One of my all-time favorite web apps is Basecamp, a project collaboration tool from 37signals.  So I enjoyed reading the story behind Basecamp on this Happy Birthday – Basecamp Turns Five! post on the Signal vs. Noise blog.

Here are a few great comments about communication, collaboration, projects and software from the post by Jason Fried……

We built Basecamp because our projects and client communications were a mess. We were using email to update our clients. That works for about 5 minutes, then goes from ripe to rotten pretty quicky.

Projects aren’t about charts, graphs, stats, and reports. Projects aren’t broadcasts. Projects are about people and communication and collaboration. Projects are about back-and-forth, give and take.

We also didn’t really like the idea of “management.” Management is hard work. Management is administrative. Management gets in the way. Collaboration better described what we were after.

One of the most rewarding things has been showing people that there’s a different way, a better way. Software doesn’t have to be a pain in the ass. Software doesn’t have to get in the way. Software isn’t about feature lists and sensational promises. Software is a concise set of tools that serve as an extension of your own mind. Great software lets you get things done and then it gets out of your way.

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1 // Getting Real by 37signals (free here)

2 // Tribes by Seth Godin (free here)

3 // New Rules for the New Economy by Kevin Kelley (free here)

4 // The Cluetrain Manifesto by Christopher Locke, Rick Levine, Doc Searls, and David Weinberger (free here)

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A lot of times people are just stuck in patterns. Process gets done a certain way because that’s the way it’s been done in the past. Sometimes the arteries of work get clogged up simply because no one stops it from happening. Inertia happens.

Inertia happens……but the good news is it can be stopped or changed when acted on by an outside force.

in·er·tia n.

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Brilliant in a simple, back to the basics kind of way.  It is hard to explain.  Just read the free online book Getting Real from 37signals and you will understand what I mean.

In March, Jason shared some of his views on how to do business at a SXSW session in Austin, TX.

He offered up 8 questions that must be asked about work……..

Why are we doing this?

What’s the opportunity cost?

Is it really worth it?

What problem are we solving?

Is this actually useful?

Are we adding value?

Will this change behavior?

Is there an easier way?

Jason blogged about these questions here.

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