Topic > Collaborative virtual workspaces defined - 1950

1. IntroductionHamilton Beazley once said: “Knowledge is the new capital, but it is worthless if it is not accessible, communicated and valued” (Beazley quoted in Field, 2003). With the advent of all possible tools and technologies available, especially on the Internet today, accessing, communicating and enhancing knowledge has become much easier. This article aims to discuss two such tools and technologies, namely collaborative virtual workspaces and microblogging. We will define these tools and technologies, how they are used, some of their advantages and disadvantages, and how they can be used in knowledge management and knowledge management processes.2. Collaborative Virtual Workspaces 2.1 Definition of Collaborative Virtual Workspaces Collaborative virtual workspaces allow people to work together, share documents, edit collaboratively, and hold video and/or audio conferences. This is made possible through the use of software created with collaboration specifically in mind. Being virtual workspaces also means that users can collaborate with each other from anywhere in the world. Close physical proximity is not necessary (ed. Young, 2010). There are numerous tools that can be used to facilitate collaboration. Google Docs, for example, is an online document editing tool that allows you to create, edit, share and access documents/presentations/spreadsheets/forms/drawings from anywhere at any time. As of this writing, anyone with a Google account can use it for free, and it provides 15GB of storage (https://drive.google.com). Microsoft SharePoint is another similar, more business-oriented tool that allows information to be stored, accessed and shared within organizations…middle of the page…only in condensed form, for the sake of discussions and sharing of information.4. Conclusion It should be clear that when it comes to creating, accessing, editing and sharing information, collaborative virtual workspaces and microblogging simplify these processes exponentially. Since they are relatively easy to use or learning to use them can be easy, it may be easier to discuss why to use them rather than staying away from them. If used correctly and efficiently, they can be of great benefit to almost all organizations, especially if these organizations wish to promote a culture of information and knowledge sharing and if the organizations have branches in more than one geographical location. In essence, these tools contribute to making information and knowledge accessible, communicable and can, to a large extent, allow their valorisation.