Two complementary tools for the cooperation in a ministerial environment

This paper describes the realisation of and experiences with two complementary tools for the support of cooperative processes: electronic circulation folders and shared workspaces. Circulation folders support structured work processes, shared workspaces provide a working environment for less structured processes. Both approaches are complementary and their combined usage provides new and very flexible ways of telecooperation and cooperative knowledge management. The components are integrated in the POLITeam system which is developed for the support of cooperative processes between the separated ministries in Bonn and Berlin.