Applications used in workgroup information systems. Group collaboration in business

Individuals in a business usually do not work entirely alone, but instead in teams, committees, departments, and other types of workgroups. To collaborate on common tasks, workgroup members can have meetings, talk on the telephone, send faxes, and distribute memos. Group members can also use workgroup information systems to help them collaborate. This type of system is also called a group support system because it supports the work of people in a group. This article looks at applications used in workgroup information systems, and shows how these applications affect group collaboration in businesses. First, we explain how workgroup information systems encourage group collaboration. Then we examine the characteristics of group collaboration and describe common workgroup applications and the software used for these applications, and finally we discuss about office automation and the virtual work environment.