What is collaborative work and what are its main characteristics?

Collaborative work is a way of working in which a group of individuals with different skills, knowledge and experience come together to achieve a common goal in a joint and coordinated manner. In this modality, effective communication and the contribution of all team members is essential, since its objective is to foster innovation, problem solving and continuous improvement by leveraging the strengths and different perspectives that members bring to the table. 

Here we tell you everything you need to know about collaborative work and why to implement it in your organization.

Types of collaborative work that exist

In each organization this work model can be implemented in different ways, depending on the projects being developed, the team profile and the objectives to be achieved. Some of the most common types of collaborative work are:

• Brainstorming or brainstorming
  These are work sessions in which a specific problem or need is posed with the objective of obtaining innovative ideas for a solution. The premise of brainstorming is to give creative freedom to all participants to share everything that comes to mind and encourage a dynamic of constructive feedback to reach a joint conclusion.
• Cascade work
  This is a type of collaborative work in which tasks are performed in a sequential order. That is, one team member begins by performing a task that another member continues, and so on until the project is completed. In this case, each phase depends on the completion of the previous one, and the contribution made by each individual is valued from his or her particular perspective and skills.
• Parallel work
  Unlike cascade work, in parallel work the tasks that each team member performs can be worked on simultaneously, i.e., there is no need to finish one task to start another. This type of work requires a more exhaustive follow-up to detect new areas of opportunity, but in general, reaching a conclusion is a more accelerated process.
• Remote collaboration
  Remote work and hybrid models have brought with them new processes to facilitate collaborative work despite distance. Today there are different digital tools that allow people to collaborate on projects online, even from different parts of the world.
• Co-creation
  This type of collaboration is mainly used in processes where the objective is to design a new product, service or solution. In this case, members of more than one work team participate, i.e. the ideas of different stakeholders (various departments of the same organization, customers and suppliers, etc.) are pooled.

Advantages of collaborative work

Collaboration has multiple benefits, both for the individuals who carry out projects with this modality of work, as well as for the companies that decide to implement it. Some of its main advantages are:

• Encourages creativity and innovation
  Sharing information and knowledge, as well as combining different perspectives and skills, can help improve the team's creative capacity and lead to more original ideas. Brainstorming sessions are a great opportunity to capitalize on this advantage of collaborative work.
• Facilitates problem solving
  As they say, "two heads are better than one", and having more than one perspective to address a problem is undoubtedly a good strategy to find effective solutions more easily. In addition, collaborative work is very useful when facing problems that would be very difficult to solve individually.
• Increases motivation and sense of belonging.
  Working towards a common goal, as well as sharing achievements, helps to increase employee motivation by making them feel part of a collective effort. This also fosters integration and a sense of belonging, both within work teams and in the company as a whole.
• Promotes productivity and efficiency
  Collaborative work helps facilitate decision making and optimize task distribution, taking into account individual strengths and skills, which allows for more efficient workdays and easier achievement of objectives.
• Promotes learning and multidisciplinary work.
  Collaboration brings together people with different knowledge, skills and professional profiles, which not only helps to achieve better results, but also makes the work more enriching for team members.
• Stimulates coexistence and interpersonal relationships.
  Collaborative work dynamics favor constant interaction among workers, which helps to strengthen relationships both at a personal and professional level, especially in those teams that work remotely. Moreover, in a collaborative team, effective communication, negotiation and conflict resolution skills are promoted, which improves interpersonal relationships.

Differences between collaborative, cooperative and team work

At first glance it might seem that these three terms have the same meaning and can be used as synonyms, however, they have different nuances both in their meaning and in their implementation as working models. The main characteristics that define each are:

Collaborative work

This model is used when a group of individuals with different skills and professional profiles work together towards a common goal. 

In this case there is a horizontal organization within the group and the distribution of tasks is based on an equitable contribution by all members. Likewise, although each individual brings his or her particular experience and skills, constant learning is encouraged, as well as the generation of ideas and creative solutions from the combination of everyone's perspectives.

Cooperative work

This term refers to the realization of a group project, where the participants divide the tasks, but each one works on his or her part independently. 

In those teams where this work model is used, members may have separate tasks whose outcome is focused on a common objective, but even though this objective exists, there is less interdependence within the group, as compared to collaborative work.

Teamwork

Teamwork implies that all members work together in a coordinated and cohesive manner to achieve a shared objective. 

In this work model, tasks are organized vertically, taking into account the structure of the organization and the profile of each participant within it. Although each member has his or her own tasks, effective communication and synergy among all members is essential for successful teamwork.

Key ways to improve team collaboration

Collaborative work is essential to promote efficiency and innovation in an organization, as well as the quality of work and the commitment of its members. However, to maximize the effectiveness of this model and take full advantage of its benefits, it is important to optimize the processes and workflow within the group. Some keys to do so are: 

1. Establish clear and measurable objectivesand communicate them to the team. All members should understand what they are trying to achieve.
2. Generates an appropriate environment for group work, and creates an atmosphere of trust and respect. environment of trust and respect that helps foster creative freedom and effective communication.
3. Make sure you have an adequate adequate physical space for day-to-day activities. Shared offices or coworking spaces usually offer areas that facilitate collaborative work.
4. Implements the use of digital tools that favor workflow and collaboration. There are multiple project management platforms, as well as messaging and videoconferencing systems that can help improve communication and work processes.
5. Conducts a continuous evaluation of the work dynamics and fosters a culture of feedback, where group members can give and receive constructive comments that help improve collaboration.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLABORATIVE WORK

Collaborative work offers great advantages for organizations, and its essential benefit is in the generation of improvements in work results from the synergy that is created when team members when team members collaborate and bring to bear their different skills, knowledge, and perspectives to different skills, knowledge and perspectives to arrive at innovative and efficient solutions and ideas..

In addition, this work model promotes effective communication among team members, and contributes to the creation of a positive and productive work positive and productive work environment within the organization.

How is collaborative work carried out?

In order to carry out collaborative work in your organization, the first thing you should consider is the objective you want to achieveFrom there, you will be able to define the type of collaboration dynamic that is appropriate to work around it.

To maintain effective collaboration throughout the workflow, you must ensure that you foster open and constant open and constant communicationcommunication, follow up on a regular follow-up on a regular basis and establish a system of continuous evaluation and feedback to ensure to ensure that the results are what you are looking for. In addition, we help you understand what team building means so you can start developing and implementing it within your company and improve the effectiveness of a work team.