business
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TALKING
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(while adding a new innovation showroom of
Smart City and other solutions).
Our collaboration with the accelerator has
been amplified – and accelerated – by the
fact that we are now in close proximity to
the start-ups on the programme and have
easy access to allow us to provide mentoring,
and even undertake Proof of Concept for one
of the start-up companies, in our own new
regional hub.
It also means that our team has direct
access to a pure start-up environment and
genuine entrepreneurs, and the stimulating
and inspiring effect this has. Even with the
best collaboration tools, this would not have
happened so quickly or effectively.
Collaboration helps enterprises innovate
much faster and more efficiently. At the
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INTELLIGENTCIO
same time, it makes them more agile and
adaptable to change, vital in this age of
rapid transformation.
A collaboration hub, such as the accelerator,
enables the ‘people effect’ that is vital
to innovation. Of course, once people
are working in relatively close proximity,
then they need to work effectively and
productively, in the right kind of space
conducive to collaboration.
Workspace design is vital of course and is
key to enabling people.
As collaboration becomes more
commonplace, and as workers become
more comfortable interacting digitally,
they’ll also want to spend more time face-
to-face with team members from around
the office.
Designing spaces for collaboration means
creating a variety of appealing and flexible
‘collaboration spaces’ where people can
get together with a collective sense of
energy and with collaboration tools such as
interactive, connected smartboards, stand-up
meeting rooms, informal lounge/café spaces
and dedicated telepresence rooms.
Digital technology has disrupted the
workplace, which has changed beyond
recognition over the last decade.
The new work environment today is virtual
and people want to work more flexibly and
on their own terms, so IT needs to make it
as simple as possible for them to engage
anytime, anywhere and using any device, to
get all the benefits – including the creativity
and innovation – that comes with the
‘people effect’. n
www.intelligentcio.com