Asynchronous Communication Tools

In today's business or academic environment, the concept of virtual team is inexorably noticed. The business trends like outsourcing, application service provider (ASP), or managed service provider MSP) is made possible today because of computer supported collaborative worktools (CSCW). In this environment characterized by anytime-anywhere communication needs, the project manager should be a facilitator of communication moving information across the stakeholders and team members. This can be very effectively achieved by using various tools such as the following:

Microsoft SharePoint. This is a complete project management information system (PMIS) that contains a number of webparts, such as the calendar, announcement, team management, lists, issue logs, version management for document maintenance, web server/hosting, and many elements that a project manager can use to manage and lead expectations. An interesting reader is directed to Microsoft SharePoint site for further details.

Alternatively, one can use the the freely availab Apache to setup a webserver locally and host communication. Any facilitator with simple of knowledge of HTML and using freely available integrated environments like EvrSoft 1st Page or the open source web development NvU to build on the HTML themselves.

If the webserver setup and development is challenging, then the facilitator or project manager can use blogs and wiki pages. While blogs are intended for one-way communication from the project manager or facilitator of broadcast communication, the wikis can be promoted for team collaboration.

I setup this blog using blogger but other tools can be found at Education blogs or WordPress.

One can find free wikis at Wikispace or PB Wiki or Bluwiki.