---
title: Simple Collaboration Tools are Key
description: Simple Collaboration Tools are Key
---

[Blog | conspectusinc.com ](https://www.conspectusinc.com/blog)

# [Simple Collaboration Tools are Key](https://www.conspectusinc.com/blog/2010/01/simple_collaboration_tools_are_key)

 Written by [David Stutzman](https://www.conspectusinc.com/blog/author/david-stutzman) | 1/6/10 11:04 PM

Today, even small design and construction projects can have  
 large design teams with many contributing consultants. Managing the work of so  
 many people and coordinating the result has become a herculean task. So how can  
 this burden be relieved while ensuring all participants remain aware of the  
 project progression so high quality documents are produced every time?

For the past 18 months we have relied on [Basecamp](http://basecamphq.com/?source=37signals+home&__utma=1.180756647.1259714751.1260203803.1262817883.3&__utmb=1.4.10.1262817883&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1259714751.1.1.utmcsr=%28direct%29%7Cutmccn=%28direct%29%7Cutmcmd=%28none%29&__utmv=-&__utmk=89117083),  
 a web based application from [37Signals](http://37signals.com/).  
 Basecamp is an intuitive tool that provides great flexibility in managing data.  
 We offer our subscription for this service to all our clients and their entire  
 design team because we believe so strongly that it significantly improves  
 collaboration and raises the quality of the resulting design.

Initially, we tried Basecamp for selfish reasons. Project  
 schedules changed regularly, sometimes daily. We kept a paper calendar showing  
 project deadlines. Because we were delivering up to 250 projects each year, just  
 imagine the number of deadlines on the calendar. As the schedules changed we  
 could not find all the previous schedule dates to void the entries. This  
 created some tense moments with near panic when we turned the calendar and  
 discovered an outdated completion date.

Basecamp allowed us to view the delivery milestones by  
 specific projects. So when schedules changed, we opened the project and easily  
 made all the adjustments at once. Ad every change was instantly available to  
 our entire staff. At first, this feature alone was justification for using  
 Basecamp. No more panic attacks!

However, we had an epiphany. We invited our clients and all  
 their other consultants to use Basecamp with us. We found that Basecamp allowed  
 us to collect all the project communications in one location, essentially  
 replacing email. All communications are visible to everyone on the project. And  
 automatic email notifications of Basecamp posting are sent to everyone directly  
 involved in the issue. But wait! There is more.

To Do lists allowed team members to assign tasks and  
 completion dates to others, for work that was required to coordinate the  
 project and incorporate the latest design changes. Everyone on the team can  
 view the lists for everyone else. What an incentive! It is embarrassing to open  
 the project and discover your unfinished To Do list is the longest. The  
 embarrassment factor worked. Things got done and in a much more timely manner.

What about project files, you may ask. Well Basecamp helps  
 there too. There is a simple file upload feature similar to an FTP site, except  
 multiple versions of the same file can be posted. The latest file is always on  
 top and the previous versions directly below.

We are still only scratching the surface of what can be  
 accomplished with Basecamp. It seems we find new ways to manage the work flow,  
 nearly daily. The built-in flexibility allows us to try new ways to accomplish traditional  
 tasks.

Now we use Basecamp for every project. We encourage our  
 clients to start the project on Basecamp at day one and to include the entire  
 team as welcome participants. There are no limits on the number of users. So  
 there is no need for anyone to be excluded.

The cost to our clients? None! The value to the project resulting  
 from participation far outweighs the subscription fee.

We encourage you to take the Basecamp tour to see for  
 yourself: [http://basecamphq.com/tour](http://basecamphq.com/tour)

[View full post](https://www.conspectusinc.com/blog/2010/01/simple_collaboration_tools_are_key)

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