Innovative uses of collaborative platforms and social media tools

Collaboration using platforms across a shared network has been on the forefront of IT communication development since Engelbart suggested "Augmenting Human Intellect" in the 1960s, and is one way to address knowledge management challenges by building com- munities for collaboration. The global success of social media tools in the past half decade raises the question if and how these tools can be used to improve platform-based collabora- tion. We present three different projects that provide partial answers to this question: (1) real-time course support via Wiki and Wikiversity in connection with agile management methods can overcome drawbacks of existing closed learning management systems. (2) Social tools, templates and videos guide SME practitioners and invite them to interact virtually and manage projects smarter. (3) Legal download of sheet music exploited by bands, groups and individual artists promote their products effectively by the development of the e-commerce platform. All projects show how social media can be used for collaboration in an innovative way without re-inventing technology.