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Technology continues to develop allowing
people to meet and engage effectively in meaningful ways without having to
travel.
Since 1998 DLCG has worked hard to
learn all we can about Hi-Tech Web-Enabled Decision Support Systems and
capabilities to provide the best possible solutions to meet our clients needs.
It's impossible for any individual to be an expert on all the technology-based
systems, so we have partnered with some of our friends at the Mid-Atlantic Facilitator's Network and Collaborative Decisions to engage experts in
systems that we know about, but don't use regularly.
One system we use daily is www.WebIQ.net. WebIQ is a powerful
suite of web-enabled team-based software tools that shortens cycle time for
strategic planning, product development, problem solving, and many other
organizational processes.
Typically web conferencing is used
primarily for one-way presentations. However, through WebIQ tools, we are able
to engage teams in real collaborative work which results in teams working
quickly and more efficiently. Participants are able to work interactively
through internet enabled personal computers wherever and whenever they need to
collaborate: in meeting rooms, between offices, across the country, or even
around the world - the same access and the same tools are available wherever
they are. WebIQ meeting participants are able to work simultaneously and/or
independently of each other, and in an anonymous and/or attributable environment
that permits them to express themselves freely. WebIQ helps teams think together
deeply, frequently, and productively in order to produce innovative and
effective solutions to today problems.
We have found that WebIQ is somewhat
easier to learn and use than several other systems. It is flexible enough to
allow small groups to work on their own or be guided by a facilitator when
necessary. One of the best things about it is that it requires no downloads and
no plug-ins. It is totally browser-based and easy to access. You don't have to
load software that is not already on your computer. It is entirely web-enabled
and you can run other applications while using it though your internet
browser.
I wrote in one of the opening
paragraphs that we use the WebIQ service daily. Charlie, my partner, and I live
about 50 miles apart. It is hard on our time and budget, given sharply rising
gas prices, to meet regularly to advance our business plans. So, we usually meet
in cyberspace using WebIQ to document our ideas and plans and talk via phone.
When WebIQ recently came out with their latest version (4.0) we tried out the
newest tools the next morning. They were fantastic additions to a great tool
kit.
If you have ever considered using or
bringing in a web-enabled hi-tech decision-support system to your organization,
WebIQ may be the best service for the price. WebIQ is available as needed
through short- or long-term licenses. We have used it with some clients for one
or two meetings and others have purchased the long-term licence to manage it on
their system. Those that do usually hire us to provide training, coaching, and
facilitation support to their staff and managers.
By the way, we do not sell WebIQ
services. We are professional facilitators that have used it and we are
impressed with it's capabilities and the fact that you can access it on nearly
any internet capable platform. If you are interested we would be happy to direct
you to an authorized reseller that we have used ourselves.
If you would like a demonstration of
it's capabilities please feel free to drop us a line:
We'll be
happy to schedule a targeted demonstration to show how WebIQ can meet your
needs. | 
