more flexible than face to face meetings.

You can accept or decline invitations to join discussions You can accept or decline invitations to join discussions & people have the chance to leave discussion when they & people have the chance to leave discussion when they

want.want.

DisadvantageDisadvantages:s:

Is that instant messaging cannot do for Is that instant messaging cannot do for you decisions making and write the you decisions making and write the

minutes of the meeting. minutes of the meeting.

Instant messaging is one way of initiating a discussion about draft of a document

that team is working on

Netiquette Netiquette 1.1. Remember that you are talking to real people. Remember that you are talking to real people.

2.2. Try to keep your messages short. Try to keep your messages short.

3.3. Give your messages a descriptive Subject line. Give your messages a descriptive Subject line.

4.4. Summarize messages when replying to them. Summarize messages when replying to them.

5.5. Check the sender before quoting from private Check the sender before quoting from private email. email.

6.6. Credit other people’s work. Credit other people’s work.

7.7. Signal your emotions in messages. Signal your emotions in messages.

8.8. Avoid writing all in CAPITALS. Avoid writing all in CAPITALS.

9.9. Send your messages to the right place. Send your messages to the right place.

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Team Team working in working in distributed distributed environmeenvironme

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Cooperating Cooperating & &

CollaboratinCollaboratingg

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Communicate Cooperating Communicate Cooperating CollaboratingCollaborating