The terms groupware and CSCW (Computer-Supported Cooperative Work) have received significant attention in computer science and related disciplines for quite some time now. This book has two main objectives: first, to outline the meaning of both terms, and second, to point out both the numerous opportunities for users of CSCW systems and the risks of applying them. The book introduces in detail an interdisciplinary application area of distributed systems, namely the computer support of individuals trying to solve a problem in cooperation with each other but not necessarily having identical work places or working times. CSCW can be viewed as a synergism between the areas of distributed systems and (multimedia) communications on the one hand and those of information science and socio-organizational theory on the other hand. Thus, the book is addressed to students of all these disciplines, as well as to users and developers of systems with group communication and cooperation as top priorities.

The value of an organization is given not just by its tangible assets but also by the knowledge embodied in its employees and in its internal and external structures. While explicit knowledge can be shared as information and is easy to handle, this tacit knowledge has been neglected by effectiveness-oriented management techniques but is crucial for both the operational efficiency and the core competencies of an organization. This book provides a survey of the use of information technology for knowledge management, and its chapters present specific research on how technologies such as computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), workflow, and groupware can support the creation and sharing of knowledge in organizations.

Key to our culture is that we can disseminate information, and then maintain and access it over time. While we are rapidly advancing from vulnerable physical solutions to superior, digital media, preserving and using data over the long term involves complicated research challenges and organization efforts.

Uwe Borghoff and his coauthors address the problem of storing, reading, and using digital data for periods longer than 50 years. They briefly describe several markup and document description languages like TIFF, PDF, HTML, and XML, explain the most important techniques such as migration and emulation, and present the OAIS (Open Archival Information System) Reference Model. To complement this background information on the technology issues the authors present the most relevant international preservation projects, such as the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative, and experiences from sample projects run by the Cornell University Library and the National Library of the Netherlands. A rated survey list of available systems and tools completes the book.

With this broad overview, the authors address librarians who preserve our digital heritage, computer scientists who develop technologies that access data, and information managers engaged with the social and methodological requirements of long-term information access.

As we approach the beginning of the 21 st century, we are beginning to see the emer gence of knowledge management as a natural evolution of the focus and importance of quality in the 1980s and reengineering in the I 990s. Quality placed a huge em phasis on getting all employees to use their brainpower better. Reengineering em phasized the use of technology to streamline business processes and take out costs. With the lessons of quality and reengineering firmly embedded in our everyday op erations (continual cost containment and higher quality is a way of life), businesses are now turning their attention to growth. Growth is a common pursuit. Customers are calling for it. Financial markets are calling for it. Employees are asking for it because they want an exciting and stimu lating environment in which to work. If a business doesn't grow, it will eventually die because knowledge workers ofthe 21 st century won't want to work with or for a business that's not growing. Skilled workers have plenty of options to choose from as demand for knowledge workers escalates around the world."

A detailed introduction to interdisciplinary application area of distributed systems, namely the computer support of individuals trying to solve a problem in cooperation with each other but not necessarily having identical work places or working times. The book is addressed to students of distributed systems, communications, information science and socio-organizational theory, as well as to users and developers of systems with group communication and cooperation as top priorities.

Human culture depends on our ability to disseminate information, and then maintain and access it over time. This book addresses the problems of storing, reading, and using digital data for periods longer than 50 years. They offer concise descriptions of markup and document description languages like TIFF, PDF, HTML, and XML, explain important techniques such as migration and emulation, and present the OAIS (Open Archival Information System) Reference Model.

In general, distributed systems can be classified into Distributed File Systems (DFS) and Distributed Operating Systems (DOS). The survey which follows distinguishes be tween DFS approaches in Chapters 2-3, and DOS approaches in Chapters 4-5. Within DFS and DOS, I further distinguish "traditional" and object-oriented approaches. A traditional approach is one where processes are the active components in the systems and where the name space is hierarchically organized. In a centralized environment, UNIX would be a good example of a traditional approach. On the other hand, an object-oriented approach deals with objects in which all information is encapsulated. Some systems of importance do not fit into the DFS/DOS classification. I call these systems "closely related" and put them into Chapter 6. Chapter 7 contains a table of comparison. This table gives a lucid overview summarizing the information provided and allowing for quick access. The last chapter is added for the sake of completeness. It contains very brief descriptions of other related systems. These systems are of minor interest or do not provide transparency at all. Sometimes I had to assign a system to this chapter simply for lack of adequate information about it."