{"id":51256,"date":"2013-02-12T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-02-12T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/customerthink.com\/maybe_we_are_using_the_wrong_words_to_describe_collaboration\/"},"modified":"2013-02-12T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2013-02-12T17:00:00","slug":"maybe_we_are_using_the_wrong_words_to_describe_collaboration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/customerthink.com\/maybe_we_are_using_the_wrong_words_to_describe_collaboration\/","title":{"rendered":"Maybe We are Using the Wrong Words to Describe Collaboration"},"content":{"rendered":"
When we attempt to describe something we are often judge based upon the words we use. Choose certain words and we are considered buzzword compliant or worse, SEO compliant. Choose the wrong words and we are considered out of touch, old school or not ‘cool’. On the other side of the coin, if we try to consider new ideas, or think forward a bit we might be considered too academic or a purist without a strong sense to technological or cultural limitations. What then is the right balance? How do we effectively communicate and at the same time be sure to be heard and found?<\/p>\n
Specifically, say or write the words “Social Business”, “Enterprise 2.0? or even “collaboration”, “innovation”, “co-creation” or “design thinking” and many people roll their eyes. “Oh, great another buzzword fest”. I suppose we can still possibly save “innovation”, just a hope. But, aside from that, the rest are too often fodder for power point presentations, executive motivational speeches and fancy conference track titles. That said, the core concepts are very important and we should not allow the hype cycle to get in the way of what we need to get done. The question is, when we write or present these topics, who are we talking to, who is the audience? Are we trying to convince the senior executive or the people in the field, boots on the ground?<\/p>\n
I am not going to start throwing around generational monikers (X, Y, Z, C) in an attempt to further confuse. If the goal is to be creative and build something new (as in product, service or concept) and we are trying to describe the value of doing that to people of many ages, backgrounds and job roles, maybe we need a new way to communicate the message. Everyone understands the ideas of teamwork, creativity, working together. When we enter the corporate world is it required to change the names and labels? The following may not work for everyone, but I believe there is a crowd who might just appreciate the effort.<\/p>\n
Remix and Mashup<\/strong><\/p>\n Say the word Remix to most people under 40 (even some older, but not as many) and the mental image – or mental sound bite – is clear. A remix is a song that has been edited to sound different from the original. The remixed version might have changed the tempo or pitch, made the song shorter or longer. There is more to it than that, but that is the basic idea. A Mashup is similar in concept, but includes more than one song or instrumental from one song overlaying on the vocals from another. In the digital word, a mashup is a combination of different media, pre-existing creative, all put together. The ideas are similar and well understood, add creativity and originality to someone else’s original work.<\/p>\n