As the 21st century nears, networked computing is becoming the essence of computing itself. Alternative phrases abound--collaborative work, computer supported cooperative work, simultaneous/concurrent engineering, multimedia real-time interactive work--but the neatest, shortest, and simplest catch-all term was coined in 1978: groupware. The two visionaries who coined the term, Peter and Trudy Johnson-Lenz, are among the 42 expert contributors to Groupware in the 21st Century. Other contributors to the volume include Microsoft's Bill Gates, professors Jay Nunamaker and Tom Malone, and management author Robert Heller. As with most technological sea-changes, the groupware revolution is having its impact first on business, where enhanced interaction between an organization's members, strategic allies, suppliers, and customers can help ensure that it remains dynamic and competitive. Anyone who wants to know about the future of information technology and group processes will want to read this book which brings perspective and clarity to these new technologies.
