Collaborative Thinking

Cisco Finds New Path Towards Collaboration

Moving into adjacent markets takes time – more than people might expect – in the news items below, Cisco continues to transition from unified communications into a more traditional collaboration space. What’s next? I imagine a more definitive move in the Web 2.0 and Enterprise 2.0 arena that leverages WebEx Connect as another SaaS/cloud option.

Cisco Announces Intent to Acquire PostPath

Why PostPath you ask? ………….The company extends Cisco’s Collaboration Platform through a Linux-based email, calendaring and collaboration software solution.  These additions clearly augment Cisco’s Saas based WebEx Connect Collaboration Platform which currently includes- Instant Messaging, Wikis, Web 2.0 applications, Teamspaces and Document Sharing. 

In addition, PostPath’s email and calendaring software has:
--native compatibility with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange.
--compatibility with mobile clients such as Blackberry and ActiveSync.

Upon the closing of the acquisition, PostPath is expected to become part of Cisco’s Collaboration Software Group and integrated with WebEx Connect and Cisco’s Unified Communications portfolios.

Take a closer listen to the announcement and details of the acquisition on the Cisco Analyst Relations Podcast website:
http://www.cisco.com/go/arpodcasts

Analyst Relations

Building upon its commitment to provide a comprehensive collaboration portfolio, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced its intent to acquire privately held PostPath, Inc., a provider of innovative email and calendaring software. Based in Mountain View, Calif. with additional development operations in Sofia, Bulgaria, PostPath will enhance the existing email and calendaring capabilities of Cisco's WebEx Connect collaboration platform.

In today's fast-paced business environment, effective, adaptive collaboration is critical to creating and sustaining a competitive advantage. With PostPath's software, Cisco will extend the e-mail and calendar functionality of its flexible software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based collaborative platform that includes instant messaging, voice, video, data, document management and Web 2.0 applications. This combination will enable customers to use collaboration to accelerate business processes, within and between businesses.

Cisco Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire PostPath

Books that might be worth reading

Although summer is winding down, I’m adding these two to my reading list:

The Power of Momentum: Companies That Build Their Wave and Ride It

Published: August 20, 2008 in Knowledge@Wharton

How can a company deliver continuous, exceptional growth, year after year? J. C. Larreche, a professor of marketing at INSEAD, answers that question in his book, The Momentum Effect: How to Ignite Exceptional Growth. According to the author's research, momentum-powered firms delivered 80% more shareholder value than their slower rivals. "Momentum leaders are not lucky -- they are smart," he writes in the following excerpt. "They have discovered the source of momentum and, with it, the beginnings of a smarter way to exceptional growth. Managers often talk about 'riding the wave.' Momentum leaders aren't that passive. They live by this motto: First build your wave, then ride it."

Momentum. Most businesses get it at some point -- the impression that everything they undertake succeeds effortlessly, as if they're being carried along by a tailwind that increases their efficiency and propels them on to exceptional growth.

Some hold on to it. Most don't. Slowly, imperceptibly, the tailwind turns around and the momentum disappears, without anyone quite realizing what has happened. The company is still growing, but not as strongly as before, not as efficiently. Everyone's maxing out, but it seems like there's molasses in the works. Sound familiar?

The Power of Momentum: Companies That Build Their Wave and Ride It - Knowledge@Wharton

'The Objective of Education Is Learning, Not Teaching'

Published: August 20, 2008 in Knowledge@Wharton

In their book, Turning Learning Right Side Up: Putting Education Back on Track, authors Russell L. Ackhoff and Daniel Greenberg point out that today's education system is seriously flawed -- it focuses on teaching rather than learning. "Why should children -- or adults -- be asked to do something computers and related equipment can do much better than they can?" the authors ask in the following excerpt from the book. "Why doesn't education focus on what humans can do better than the machines and instruments they create?"

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth learning can be taught."
   -- Oscar Wilde

Traditional education focuses on teaching, not learning. It incorrectly assumes that for every ounce of teaching there is an ounce of learning by those who are taught. However, most of what we learn before, during, and after attending schools is learned without its being taught to us. A child learns such fundamental things as how to walk, talk, eat, dress, and so on without being taught these things. Adults learn most of what they use at work or at leisure while at work or leisure. Most of what is taught in classroom settings is forgotten, and much or what is remembered is irrelevant.

'The Objective of Education Is Learning, Not Teaching' - Knowledge@Wharton

Employee Networks (E2E)

Some insightful company profiles:

The new employee connection: Social networking behind the firewall

Microsoft calls it TownSquare. Deloitte hosts D Street. IBM has its Beehive, and Best Buy its BlueShirt Nation. No, it's not a real estate explosion. In industries from retail to high tech, banking and manufacturing, companies are increasingly building networks behind the firewall where employees can create profiles and connect with one another in ways first demonstrated by LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace.

Social networking behind the firewall

• Deloitte LLP: D Street
• IBM: Beehive
• Best Buy: BlueShirt Nation
• The whys of social networking
• Your say: Booster or time-waster?

The new employee connection: Social networking behind the firewall

Participation In Social Networking Contextual Research Project

Social Networking within the Enterprise

Burton Group is conducting a qualitative research project to assess organizational and technology trends driving interest in social networking within the enterprise. A mix of face-to-face and telephone interviews will be the methods used for data collection. Our goal is to have an open-ended dialog with participants from business units and IT groups. The project is open to Burton Group clients and non-clients alike. Based on the response, there may be a limit to the number of candidates selected. Some participant roles we are looking to interview include:

• HR managers
• Line-of-business managers
• End users
• IT managers, architects and project leaders involved in such efforts
• Executive sponsors of initiatives related to social networks (e.g., retiree/alumni networks)

This effort is being coordinated by Mike Gotta, Principal Analyst within Burton Group’s Collaboration & Content Strategies service. Information obtained during the interview process will be held in confidence. Any publication or presentation arising from this field research project will not mention any participating enterprise or individual by name without the express written permission of the organization.

Those enterprises involved in the project will have the option to take part in a peer review process prior to publication of the research (e.g., provide comments and factual corrections). Participating organizations will also receive a copy of the resulting research document and have the opportunity to discuss its findings with Burton Group.

If you have a question, need additional information, or are interesting in participating, please leave a comment on this blog post and I will get back to you.

It's that time of year

When the family heads to Cape Cod. For the next week, no computer – just books, newspapers, beach and seafood.

Where we’ve stayed for the past 15 years or so…

So no blog posts for a while.