Groupware should be developed from an analysis of the work to be supported. For example, imagine a work situation where participants join and leave a discussion at different points. In a text-based conference, the participants may be able to see a record of the conversation, thus giving context to current contributions. This is an example of a very artificial method of conversation but one that has value because of a particular work situation. An understanding of the work may make it possible to provide effective conversational props, additional visualisations or shared artefacts.
Awareness is important for grounding in communication.
To encourage people to use groupware products there needs to be enough benefit for the individual. If people can produce the same quality of work using a conventional way of communicating they will not use the groupware. For example, a meeting scheduler might have a reminder function that makes it valuable as a calendar regardless of whatever else it does. The radical development of information technology causes some antisocial behaviour. In order to avoid such behaviour it is necessary to allow the group to regulate itself.