off the Hook

One of the concepts we discussed at the Lotus Leadership Alliance this week is the "Collaboration Maturity Model," which illustrates the different forms of collaboration and how organizations tend to implement them as organizational collaboration capabilities increase. While the specific content of LoLA is protected by an NDA, I figure the fact that I was able to find information on this model in the public domain via Google, I can safely talk about it.

I am not sure if or how this model relates to Forrester's version by the same name (because I'd apparently have to pay $349 to find out), but the general idea is that as you move up the scale, your collaborative capabilities mature. While this is a clear adaptation of the Capability Maturity Model used in a variety of process efficiency methodologies, it is certainly applicable to collaboration and a useful tool for assessing your collaborative capabilities versus the competition. Here is the general idea:

• Level 1: Baseline Communications - This includes telephone, email, and file sharing capabilities like what Notes and Foundations offer.
• Level 2: Real Time: Instant messaging, web & video conferencing, and web content such as Sametime and Quickr (and yes, Domino).
• Level 3: On-Demand Access - Unified communications, directory and profiling services, mobile access, and portal technology that aggregates information from multiple sources in a personalized manner, as offered by Sametime Advanced, Connections, Lotus Traveler, Websphere Portal (and, oh yeah, Domino).
• Level 4: Insight & Innovation - Embedded collaboration and communications integrated throughout the organization, social computing, and mashups, which Lotus is focused on delivering by enabling seamless integration across the portfolio and with other widgets that enable developers and even end users to build and share their own on-the-fly applications via Expeditor, Notes, Portal, and Mashups.

It is no mistake that this model aligns with the portfolio of Lotus solutions of course, but it nonetheless drives the point that most organizations can still extend upon their ability to communicate and collaborate, and it provides some general idea of how to do so in an evolutionary manner.

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For those of you wondering why my blog is mysteriously absent of postings about the Lotus Leadership Alliance happening this week, I apparently missed the part of the participation guidelines where everything is under NDA (non-disclosure). Suffice it to say that there are significant innovations coming in the entire family of Lotus products with a commitment well in to the future and the new leader of Lotus Software, Bob Picciano is a down-to-earth individual who has instantly earned my respect. We are in good hands folks. 

Next week the Lotus Board of Advisors, Enterprise Customer Support Council, Global Customer Partnership Council, WebSphere Portal Council, Connections Advisory Group, and a few invited customers and business partners will come together in Hollywood, FL to form the Lotus Leadership Alliance (LoLA) and participate in the first (hopefully annual) LoLA conference. I am looking forward to interacting with key people from these different teams and the opportunity to finally meet new Lotus GM Bob Picciano and some other new faces, as well as get a feel for what the Lotus leadership team plans to do to continue the past 15 consecutive quarters of brand growth15 consecutive quarters of brand growth. Of course, I plan share Lotus 911's point of view as a business partner dedicated to the brand, but I also want to give the larger community a chance to be represented. So, if you have specific questions you want answered or concerns you want expressed (that you haven't already told me before), drop me a line and I'll see what I can do. Otherwise, be sure to check back next week as I plan to blog at least daily about significant information coming out of this event.

I keep up with the ongoing "why doesn't Lotus advertise on TV" battles that periodically hit the blogosphere, but I was particularly inspired today by an idea that Alan Lepfosky floated wondering what it would be like to see Lotus Notes featured in the  "I'm a Mac" ads. I doubt it will ever happen, but I can envision a number of possibilities that could benefit Mac as much as Lotus in the business space:

PC: Who's that?
Mac: Who this? This is Lotus Notes.
PC: Oh, I can do email.
Mac: So can he, but he can also do instant messaging, document management, collaboration, and custom applications all in one package that runs on you or me. Plus, he comes with a free office suite that can create and save documents in all the any of the widely used formats. We're a pretty powerful combination for businesses.
PC: You do business?
Mac: Yep.
PC: I'm gonna need a lawyer.

(or something like that)