These examples demonstrate how different types and sizes of organizations have utilized a range of communications and collaboration methods to improve their ability to find, reach and collaborate with internal and external parties. Each approached UC from a different perspective: improving an existing business process, reducing telephony costs, enhancing collaboration in the sales field, and as a strategic enabler to build a new organization. But each of these examples comes back to the same thought, reducing the human latency inherent in the way we do business every day.

Several simple recommendations will greatly enhance your chances of success when adopting UC.

First, focus on the business view. What aspect of human latency are you trying to address? Outline your business priorities, operational constraints, regulatory requirements and budget considerations. These will be invaluable in prioritizing the what, where and how of implementing UC² solutions.

Second, develop your UC² strategy and architecture based on your business strategy. Think through the UC capabilities that best support your business objectives. Catalog the UC capabilities your organization already has in place. Avoid the temptation to incorporate all the available bells and whistles if they are unnecessary. Develop a sandbox, or incubator testing environment if appropriate to prove the relevance and return to your business requirements.

Third, lay out a roadmap. Make sure you are leveraging your current investments as appropriate, even as you take advantage of new technologies. Develop an implementation plan driven by your business priorities. Stage your roll-out to get the highest ROI first.

Finally, establish an ongoing approach to re-evaluating new technologies and capabilities as they evolve to continue to add to the benefits you can get from UC.

Bruce Morse is vice president for IBM Unified Communications & Collaboration. Laurence Guihard-Joly is vice president for IBM Integrated Communications Services. Together, they are responsible for leading IBM's unified communications and collaboration (UC²) strategy.