Scottish Information Network

Collaborative Work Environments

TFPL and Napier University are carrying out a joint research project on the risks and opportunities associated with working in online collaborative environments. We are looking for your valuable input into this timely research. We are hosting a focus group in Glasgow on Thursday 31st July 2008 to present our preliminary findings for your discussion and feedback. We invite you to come along to contribute to the debate and network with your peers.

The research aims to:

Consider the adoption of social networking tools in the workplace, both on formal corporate collaborative work platforms (such as Sharepoint) and employee use of consumer social network applications (such as Facebook)

Identify the benefits and opportunities of the adoption and deployment of these tools, for example, their role in attracting ’Generation Y’ employees to the workplace, fostering a collaborative approach to working

Understand the risks of introducing social software in the workplace, including reduced productivity, workplace bullying, damage to corporate brand and dissemination of confidential corporate information

The project team consists of Melanie Goody and Belinda Blaswick of TFPL, and Dr Hazel Hall and Shooresh Golzari from the School of Computing, Napier University, Edinburgh.

Date: Thursday 31st July 2008
Time: 6.00pm – 7.30pm, followed by refreshments
Venue: IDOX offices in central Glasgow. Tontine House, 8 Gordon Street, Glasgow, G1 3PL
Directions
To attend: Please email Belinda Blaswick.

Research

In July/August 2008 we hope to do a very small survey of SIN members. This is to provide the committee with some information on how we might move the group forward. If you have comments or suggestions on what you feel we should be asking, please let us know.

Request for help

Need help/advice from a SIN colleague? Let us know what you need and we can publicize it through this site.

New Committee members

SIN is always keen to recruit new committee members. The work is not onerous and involves attendance at 5-6 meetings a year and involvement in organising at least one event. Involvement is an excellent way to get know many people in this sector and could be very useful for career development. If interested please contact John Coll for an informal chat.

Here for you

The Scottish Information Network was set up to help you. However, to thrive and grow it needs an active membership. Please support it in any way you can. Whether this be committee work, speaking at an event, attending an event or even just sharing news. Each and every way helps SIN.

Of course, members are always invited to get involved in the running of SIN in a less formal way, and can do so throughout the year at meetings or between meetings by contacting any of the committee.