Multimedia groupware design for a distributed government

The decision to shift essential parts of the German government from Bonn to Berlin is a challenge for the design and implementation of groupware systems. The distribution of the government functions defines new requirements for support through telecooperation; e.g. for ministries whose units are divided up between the two locations. The focus of the system developed in the POLITeam project is the support of asynchronous and synchronous cooperation in big organizations. The asynchronous cooperation has an essential share. In this context, the metaphors of the electronic circulation folder and the common workspace proved to be suitable means for the description and implementation of office processes. Based on an available groupware system, its further development is pursued, together with pilot users from ministries and industry. The user requirements were deployed to implement a couple of prototypes which were evaluated again by the users, leading to a participatory design.