As telecommunication networks become more common, there is an increasing interest in the factors underlying development of online social structures. It has been proposed that these structures are new forms organizing which not subject to same constraints as traditional However, from anecdotal evidence and case studies it difficult evaluate whether problems Drawing prior empirical analyses longitudinal data a sample Internet-based groups, this exploratory work considers role size...

Online relationships are less valuable than offline ones. Indeed, their net benefit depends on whether they supplement or substitute for social relationships.

Leaders of robust, sustainable virtual communities find ways tostrengthen their members' sense social identity and motivate participation in the community's activities.

Online discussion communities have become a widely used medium for interaction, enabling conversations across broad range of topics and contexts. Their success, however, depends on participants' willingness to invest their time attention in the absence formal role control structures. Why, then, would individuals choose return repeatedly particular community engage various behaviors that are necessary keep conversation within going? Some studies online argue driven by self-interest, while...

As in any social organization, people need to invest effort the health of their online groups. Listservs and other such groups maintain technology infrastructure, carry out management tasks, recruit new members. Members must read contribute discussion. Here, we ask why do this. In many groups, preexisting ties material benefits for contributions are weak or nonexistent. this chapter, consider how formal leadership role, personal community benefits, characteristics influence members put into...

People come to online communities seeking information, encouragement, and conversation. When a community responds, participants benefit become more committed. Yet interactions often fail. In longitudinal sample of 6,172 messages from 8 Usenet newsgroups, 27% posts received no response. The information context, posters' prior engagement in the community, content their all influenced likelihood that they reply, and, as result, willingness continue active participation. Posters were less likely...

In software development, team-based work structures are commonly used to accomplish complex projects. Software project teams must be able utilize the expertise and knowledge of participants without overwhelming individual members. To efficiently leverage individuals' expertise, develop team cognition that facilitate their activities. This study focuses on emergence evolution in teams, examines how communication activity diversity impact formation these structures. A longitudinal was...

One view holds that organizations are virtual to the extent they outsource key components of their production processes, and electronic networks make it easier do this. The goal present paper is examine explicitly effects use for transactions with suppliers has on firms' degree virtualization. In so doing, we also highlight factors influence coordination suppliers, impact such success. Contrary much recent speculation, was not associated increased outsourcing, but rather greater dependence...

Wikis are sites that support the development of emergent, collective infrastructures highly flexible and open, suggesting systems use them will be egalitarian, free, unstructured. Yet it is apparent infrastructure wikis allows deployment a wide range structures. However, we find policies in Wikipedia mechanisms operate around multi-faceted. In this descriptive study, draw on prior work rules organizations to propose apply conceptual framework for understanding natures roles wikis. We...

In a world where information technology is both important and imperfect, organizations individuals are faced with the ongoing challenge of determining how to use complex, fragile systems in dynamic contexts achieve reliable outcomes. While reliability central concern practitioners at many levels, there has been limited consideration scholarship firms create, manage, attain reliability. We propose that examining reliably perform work will increase richness relevance IS research. Drawing from...

Purpose Social networking sites (SNS) are changing the methods of social connectivity – and what it means to be public. Existing literature hints at competing perspectives on how public nature these impacts users. The question perceived publicness SNSs influences users' self‐disclosure intentions is debated in literature, aim this paper answer debate. Design/methodology/approach This theorizes role self‐disclosure. Competing tested using data collected via an online survey. Findings study...

Online discussion communities play an important role in the development of relationships and transfer knowledge within across organizations. Their underlying technologies enhance these processes by providing infrastructures through which group

Badges have garnered great interest among scholars of digital media and learning. In addition, widespread initiatives such as Mozilla’s Open Badge Framework expand the potential badging into realm open education. this paper, we explicate concept badges. We highlight some ways that researchers examined badges part educational practice also different definitions open-ness are employed in popular scholarly thought. By considering from three perspectives (motivation, pedagogy, credential)...

Firms need to balance efficiency gains obtained through exploiting existing knowledge assets with long-term competitive viability achieved exploring new resources. Because the use of management systems (KMSs) continues expand, understanding how these affect exploration and exploitation practices at individual level is important advance both theory practice. This study reports results a multi-industry survey investigating psychological climate KMS access influence solution reuse...

The impact of a discipline's research is constrained by its ability to articulate compelling problems. Well-crafted problems are the foundation for mobilizing effort, resources, and attention essential scientific progress broader impact. We argue that Information Systems (IS) scholars, individually collectively, must develop practice articulating engaging large-scale, broad scope – or grand challenges. To support this position, we examine role value challenge efforts in science engineering...

The dominant narrative of the Internet has been one unconstrained growth, abundance, and plenitude. It is in this context that new forms organizing, such as online groups, have emerged. However, same factors underlie utopian life also give rise to numerous many which fail attract participants or provide significant value. This suggests despite potential transformative nature modern information technology, issues scarcity, competition, may remain critical performance functioning groups. In...

Although it has been argued that knowledge is an important organizational resource, little research investigated where individuals go to search for information or knowledge. Prior work sources in isolation, but setting, are encountered as open portfolio instead of isolation. It understand how perceive the wide array available them and those perceptions affect their use different types sources. Building on prior work, this looks at factors underlying selection require direct interpersonal...

Background: As biomedical research projects become increasingly interdisciplinary and complex, collaboration with appropriate individuals, teams, institutions becomes ever more crucial to project success.While social networks are extremely important in determining how scientific collaborations formed, networking technologies have not yet been studied as a tool help form collaborations.Many currently emerging expertise locating systems include technologies, but it is unclear whether they make...

One view holds that organizations are virtual to the extent they outsource key components of their production processes, and electronic networks make it easier do this. The goal present paper is examine explicitly effects use for transactions with suppliers have on firms' degree virtualization. In so doing, we also highlight factors influence coordination suppliers, impact such has success. Contrary much recent speculation, was not associated increased outsourcing, but rather greater...