The document evaluates several collaboration tools based on criteria like file sharing, messaging, planning, and task management. It discusses the pros and cons of tools like Kona, ProjectPier, Scribblar, Google Docs, and Dropbox. Kona was chosen as it best met the criteria with an intuitive interface and capabilities for sharing files, calendars, tasks and conversations in one place.

1. SFSU ISYS 363-FALL 2013
Section 1 - Comets

2. Our Criteria & Concerns
CRITERIA CONCERNS
•File Sharing •Storage Capabilities
•Real-time Messaging •Privacy Issues
•Proficient Planning Tools •Cost Factors
•Task Assignment and
Notifications
•System Requirements

3. Market Leaders
File Sharing=>Dropbox, iCloud
Real Time Messaging=>iMessage, MSN
Proficient Planning=> Team Box
Task Assignment & Notification=> ZOHO,
CRM, Jive

4. KONA
www.kona.com
PROS CONS
•Allows for one common place for
group access to easily share files,
calendars, tasks, and conversations.
•Only offers 1GB of space, not meant
to be the only area of storage.
•Conversation Module- Allows users to
hold separate conversations on each
task of the project for easier
communication.
•Files are only meant to be shared and
not stored.
•Kona provides group tasks which
makes it easier to assign to-do items to
individuals or everyone for
completion.
•Difficult to use full capabilities on
mobile tablets and phones.

5. ProjectPier
www.projectpier.org
PROS CONS
•Allows hundreds of people from around
the globe to communicate through this in
order to work on projects related to
school or work
•System requirements to download and
use the software have a web hosting
environment that supports PHP5 and
MySQL
•Projectpier gives you a flexible system
for managing projects involving multiple
organizations by providing a central
place for all project activity and
information while integrating with users
existing tolls and workflow
•There are no start date to the projects,
only end dates which makes it
impossible to determine how long
projects take to complete
•This software uses very basic principles:
its about tasks, milestones, files and
messages which makes it easy to
understand and use
•The user interface is intuitive and
difficult to distinguish if you are working
on the milestone task or task list page.
All the sections appear to look the same

6. Scribblar
www.scribblar.com
PROS CONS
•Offers various features: Online
whiteboard, real-time audio, group
chat etc.
•Only one chat room with a max of 2
users available with free package.
•Can upload various types of files
(PowerPoint, Word Doc. PDF)
•5 page document limit with free
package
•Provides online tutoring, sales and
product demos, Interviews, and tests.
•Difficult to use for people who are
unfamiliar with collaboration tools.

7. Google Docs
www.drive.google.com
PROS CONS
•People can access files anywhere when Internet
connection is provided.
•People don’t automatically have an offline copy
on your computer to look at when they don’t have
Internet connection.
•When people use Google Docs to work on
documents, people have the advantage of being
able to maintain responsibility for your own
account and determining who can gain public
access to files that you want to share over the
Internet
•If someone determines your secret password or
manages to steal your password, other people
could log in to your account and view confidential
files, alter documents or delete them.
•Spreadsheets are able to be integrated into
documents created by Google docs. Documents
produced in Google Docs can also contribute to
presentations created in Google Slides. Google
keeps adding more facilities to its online services
which means that Google Docs users also have the
ability to integrate their documents with tables,
forms, web pages and scripts.
•If Google decides to shut down Google Docs
service, you could lose all of your information if
you haven't backed up the data on your own
computer.

8. Dropbox
www.dropbox.com
PROS CONS
•Dropbox is a free tool that allows users to
upload, access and share documents, photos
and videos from any computer, tablet or
phone.
•Unfortunately, Dropbox does not encrypt the
uploaded files making their privacy options
not very strong or secure.
•Dropbox allows for file synchronization as
well, so if edits are made on the user’s phone,
these changes will apply to the same file on the
user’s computer or tablets at home. Previous
versions and accidentally deleted files are also
retrievable when using Dropbox.
•Once a document has been shared with
another person, that person can share it with
whoever they please, thus losing control of
privacy once again.
•Any folder in Dropbox has the capability of
being shared with business partners, family
members and friends. In addition, if the
person you wish to share files with isn’t a
Dropbox user, Dropbox allows you to create a
link to your file that can then be shared.
•Dropbox only offers 2GB of memory for free.
Users would have to upgrade for a monthly
charge if they wanted 100-500GB of memory.

9. Winner We Chose
KONA
We chose Kona because it had the easiest interface and
met a majority of the criteria we were looking for.

10. References
Deltek's "Kona" - an Intuitive Collaboration Tool. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://
www.fullsailpartners.com/FSPblog/bid/247732/Deltek-s-Kona-an-Intuitive-Collaboration-Tool
DropboxReview. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.cloudstoragebest.com/reviews/dropbox-review/
Dropbox: The pros and cons. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.businesszone.co.uk/topic/technology/dropbox-pros-and-cons/42935
Home | ProjectPier.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.projectpier.org/
Plans and Pricing - Scribblar.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.scribblar.com/plans/
Project Pier Review. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.keithrozario.com/2011/06/project-pier-review.html
Security Alert:. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://mobileoffice.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1%2FXJ&zTi=1&sdn=mobileoffice&cdn=gadgets&tm=39&f=00&su=p284.13
.342.ip_p504.6.342.ip_&tt=3&bt=8&bts=8&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scribblar.com%2F