1. SFSU ISYS 363 –
Fall 2013 –
Section 2
Hurricanes
Project Task 1 - Collaboration Tools

2. Features needed/expected
 All the group members need to be able to access
 Send and receive messages instantly and effectively
amongst all the group members
 Hardware support - the software can ideally be used
alongside a wide variety of hardware
 Version control: needs to be clear which version of the
project has been updated with what information; updates
must be easily consolidated and logged
 Cost - needs to be free
Criteria
 Share files in different format including Word
document, Powerpoint, .pdf, etc.
 Send and receive messages amongst group members
 Provide a platform for the team to work together on the
Internet

3. Collaboration Tools Market
Leaders:
 Yammer
 Box
 IBM
 Microsoft
 Salesforce.com
Strong performers:
 Google
 Cisco
 Citrix

4. Email
PROS
 Fast; message is sent and
received instantly
 Free in cost, just need to
create the account
 Able to send out
documents or files by
attachments to the
emails
CONS
 Internet access needed
 Need an online device
 Security concern; email
account by certain email
service providers can be easily
hacked
 Need to learn how to use the
email
 Version control is dependent
on nomenclature (e.g.
date_time, 10102013_0900)
 A type of communication via Internet by text in emails
and sharing documents in attachments.
 For examples: Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo!mail, mail.SFSU

5. Google Drive
PROS
 Able to access documents or files
almost everywhere
 Similar with basic Microsoft Offices
Programs such as Word, Excel and
Powerpoint
 Shareable and editable within and
between group members
 Files are saved immediately
 Chat box; people sharing the file
can chat and edit the file at the
same time in one window
 Doc dynamically updates as group
members make edits; edits are
tagged with member responsible for
the change
CONS
 Need Internet access
 Need an online device
 Limited programs and
limited functions
 Gmail account is required
to access
 A free cloud computing service and information
management software provided by Google.

6. Dropbox
PROS
 Easy to Access
 Data Space
 Backup Data
 Share files almost
everywhere with mobile
apps
CONS
 Security concern, files shared
may not be private and need to
pay attention on privacy setting
 Need Internet Access
 Not able to edit online
 Limited storage space (2.5GB for
free account)
 Version control is dependent on
nomenclature (e.g. date_time,
10102013_0900)
 A file hosting service provided by Dropbox Inc.

7. iLearn
PROS
 Official in class
 Able to post in the forum for
an open discussion in our own
group
 Everyone in group can
access/see
 Keep tracks of information
and what happening in the
class
 Can store files (pptx, doc,
xls)
CONS
 Need Internet Access
 Time-consuming to read all
the posts in the forum
 Everyone in the group needs
to check the forum in a daily
basis
 People in the group may not
respond
 Version control of individual
files dependent on
nomenclature (e.g.
date_time, 10102013_0900)
 An official forum operated by SFSU for students and
teachers to post and communicate.

8. Group Texting
PROS
 More privacy
 Fast: message is sent
and received instantly
 Convenient for short
notice
CONS
 Usually used in local
services only since
international texting is
expensive
 Group texting usually
requires a data plan
 Miscommunication in
words may occur
 Lack of talking/ face-to-
face communication
 A type of communication by sending text messages in a
group using mobile phones.

9. The Winners
iLearn
 All group members have access to it
 Official platform provided by SFSU
 The first ‘place’ we met and knew each others
Google drive
 Easy to share documents and presentations
 All group members can see and edit the files at the
same time
 Files can be saved immediately
Email
 All group members have emails
 Sending messages and files in attachments

10. Reference
 Stair, Ralph, & Reynolds, George. (2014). Principles of Information
Systems. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
 David F. Carr. (Aug 20 2012). 5 Cloud Collaboration Tools Leader
Emerge. Retrieved Oct 1 2013 from Information Week:
http://www.informationweek.com/social-
business/social_networking_private_platforms/5-cloud-
collaboration-tools-leaders-emer/240005776
 Email Pros & Cons. Retrieved Oct 1 2013 from
http://www.walker.public.lib.ga.us/tutorial/pros_cons.htm.
 Meghan. (Mar 4 2013). Google Docs: A Good Fit For Your Business?.
Message posted to TrackVia.com:
http://www.trackvia.com/blog/productivity/google-docs-a-good-
fit-for-your-business
 Dropbox A Crystal Ball of Cloud Computing Pros & Cons. (2013).
Retrieved Oct 1 2013 from Sileo: http://www.sileo.com/dropbox-a-
crystal-ball-of-cloud-computing-pros-cons/
 Amanda Knowles. (Mar 14 2009). Pros and Cons of Texting.
Retrieved Oct 1 2013 from The Community World:
http://thecommunityword.com/online/blog/2009/03/14/pros-and-
cons-of-texting/