Work is about team work, not individual performance

Over the last year HR has put a lot of attention on evaluating people on their individualistic performance while creating the notions of ‘competency’ and personal objectives. ‘A lot of attention’ often means too much attention ie to a point where participation to collective works was not evaluated. This creates inefficiencies as it favours individualistic strategies that can be adverse to organisational performance. Not invented here syndrome, cold war between people and services are often the result of such individual performance appraisals. We all know the relativity of the competency metrics and the strength of peer or superior subjectivity. We all know that for being successful one needs support. If organisations are too complex not to venture into task division, they also are very similar to barn raising.

What is the benefit for social computing? Social computing is social by nature: it focuses on group, not on individuals. It helps teams deliver collectively with the support of one and the other.