Effective use of collaborative information technology to enhance group performance

Abstract

This research was inspired by the need to create a universal net-centric environment to enable collaborative defense capabilities and deliver knowledge dominance to the DoD. Since superior information management and the use of collaborative IT technologies is fundamental to building intelligence capabilities, this study aims to contribute to the optimization of collaborative system use by military groups and organizations. The proposed research model illustrates and explains the direct relationships between collaborative IT competence and collaborative functionalities, which can be used not only to assess current technologies but also aid in requirements generation for designing the ideal collaborative tool suite. Central to the research model we introduce the concept of collaborative IT competence, defined as the effective use of collaborative functionalities, and explore its relationship to performance outcomes. Having pre-tested and validated the proposed research model by means of empirical data collection in the form of an end-user survey instrument we recommend further research be conducted on a Navy-wide scale to evaluate the 181 collaborative technology tools currently in use. End-user/warfighter insight will dramatically influence future CIT investment decisions by providing decision makers critical information regarding the pragmatic versus the advertised attributes of the application/tool suite. Additionally, this model is designed to provide the road map to the ideal combination of core functionalities and required collaborative IT competence.