Ultimate Guide to Collaborative Work Management

Explore project management tools tailored to your needs — try Wrike free for two weeks.

Collaboration management has always been a cornerstone of productivity in business. The term refers to the interaction of employees, ease of communication, and sharing of resources.

Yet, teamwork has slid to the bottom of many businesses’ agendas in the wake of the pandemic. Employees ejected from the office no longer have a central hub. As a result, collaboration seems harder to implement successfully. This raises an important question: How do you bring together a workplace fractured by the rise of remote work?

Collaborative work management (CWM) could well be the answer. But first, you need to acknowledge the importance of collaboration.

76% of people who primarily use a project management tool to communicate with coworkers report greater efficiency. It’s important to recognize that top talent may prefer companies that champion collaborative software.

There’s also been a seismic shift in power from the organization to the talent. Your company dynamic needs to reflect this change. To secure and retain top talent, consider implementing Agile practices. Collaboration is seen as an integral part of any Agile organization. Agile enterprises are companies that leverage collaborative tools to speed up onboarding and streamline operations. 

CWM measures can also have a trickle-down effect on talent retention. According to Cake.com, only 21% of employees globally are engaged at work, with 50% actively seeking a new job. 

It’s also implied that you should integrate CWM at all levels of your business to reap the rewards. Create enterprise collaborative work management principles that employees can thrive under, and you'll anchor top talent.

In the current climate, commitment to traditional principles could prove catastrophic. Consumer demand and employee concerns have become central, with mounting evidence for the benefits of running an Agile enterprise adding fuel to the fire. 

Recent research highlights the upsides of Agile work, showing that 70% of organizations reported improved team performance after adopting Agile, with a 35% increase in team collaboration and a 25% reduction in time-to-market.

Collaborative work management — the shared oversight and completion of tasks — is vital for any business aspiring to keep up in a fast-moving market. This guide will cover collaboration in business, how it can help you transform your work culture, and the benefits it can bring.

What's in the Collaborative Work Management Guide?

01
What is Collaboration in the Workplace?

The best route to success

02
What Is an Enterprise Collaboration System?

Large-scale collaboration

03
Introduction to Collaborative Teamwork

Building effective teams

04
Collaborative Work Skills

The critical elements of collaboration

05
Best Work Collaboration Tools & Software

The most helpful apps and platforms

06
Benefits of Collaboration in the Workplace

Why teamwork is vital

07
Challenges of Collaborative Working

Stumbling blocks you might meet

08
Tips for Successful Collaboration in the Workplace

Everything to know to collaborate well

09
Effective Collaboration Strategies

Guide your teams' collaborative work

10
What Is Cross-Functional Collaboration?

The combined effort of various teams

11
FAQ

Your collaborative work questions, answered

12
Glossary

Collaborative work terms, explained