My idea on the Lotus Knows Idea Jam is about Collaboration and Community. Something I feel strongly about and feel that Lotus does actually Know. One example of that is the LinkedIn sidebar widget for the Lotus Notes client.

You can’t just take a group of people and say Go, Collaborate. It doesn’t work that way. People need to come together in communities, which then organically creates collaboration. In the office, you work with other people, technically you probably collaborate. But, do you have a tendency to go to particular people when you have a choice? Are they people who are just good at what they do, or do you have some sort of bond with them? Smart companies will create community within their organization, which promotes better collaboration.

Online communities do the same thing. Communities I’ve joined through Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn have provided way more information and collaboration than anonymous or impersonal forums of the past. Sametime instant messaging and meetings help create community and through that better collaboration.

Even the Idea Jam for the Lotus Knows campaign shows Lotus Knows community creates collaboration!