Group Collaboration Tools - SEAHAWKS

1. SFSU ISYS
363 Fall 2013
Section 1
SEAHAWKS
GROUP
COLLABORATION
TOOLS

2. WHAT WE NEED
SOFTWARE
SYSTEM
The most important thing
we need is a software
that will allow us to
communicate in a
seamless and consistent
way. Coordination is key,
if we cannot
communicate effectively
then the likelihood of
success is low.
COMMUNICATION
TOOL
Due to the fact this is an
online class and as a group
we will not be seeing each
other often we need a
collaboration tool that will
allow us to work together
on a document. We need
to be able to view and edit
a document from remote
locations. This will make
the process of completing
assignments that much
easier.
VIDEO
CONFERENCING
Getting to know your
group members is vital. It
is difficult to develop a
relationship with a person
without face to face
communication. That is
why a type of video
conferencing software will
be useful. If we as a group
can get to know each
other despite being
separated by physical
distance that will make us
that much more of a well
oiled machine.

3. WHAT WE CHOSE TO RESEARCH
Criteria
- Accessible over Internet browser
- Reliability
- Support multiple user
- Free
Concerns
- Privacy
- Data protection and backup
- Ease of use
- Compatibility
Market Leaders
- Skype
- Google Docs
- Dropbox
- Facebook
- Writeboard

4. SKYPE
PROS
- High capacity phone calls: Enables the whole group to communicate with each
other at the same time at various locations.
- Video Conferencing: Promotes a more personal experience with the people you are
working with. Developing rapport with group members is key to smooth operation.
- Hands free talking: Ideal for work related interactions where a push to talk
program would potentially hinder ones ability to communicate effectively.
Especially if people in the call need to be shuffling or reading off of papers.
CONS
- High Capacity Lag: Because it is a free program sometimes the calls can lag,
especially when there are more than two people in the call.
- 2+ video conferencing is not free: Video conferencing between two people is free
but more than 2 people video conferencing requires payment.
- Only serves as a communication platform: Although effective at what it was made
for if people wish to share documents or files that are critical to group
collaboration than an outside software other than Skype must be used.

5. GOOGLE
DOCS
PROS
- Ability to view files and documents and edit them together collaboratively as
a group from different locations.
- Office applications do not require installation and are all run off one’s web
browser.
- Hard to lose data as work saves with every change automatically.
CONS
- Data storage amount is limited.
- Applications are limited in terms of features compared to paid versions.
- When working with Google applications there is always a concern with user
privacy.

6. DROPBOX
PROS
- Integrates well with Windows and other platforms.
- Contents are both stored locally and in the cloud.
- Any files or folders placed inside the Dropbox folder can easily be shared via e-mail,
Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- Folder contents are automatically synced.
- Allows you to keep everything you need in My Documents on multiple computers.
- All data is transferred over SSL and encrypted with AES-256 before storage.
- Provides users with 2 GB of free space.
- Simple and brief instructions on how to use it.
CONS
- Requires users to make an account.
- Limited free data space.
- Requires a good amount of free space already on your computer for Dropbox to function
properly.
- Bad customer service and security measures.
- Technical glitches (drains battery on laptops).

7. FACEBOOK
PROS
- Most people already have an account, so it is easy to contact each other through it.
- Most people already know how to use site effectively.
- It is frequently checked by users.
- It is simple to create a group and make it private.
- One can easily send and receive messages easily from the Facebook mobile phone
application.
- Instant message and video chat are available through Facebook.
CONS
- It is not commonly thought of as professional site through which to do work.
- There is a lot of personal information you potentially share with members of the group
when you add them as a friend or add them to a group. (relationship statuses,
unprofessional photos, opinions on controversial subjects, etc).
- There are a lot of potential distractions in the website one would come across while trying
to work with group members.

8. WRITEBOARD
PROS
- Signup NOT required.
- Simple and easy to setup a new Writeboard.
- Can easily create a Interactive whiteboard that your group can access simply by just
proving the email address and password to the Writeboard board.
- Users can add comments on a Writeboard.
- Users can upload files and documents from phone or computer to the Writeboard.
CONS
- Lacks Diversification in the amount of options provided.
- Only text can be typed in the Writeboard.
- Special formatting guide that requires some practice to master. (Ex: to bold, place * in
front of the word.

9. WINNERS
FACEBOOK
- The reason we chose Facebook is because we have already found success with it in terms
of getting everyone working together cohesively. The great thing about Facebook was that
not only did everyone already have it but also the fact that everyone checks it on a
consistent basis. This was not the case when we used the Group Project Forum in Ilearn
where we sometimes had to wait days for responses.
GOOGLE DOCS
- It seemed that a lot of our group members had used Google Docs in the past when
coordinating group projects with much success. So picking this application was a no
brainer because it has been proven effective.
SKYPE
- Since we don’t get to see each other often we thought a video conferencing application
would be ideal for not only collaborating but also getting to know each other. Most of the
group members seemed to be familiar with Skype so we decided that it would be best.

10. Paul, Ian. "Google Drive: The Pros and Cons." PCWorld. PC World, 25 Apr.
2012. Web. 05 Oct. 2013.
Blackwell, Gerry. "The Pros and Cons of Skype for Business." The Pros and
Cons of Skype for Business. N.p., 22 Apr. 2009. Web. 05 Oct. 2013.
Stokdyk, John. "Dropbox: The Pros and Cons." Dropbox: The Pros and Cons.
Business Zone, 13 July 2012. Web. 05 Oct. 2013.
SOURCES
Wells, Roy. 41% of the US Population Has a Facebook Account. Social
Media Today. 8 Aug. 2010. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. <http://
socialmediatoday.com/roywells1/158020/416-us-population-has-
facebook-account>
Students who use Facebook scoring lower exam results. The E Word. 8 Sept.
2010. Web. 3 Oct. 2013 <http://theeword.co.uk/seo-manchester/
facebook_hits_exam_results.html>