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This article talks about the issue of socio-cultural distance in distributed software development teams and methods to bridge this gap when using a collaborative software development environment. After discussing the various collaborative development environments available to developers, it goes on to talk about integrating FriendFeed micro blog and content aggregation service with IBM's Jazz, a plugin for the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment. By integrating Friendfeed into the collaborative development environment, it is possible to reduce the socio-cultural distance that would otherwise be present if the development was done in a traditional office environment. Examples given included if a developer used LibraryThing to post a review of a book they had read, this would be revealed to the other developers who might be interested in the book which would give them a greater understanding of the developer's interests and become a possible conversation piece. Another example given was where the developers on a team were from different backgrounds such as the difference between American and Indian culture. It was stated that in Indian culture, it would be disrespectful to disagree with a senior developer. It was hoped that through making the development environment more collaborative and social, it would be possible to reduce cultural walls that would make it difficult for the parties to interact in a productive manner. While the article gives examples of the benefits of a more social collaborative development environment, specifically how their FriendFeed plugin for IBM's Jazz could bring these benefits. These do not seem to be based on an actual situation (case study) but rather seem to on how the authors imagine their plugin being used - perhaps based on their own experience in software development. This brings the reliability of the article into question and at the very least, indicates an area for further study.

Calefato, F., Gendarmi, D., & Lanubile, F. (2009). Adding Social Awareness to Jazz for Reducing Socio-Cultural Distance between Distributed Development Teams. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from Università degli Studi di Bari: http://eit09.unibg.it/pdfs/99990017.pdf

This article discusses the different types of online collaborative tools available to businesses, which could more effectively enhance their various communities of practice. However, she argues that technology should only be a supportive tool to intranet webmasters and knowledge managers, and not the driving force behind them when creating a community of collaborators. She also suggests that a company may have to tap into several forms of online collaboration to be successful. Frichter highlights three main services that online collaborative tools should offer: 1. A way to communicate 2. A mechanism to share documents 3. A means to discover other members of the community [1]. The article also discusses areas of the workflow in which online collaborative tools could help, tasks that can be helped through it, and how it can increase the efficiency and productivity of a workplace. The hierarchy of collaborative tools suggested here are: · e-mail · Mailing lists · Discussion boards · Instant Messaging · Groupware and portals · Weblogs · Wikis In conclusion, Fichter re-iterates the importance of asking key evaluation questions when determining what collaborative tools you need and what will be most effective. However, most importantly, she suggests that it is necessary to assess the culture of the workplace in order to match the needs with the tools, and it usually takes more than one tool to meet those needs. The key to this article is that it identifies several online collaborative tools, which are worth further investigation to understand their true value both individually and collectively. [1] Fichter, Darlene (2005) The many forms of e-collaboration: Blogs, wikis, portals, groupware, discussion boards, and instant messaging. Online Vol. 29 Issue 4, pp 48-50.

"If you haven't put in a suite of collaboration tools, it's probably time to do so... know your workplace culture and environment... define your requirements... communication, sharing, and management" Darlene Fichter, [2]. Fichter is an IT solutions consultant working for Northern Lights Internet Solutions Ltd, which can be found at http://www.lights.ca/ [1]. Fichter provides an excellent discussion on collaborative tools and identifies newcomers to collaboration/social media in the workplace. One of the strongest aspects of the article is how Fichter proposes questions one should ask when determining what collaborative tool will function best for the firm. Fichter states the importance of knowing your environment; "What IT infrastructure is in place already that you can leverage?" [3] This is a valid question to consider; for example a small company without an IT department may need online help added to software package or a key word - 'easy' - the software must be easy to setup and manage. Another similar question to consider is finances; "are there financial and human resources available to purchase, install, and maintain an application?" [3] Fichter suggests that a firm may need to progress step by step and advance to collaboration tool extras, while in the beginning start with something small and sleek. Some web-based collaboration tools offer a free service for small business, and other offer a paid, supported subscription. "How frequently do people need to communicate? What type of communication is preferred-asynchronous-text, voice, or video?" [3] The Fichter article demonstrates the needs associated with software selection and how important it is to consider communication limitations in a collaboration product. The article is a good source as it highlights the fact that collaborative tools are diverse and can be adapted for various user needs. Fichter adapts web2.0 technology such as Wikis and blogs as possible solutions fo

References/Notes [1] Northern Lights Internet Solutions Ltd, http://www.lights.ca/ [accessed April 7, 2010]. [2] Fichter, Darlene (2005). The many forms of e-collaboration: Blogs, wikis, portals, groupware, discussion boards, and instant messaging. Online Vol. 29 Issue 4, pp 48-50. [3] Fichter, Darlene (2005). The paragraphs on know your environment and define your requirements. Online Vol. 29 Issue 4, pp50.