Computer-supported cooperative work

Abstract

Computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) is a field of research addressing the intersection of collaborative behaviors and technology. CSCW includes collaboration among a few individuals, within teams, within and between organizations, and within online communities that may span the globe. CSCW addresses how technologies facilitate, impair, or simply change collaborative activities. It is a broader field than the four words comprising its name suggest. Although its primary focus is on computer-supported activities, it encompasses collaborative activities that have not yet been but could be computer supported. Its focus is on collaboration, but not necessarily achieved through intentional cooperation. Collaborators may compete with one another or may not even be aware of each other. The field's initial focus was on work-related activities, and this remains a topic of interest, but the scope includes collaboration in any area of human endeavor including games and social media.