The impact of groupware:: work process automation and organizational learning

An empirical study of a groupware implementation in its early stages focuses on finding evidence that users readily apply groupware to workflow automation and those that capture organizational learning.

Abstract

Abstract The applications of Information technology to work in organisations is moving to a new phase, driven by computer networks utilizing groupware. In this phase the question of how optimally to extract value from the resulting new information networks orks moves to the forefront. To address this question, the nature ofgroupware;facilituted information flows and uses must first be better understood. This paper argues and those that two conceptully functions for groupware —those bringing workflow automation and those that capture organizational learning. An empirical study of a groupware implementation in its early stages focuses on the first of these, finding evidence that users readily apply groupware to workflow automation. Comparison of these results with those of other case studies allows conclusions to be drawn about optimal management practice for such implementations. Organizational learning via groupware is a long-term process expected to be found in more mature implementations.