Supporting Links

Socio-Technical Systems (STS) and Team Building
Many organizations are enabling the goodness of fit between technology and human systems applying STS at the primary group and organizational level. On the Web, virtual learning community members participate in structured and nonstructured learning experiences made possible by open systems or e-learning technology. Another area where STS has once again emerged is collaborative learning.



Collaboration
Collaborative Learning is a truly two-way, "give and take" open network process where organizational members cocreate new knowledge pointing them toward innovative practices. A shared process is one that gives—an act of generosity, and one that holds in common a shared belief system. One of the immediate benefits of collaborative learning is what I call total buy-in factor, (TBIF).



Action Learning
Instructional systems design and development is a process that facilitates action-learning often integrating service oriented architecture (SOA). However, at the end of the day, it is the people who make the decisions. Technology just helps facilitate the process. STS and SOA systems have a solid track record for distributed intelligence—knowledge sharing via collaboration. However, sharing information is much easier than creating innovative work patterns--a change in behavior requires cultivation and effort. Collaborative Learning Portals help facilitate innovation through collaboration. Lets face it, information is useless until someone does something with it. This is called actionable knowledge.

One of the most valuable benefits of collaborative Learning is synergy. Examples are everywhere and include emergency rooms, air traffic controllers, five-star kitchens, and, of course, open-source developers—all working in concert, establishing and maintaining very high standards because they are motivated by each other’s open, honest and genuine feedback. The quality of workmanship is extraordinarily high because the system is self-regulating, in other words, stands up to peer review.

What's new?
Research indicates that ineffective decisions often result from lack of collaboration. Highly effective organizations and their leaders create an intentional space for, open and honest evaluation, communication and innovation. Collaboration helps to optimize individual and workgroup learning, communication and performance. Collaborative Learning not only leads to competitive advantage, but the most immediate effect is better employee and customer-centered relations. Attached is a framework for learning and knowing.

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