Group processes in computer-mediated communication

Siegel, Jane; Dubrovsky, Vitaly; Kiesler, Sara; McGuire, Timothy W.

doi:10.1016/0749-5978(86)90050-6

Cited by 980 publications

(484 citation statements)

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“…The "Technological Imperative" Model In this body of work, studies of technology [Aldrich 1972;Blau et al 1976;Hickson et al 1969;Perrow 1967;Shepard 1977;Woodward 1958] and information technology [Carter 1984; Davis 1989;Foster and Flynn 1984;Hiltz and Johnson 1990;Leavitt and Whistler 1958;Pfeffer and Leblebici 1977;Siegel et al 1986] examine the impacts of technology on organizational dimensions such as structure, size, performance, and centralization/decentralization, as well as individual level dimensions such as job satisfaction, task complexity, skill levels, communication effectiveness, and productivity. The premise is that the technology as well as the organizational and individual variables can be measured and predicted (see Figure 1).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Duality of Technology: Rethinking the Concept of Technology in Organizations

Orlikowski

1992

Organization Science

3,236

2,160

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This paper develops a new theoretical model with which to examine the interaction between technology and organizations. Early research studies assumed technology to be an objective, external force that would have deterministic impacts on organizational properties such as structure. Later researchers focused on the human aspect of technology, seeing it as the outcome of strategic choice and social action. This paper suggests that either view is incomplete, and proposes a reconceptualization of technology that takes both perspectives into account. A theoretical model--the structurational model of technology--is built on the basis of this new conceptualization, and its workings explored through discussion of a field study of information technology. The paper suggests that the reformulation of the technology concept and the structurational model of technology allow a deeper and more dialectical understanding of the interaction between technology and organizations. This understanding provides insight into the limits and opportunities of human choice, technology development and use, and organizational design. Implications for future research of the new concept of technology and structurational model of technology are discussed.ii Technology has always been a central variable in organizational theory, informing research and practice. Despite years of investigative effort there is little agreement on the definition and measurement of technology, and no compelling evidence on the precise role of technology in organizational affairs. I will argue that the divergent definitions and opposing perspectives associated with technological research have limited our understanding of how technology interacts with organizations, and that these incompatibilities cannot be resolved by mutual concession. What is needed is a reconstruction of the concept of technology, which fundamentally re-examines our current notions of technology and its role in organizations.In this paper, I undertake such a reconstruction and present a view of technology that draws on Giddens' [1976, 1979, 1984] theory of structuration. My re-examination leads to a model for analyzing the nature and role of technology in organizations, which I term the structurational model of technology. Before proceeding to the premises and components of this model, prior views of technology are reviewed to serve as background and motivation for the alternative proposed here. RETHINKING PRIOR CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF TECHNOLOGYPrior conceptualizations of technology have each focused selectively on some aspects of technology, at the expense of others, with the result that the current state of knowledge about technology in organizations is ambiguous and conflicting [Attewell and F ile 1986;Barley 1990;Davis and Taylor 1986;Hartmann et al. 1986;Scott 1981]. Two important aspects of the technology concept are scope--what is defined as comprising technology, and role--how is the interaction between technology and organizations defined. Both these aspects inform prior technologi...

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Duality of Technology: Rethinking the Concept of Technology in Organizations

Orlikowski

1992

Organization Science

3,236

2,160

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“…The direction and magnitude of impact of a computer-based group decision support system on final solutions are not completely understood. For example several studies report higher levels of conflict and negative emotional expression in computer-mediated communications than in face-to-face communications (Applegate, Konsynski, Nunamaker, 1986;Siegel, Dubrovsky, Kiesler, 1986). Researchers have found that computer support may raise the level of conflicts by heightening the awareness of members' viewpoints and causing greater objectivity in reviewing proposed ideas or solutions to a problem.…”

Section: Scope Of Planits Supportmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The direction and magnitude of impact of a computer-based group decision support system on final solutions are not completely understood. For example several studies report higher levels of conflict and negative emotional expression in computer-mediated communications than in face-to-face communications (Applegate, Konsynski, Nunamaker, 1986;Siegel, Dubrovsky, Kiesler, 1986 Early software development focused primarily on technology issues, without sufficient attention to the complexities of group dynamics. Even the successes have consistently fallen short of expectations (Grudin, 1990).…”

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confidence: 99%

A planning methodology for intelligent urban transportation systems

Kanafani

Khattak

Dahlgren

1994

Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYUrban transportation Planning is facing challenges and opportunities in the rapid developments of intelligent transportation systems. Such systems are characterized by real time information feedback in their operations and management, and by increasing levels of automation of their various components. The challenges to planning stem from the increased range and added complexity of the choices available to transportation planners. The implementation of IVHS technologies, many of which have system-wide implications will require a change in the institutional arrangements that are currently at work in transportation planning. Recent legislation, such as ISTEA and the California Congestion Management Program, has also posed a challenge to transportation planning as it requires specific processes and imposes certain mandates.The opportunities for transportation planning are many and stem from the availability of information, communications, and computation technology. These same elements which add intelligence to the transportation system can be engaged to add intelligence to the planning process itself.We have developed a framework for integrating planning and analysis in a computer supported environment that facilitates deliberation and consensus seeking. The planning process conducted with the aid of an intelligent facilitator benefits from on-line analysis capabilities that are integrated into a unified computer system called PLANiTS. It is constructed around four components: a policy and goals base that helps define the objectives and criteria of the planning process, a strategy and action base that assists in the search for actions to improve transportation systems, a knowledge base in which data, information, and knowledge about the transportation system reside, and a methods and tools base in which planning analysis and operations analysis models are integrated. The last two are supported by an expert system that searches the knowledge base for relevant information and assists the planners in selecting appropriate methods of analysis. These bases are used to support a deliberative process in which alternative strategies are analyzed and evaluated and decision makers are assisted in reaching resolution concerning plans and programming of projects.Transportation actions are represented by planning vectors PV(A, Y,E) that are constructs containing elements of proposed actions A, evaluation criteria Y, and environment descriptors E. Searching through the knowledge base, PLANiTS uses techniques of case based reasoning and pattern recognition to match proposed planning vectors with similar cases. Further, an expert system advises the planners on the adequacy of available knowledge, the need for primary data collection, and the appropriate selection of models for evaluating the proposed planning actions.The proposed planning methodology involves extensive use of knowledge bases in assessing transportation actions. It involves on-line access to knowledge and to modelling capability. By placing the pla...

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“…Second, the current study shows that people in face-to-face and online communication may respond differently with respect to expressing negativity to others. Although there is much evidence of more negative messages online than offline (e.g., Kiesler et al, 1985;Orengo Castellá, Zornoza Abad, Prieto Alonso, & Peiró Silla, 2000;Siegel, Dubrovsky, Kiesler, & McGuire, 1986), it rarely been investigated whether online communicators express negativity automatically or purposefully. Our results suggest that people use online communication to express negativity in a purposeful way.…”

Section: Online Feedback Dynamics In Online Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%