Reading another article on collaboration software and email.

A list of common collaboration tools:

1. A Shared Tool for Discussing Project Matters — Forum/Discussion
2.  A Shared Tool for Scheduling Project Meetings and Events — Calendar
3. A Shared Tool for Assigning and Managing Action Points – Tasks
4. A Shared Tool for Storing Shared Documents – File share (needs search/ACLs)
5. A Shared Tool for Listing People’s Contact Details – Contacts/Addressbook
6. A Shared Tool for Recording and Analyzing Structured Information — Forms  & Notifications

Dicussions can be handled by email.  Mailing lists/News groups are a variation that handles this naturally.  More recent (but still ancient) software turns mailing lists into a website discussion.

Most of the rest of this is handled by Outlook.  Maybe that’s what they took the list from.  Bug trackers, Test management, Requirements, etc. are forms.  Build status, etc. is a notification.  A dashboard that isn’t a daskboard, but more like a calendar, showing a history of notifications would be nice.

The key is, that it isn’t trapped in a mailbox, or lost in a wiki, or requires logging into a web page.  Rich client interaction again, I think is key.  Browser plugins, Office tools, OS integration (file shares), Email user interface are all methods.  Pull email is good too.  An IMAP folder that you don’t have to check unless you want to (build statuses, checkins, etc.)  An email like interface but you don’t have to filter your email.  And you want to be able to search the server and get a nice detailed report (web page) or something that you can take with our or fill out offline (Documents, Version control checkouts.)  And something you can do from the browser (open a tab from the sidebar or status bar.)

Multi client capabilities are important.  A browser UI for when you’re not at your desk.  A local copy for when you’re offline.  Rich edits.  Search.  Sharing.