CyberMeeting

About the Book

Astounding advances in computers and other technologies are rapidly changing the way the world conducts business. Imagine participating in a business meeting with 20 people. You can see them all and fully interact with them, but they aren't in the same room or city as you?they aren't even in the same time zone as you! Imagine a workplace where you don't have to play frustrating games of phone tag to arrange meetings ... where you don't have to waste valuable time and money traveling to consult with a co?worker in another city ... where you can "attend" meetings without leaving your office!

Sound too good to be true? It's not. It's the world of CyberMeeting, a place where technology allows people to collaborate and work together more effectively. In this world, all you have to do to arrange a meeting is direct software agents to schedule a time convenient for everyone, and then sit down in front of your computer or in a completely wired conference room. Cameras are in place so that everybody can be seen and typed in, or verbal communication lets everyone speak and be heard.

Ready or not, this future is speeding toward you! Many of the technologies already exist; others are taking shape in Silicon Valley. Over the next few years, companies will spend billions of dollars acquiring the equipment that will make cybermeetings a reality. Unfortunately, in the rush to keep up, they will also squander millions of dollars buying into unproven facts, choosing inappropriate tools, or simply because their employees continue to work and meet the old?fashioned way due to inadequate research into their needs.

CyberMeeting is a breakthrough book that will help you head off these money?wasting scenarios and take full advantage of new technologies. It provides a first?of?its?kind look at the new "collaborative technology," and tells you how to manage the transition to cybercollaboration smoothly and effectively?so that your organization reaps all the rewards from its investment and gains a competitive edge.

You'll read about exciting new developments such as: w software that schedules meetings w groupware that enables simultaneous work on a project w cutting?edge facility design that enhances productivity and encourages informal interaction between employees w "working walls" that record and display information from many sources w and more!

But that's not all. CyberMeeting takes readers beyond the initial fascination and "oh wow" aspect of new technologies, and gives you practical guidance on the many concerns to be considered before leaping into this new world. Specifically, it will help you determine people's needs accurately (if they don't need it, they won't use it!), develop a winning business rationale to persuade your company of the advantages of collaborative technology, negotiate constraints of corporate culture for smoother integration of new systems, and ultimately give you a greater understanding of the dynamics of working in groups.

Predictions of the future are endlessly intriguing. The list of books about the subject is just as endless. CyberMeeting is not merely another addition to that list. It's a new breed ? a crystal ball and common sense guidebook in one. Whether you're a CEO, manager, “techie," or meeting planner, if you've ever attended a business meeting or looked for ways to optimize performance and achieve effective employee collaboration, you will want to read this book.

About the Author

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