The Digital Renaissance of Work

Chapter 4Collaboration – and Why ‘Teamwork’ Needs a Makeover

 

The lightning spark of thought generated… in the solitary mind awakens its express likeness in another mind.

Philosopher and Writer, Thomas Carlyle¹

We seldom work alone. At times yes, but generally we work with others. Historically this was called ‘teamwork’ and a vast industry, involving experts and skills, grew up around the need to build effective teams. Groups of employees would head off for outward bound activities involving a range of ludicrous tasks that were decent fun but achieved nothing much else. I remember spending two days participating in a myriad of odd activities at a hotel and activity centre near London in the 1990s with colleagues, only to afterwards find ...