Kevin Kwok’s exploration of collaboration highlights a shift from hierarchical to networked structures in organisations. This transformation is driven by the increasing complexity of tasks and the need for diverse expertise. Collaboration tools, such as Slack and Microsoft Teams, facilitate this change by enabling rapid, cross-functional communication.
Kwok suggests that the next step in collaboration is the ‘arc’, a dynamic, adaptable system that maintains a record of all interactions. Arcs allow for the recombination of ideas and the tracking of their evolution, making them ideal for complex tasks. They also offer a solution to the ‘discoverability’ problem, where valuable information is lost in the depths of a chat history.
However, arcs also present challenges. The most significant of these is the balance between openness and privacy. While transparency is crucial for collaboration, individuals and teams also need space to work privately.
Kwok concludes by noting that the future of collaboration will involve a blend of hierarchical, networked, and arc structures. Each will have its place, depending on the nature of the task and the needs of the organisation. The key to successful collaboration, he suggests, is to understand and utilise these different structures effectively.
Go to source article: https://kwokchain.com/2019/08/16/the-arc-of-collaboration/