Groupware architecture for R&D managers

The business environment is changing at an accelerated pace. Contemporary business systems are becoming more knowledge intensive. Consequently, progressive organisations are collaborating with others in order to develop the linkages they require to access and leverage new knowledge and skills for successful product innovation. In this paper, the authors surveyed senior R&D managers from Irish organisations in an attempt to ascertain what the key implications of this new knowledge focused networked environment are for their organisations. The findings revealed that effective communication, collaboration and coordination structures are imperative for success. A groupware architecture was then developed to support the coordination of members in a networked R&D environment. Critical elements of the architecture were identified and codified into a web enabled prototype. This was implemented in a number of industrial sites to help validate the architecture in terms of its functionality and effectiveness. Findings from this investigation are presented.