Groupware Implementation - Essay Example

Groupware is supported by the modern computer network technology which includes email, electronic calendar, chat, electronic meeting systems, video conferencing, and web publishing (Nominal Group Technique). The initial challenge is associated with groupware designing because it is more complex than installing a single user system. Most of the organizations confront problems related to proper system design and acquisition. It is an area where entrepreneurs need to hire the assistance of some professionals and vendor experts.

In addition, the groupware project manager should have up-to-date technical and professional knowledge because system development and implementation are the significant stages where specialized understanding is needed. Employee Resistance Conflicts of interests and employee resistance usually occur when the new system is implemented in a conventional form of organization. For instance, as found in a case study, when two innovations were introduced simultaneously, peer review and groupware, individuals became skeptical of the systems (O’Connor 1999, p. 15). To deal with such situations, the organization should make an assessment of the acceptability attitude of the managers, staff, and other employees prior to the design and development of the project.

Management should keep well-designed strategies to educate members on the effective usage of the system for attaining common objectives. However, it is assumed that management will often confront with ‘issues of how to reward a given individual for team outcomes’ (O’Connor 1999, p. 16). Security Issues Another challenge is the absence of a unique mode of usage as the system provides different platforms to people regardless of their geographical or cultural variance which might result in serious compatibility/interoperability issues (Nominal Group Technique).

The threat to privacy is another major issue that many organizations confront with the implementation of the groupware. The anonymity of individuals might be taken as an advantage by spammers and sabotage groups when system designers are not able to guarantee any security. In addition, due to several aspects, the users themselves choose to be anonymous which increases the vulnerability of the system because the information shared using the groupware is not scrutinized. This security issue becomes more complex associated with the customization of information, because there should be a private space and shared space; wherein private space, individuals are able to customize information for their own private access and simultaneously in shared space they must have access like other members (Nominal Group Technique).

In short, despite the feasibility of the system, groupware and groupware-based peer review technologies have various risk factors that might affect an organization’s internal and external affairs. Therefore, instead of heavily relying on the system, managers and designers have to heed their genuine concern to avert all risk factors associated with the system usage.