Achieving groupware flexibility through metamodel mappings

Computers are now being increasingly used to support collaborative knowledge intensive processes. These are processes where intense interaction takes place between team members with a common goal. The paper identifies technology as an enabler of the collaborative work practices in such processes. To do this technology must provide intuitive interfaces to support such work practices while at the same making it possible to change such interfaces as work practices change. The paper proposes a collaborative metamodel as the basis for defining collaborative work practices and their changing nature. It proposes that the metamodel concepts be provided at the interface to provide commands to adapt interfaces to changing work practices and illustrates this with an implementation. It then suggests that agent support can be a useful enabler to support change. © 2005 IEEE