In order to enhance group functioning, groupware demands changes in the way individuals work. There is a need for standardization in groupware use that does not exist in software tools designed to enhance individual productivity. Groupware systems are embedded in organizational processes. They often affect several organizational units and require acceptance and participation from all users beginning in the design stage and continuing through implementation. Groupware as a category of technology covers a broad range of tools and uses.
Some groupware tools are far more sophisticated than others.
Effective use of any particular tool requires a full understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the product, the organizational needs it will address, and the degree of organizational and technical support which is required to use it effectively.