1. A method, performed by one or more processors, for distributing information over a network having a database in data communication with said network, with the database storing a plurality of computer readable user profiles and collaborative workspaces, said method comprising: creating in said database, in response to input signals from an input device specifying a first topic related to a goal, a first collaborative space in the network dedicated to the first topic to facilitate centralizing communications related to the first topic in one area of the network and where off-topic communications are not present in the first collaborative space; associating, in response to input signals from an input device, an existing second collaborative space with the goal, with the existing second collaborative space dedicated to a second topic related to the goal and where off-topic communications are not present in the existing second collaborative space; searching said first collaborative space and said existing second collaborative space, in response to input signal from an input device, for a query term related to the goal; generating search result information, in response to said query term, retrieved from said database for display in a search result user interface including multiple rows, with each row including personal information relating to experience and expertise of a user on the network, an icon showing a position of the user in an organization and a control for selecting the user as a contact; collecting, in response to input signals from an input device, network activity of users other than a designated user of the network based on filtering criteria, with the filtering criteria including one or more of selecting a group of users having a selected position in the organization, selecting a collaborative space and selecting users that are contacts; and generating, in response to input from a user input device, profile information relating to selected contacts of a designated user.
1. A method, performed by one or more processors, for distributing information over a network having a database in data communication with said network, with the database storing a plurality of computer readable user profiles and collaborative workspaces, said method comprising: creating in said database, in response to input signals from an input device specifying a first topic related to a goal, a first collaborative space in the network dedicated to the first topic to facilitate centralizing communications related to the first topic in one area of the network and where off-topic communications are not present in the first collaborative space; associating, in response to input signals from an input device, an existing second collaborative space with the goal, with the existing second collaborative space dedicated to a second topic related to the goal and where off-topic communications are not present in the existing second collaborative space; searching said first collaborative space and said existing second collaborative space, in response to input signal from an input device, for a query term related to the goal; generating search result information, in response to said query term, retrieved from said database for display in a search result user interface including multiple rows, with each row including personal information relating to experience and expertise of a user on the network, an icon showing a position of the user in an organization and a control for selecting the user as a contact; collecting, in response to input signals from an input device, network activity of users other than a designated user of the network based on filtering criteria, with the filtering criteria including one or more of selecting a group of users having a selected position in the organization, selecting a collaborative space and selecting users that are contacts; and generating, in response to input from a user input device, profile information relating to selected contacts of a designated user. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: associating said query term with a collaborative space in said network.