Enhancing Collaboration Through Google Workspace: Assessing and Strengthening Current Practices

TL;DR

This study evaluates Google Workspace's role in enhancing academic collaboration at the University of Makati, highlighting its benefits and challenges, and suggests improvements for better adoption and functionality.

Contribution

It provides an empirical assessment of Google Workspace's effectiveness in academic collaboration and identifies specific areas for platform enhancement.

Findings

Google Workspace is rated very effective for teamwork (mean score 4.61)

Key advantages include improved collaboration and communication

Challenges include low adoption, limited storage, and offline functionality

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of Google Workspace in fostering collaboration within academic settings, specifically at the University of Makati. The aim is to evaluate its role in enhancing blended learning practices and identify areas for improvement among faculty, staff, and students. A survey was conducted with 50 participants, including academic staff, faculty, and students at the University of Makati who regularly use Google Workspace for academic and collaborative activities. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure familiarity with the platform. The study employed a quantitative research design using structured surveys to assess user experiences with key features such as real-time document editing, communication tools, etc. The study found that Google Workspace and rated as "Very Effective" (mean score of 4.61) in promoting teamwork. Key advantages included improved collaboration, enhanced communication, and efficient management of group projects. However, several challenges were also noted, including low user adoption rates, limited Google Drive storage capacity, the need for better technical support, and limited offline functionality. Google Workspace significantly supports academic collaboration in the normal practices within the University of Makati, however, it faces challenges that impact its overall effectiveness. Addressing these issues could improve user experience and platform efficiency in educational contexts. It is recommended to enhance user adoption through targeted training and improve offline capabilities. Additionally, providing more advanced technical support could mitigate existing challenges.