TIPS, TECHNIQUES, AND TOOLS FOR COLLABORATION AT A DISTANCE by Shawna Vyhmeister, PhD

Abstract

In our world, collaboration is increasing in every field. Collaboration is common, useful, and necessary, yet

we spend very little time talking about what it really means and how to do it well. This study points out how

e-mail, a common tool for collaboration, differs from regular mail or phone calls. It then spends time with three

areas: tips for improving electronic communication, techniques for meeting deadlines at a distance, and tools

for managing documents in a distance collaboration setting. There are many tools available, and many will be

demonstrated here, and none is perfect or a requirement for success. The important thing is to choose one that

works for you. Since most articles are published with 2 or more authors, the suggestion is to begin collaborating

with someone, and the tools will be learned in the process, as they are used.