Mr. Callan defines Collaborative Computing quite differently than the software industry. He defines collaborative computing as "a model for creating software, based un independent, role-driven components that are constructed to collaborate via mutually agreed upon conduits of collaboration to achieve highly synergistic outcomes." His definition encompasses the email and groupware definition currently in vogue within the industry and much more.

By building software in a collaborative style development organizations produce better software faster. Software developed in the collaborative style endures longer for organizations. Unlike object-oriented software development, which collaborative computing encompasses, collaborative computing achieves reuse in practice rather than merely in theory.