Transforming Perceptions of Presence

Abstract

When working in globally distributed settings, the perception of presence in collaboration and the use of technology directly impact how people are able to act in daily work practices. This paper identifies new ways to transform the way people think about presence in global collaboration, with the aim of improving their work. Thus, the researchers conducted, an action research study over a period of 21 months, where collaborative partners working within a global engineering company were invited to participate in workshops facilitating improved global collaboration. Through two action cycles the techniques were improved in order to make people reflect upon current practices with the aim of transforming their perceptions of presence when working remotely. This paper builds on a sociotechnical approach and presents the results of the action research arguing that while discursive interventions challenging people's perceptions are important, the embodied experience of the activities are essential to be able to transform people's perceptions on presence and improve the global collaboration.

Implicit bias and negative stereotyping in global software development and why it is time to move on!

“…Such perceptions can both be related to the perception of presence 87 and to the cultural myths and cultural and stereotypical narratives about a nationality and population.…”

“…Core challenges in transnational collaboration such as coordination through standardization and routines 86 or the organization of documents 27 are closely intertwined with the ways in which global workers perceive their distributed colleagues. Such perceptions can both be related to the perception of presence 87 and to the cultural myths and cultural and stereotypical narratives about a nationality and population.…”