With the increasing popularity of information technologies, many companies try to set up a virtual network in order to share their business information. The purpose of creating such a virtual network is to create a new knowledge base on the combination of the existing knowledge. Collaboration is very necessary in such a virtual network as crass-unit collaboration takes place when people from different units work together in cross-unit teams on a common task or provide significant help to each other. Recently, co-design is an emerging technology in the field of informatics. It is considered as the development of system thinking, and it is a collaborative designing process which recruits designers, researchers, stakeholders and others together. The purpose of this collaborative activity is to sole designing problems. Therefore, if we want to increase collaboration in a co-design process, we need to look at a ways of increasing the efficiency of collaboration. The rapid development of accessible, reliable, and user-friendly information technology offers improvements to traditional collaboration, and makes new approaches possible. Many platforms for the exchange of information such as the Internet, email, and video-conferencing are well established aids to collaborative activities. Therefore, my research investigates to create an efficient virtual network for a co-design process. In this research, I will try to investigate that what is the need of a virtual network for co-design process and what are those virtual network soft-wares which can help us in a co-design process. My research discussion is related to the theory of CSCW (Computer Supported cooperative work). / Program: Magisterutbildning i informatik

While sustainability issues take an ever-larger part in city planning, citizens aspirations toinclusion in projects rise. In France, the government encourages the development ofcollaboration between actors and the emergence of innovations in the creation ofsustainable neighbourhoods. These incentives allow for the development of projects thataim at being demonstrators of French know how. Through these large-scale projects,partnerships are created, thus leading to more inclusive projects and to the creation ofsynergies between actors of the creation of urban fabric. Through an in-depth study of one of these projects, this research aimed at assessing theoutcomes of the top down approach implemented by the government. The idea was tostudy the government that was implemented and its outcomes in terms of creation ofinnovation but also regarding citizen participation. To identify citizens’ aspirations forinclusion and for the creation of fitted housing solutions, in coherence with sustainabilityissues, some research about a successful participatory housing project was conducted. Through the implementation of a fitted governance system, collaboration between actorsfrom different backgrounds and with varying interests lead to the creation of a creativeprocess of innovation and to the development of many pilot projects. Through the analysisof these projects, it appeared that information and communication technologies are onetool to the implementation of a more efficient, of a more resilient city. However, theycannot be presented as one goal and need to take part of a bigger process with other toolsthat are necessary for the creation of new uses for urban dwellers. Though citizen inclusion is an aspiration from various actors of the production of the city,some limits to citizen power in a really framed process of project development wereraised. Despite a strong will, from various actors, there are still many obstacles to thecreation of fitted housing solutions that would meet the deepest expectations of citizens.