Does Collectivism Inhibit Individual Creativity? The Effects of Collectivism and Perceived Diversity on Individual Creativity and Satisfaction in Virtual Ideation Teams

One particular problem CSCW and HCI scholars have sought to address through the design of collaborative systems is the issues associated with diversity and creativity. Diversity can promote creativity by exposing individuals to different perspectives and at the same time make it difficultfor teams to leverage their differences to be more creative. This paper asserts that through the promotion of cooperation, collectivism will help ideation team members overcome the challenges associated with diversity and promote creativity. To examine this assertion, we conducted an experimental study involving 107 individuals in 33 idea-generation teams. Collectivism was promoted through priming. The results confirm our assertion: collectivism created conditions that facilitated creativity when teams were high in perceived diversity. Collectivism also facilitated more satisfaction among teammates by offsetting negative perceptions of diversity. These results offer new insights on collectivism, perceived diversity and creativity.National Science Foundation CHS-1617820UM Rackham Graduate SchoolPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/133953/1/CSCW356-revision Sep 27 2016 -final.pd

Mutual engagement and collocation with shared representations

In this paper we explore the use of shared representations to support creative activities, focussing on collaborative music making. We examine the effect that user interface features of shared representations have on mutual engagement and show that providing shared awareness mechanisms increases mutual engagement. In particular, we show through an empirical study of 78 participants that providing cues to identity and shared pointers increases mutual engagement between participants, but together these features can overwhelm users. We also demonstrate that support for free-form annotation and spatial interaction with shared representations mediates interaction and helps participants to manage their collaborative activity effectively. In this paper we develop several measures mutual engagement and demonstrate their use to assess the design of shared representations. A key contribution of this paper is the development of a measure of collocation of participant interaction which indicates mutual engagement. The findings of the study have implications beyond the domain of collaborative music making and we outline some design guidelines for mutually engaging shared representations

Identifying mutual engagement

Mutual engagement occurs when people creatively spark together and enter a state of group flow. We present a characterisation of mutually engaging interaction, discuss design features which contribute to mutually engaging interactions, and identify a set of measures for identifying mutual engagement in collaboration. A collaborative music editor's interface features are systematically manipulated in an empirical study of their effect on mutual engagement. The results of the study show that providing shared annotation mechanisms and awareness of identity of others significantly increases mutually engaging interaction

Modelado de sistemas colaborativos

La tesis propone un lenguaje específico de dominio (DSL) para modelar Sistemas Colaborativos (CSSL - Collaborative Software System Language). Este lenguaje fue diseñado como una extensión de UML usando el mecanismo de metamodelado y posee una sintaxis abstracta formalizada que permitirá entre otras cosas definir más de una sintaxis concreta a partir de ella, lo cual aumenta la legibilidad y flexibilidad del lenguaje. Finalmente se presenta una guía que facilita la construcción de Sistemas Colaborativos. Dentro del paradigma MDD (Model Driven Development) y utilizando el lenguaje CSSL se describe las etapas iniciales de un método para modelar los Sistemas Colaborativos.Facultad de Informátic

Trust in virtual teams: The role of task, technology and time.

Virtual teams face major impediments to developing trust given their relative inability to evaluate other members' abilities, motivations and work patterns. However, trust is the foundation on which virtual teams can build effective performance strategies and accomplish group tasks. Empirical evidence suggests that trust can be developed among members of virtual teams, although it takes time to do so. Other key factors, in developing trust besides time include the task the group is engaged in and the work setting. Furthermore, social constructionist approaches assert that characteristics of organizational elements such as the task can change over time based on group perceptions that evolve as members interact and make sense of their embedded situations. Therefore, since different types of tasks and settings affect group processes and outcomes differently, the development of trust will vary according to the group's perceptions of the task over time and characteristics of the setting. This study developed an integrative model of trust in virtual teams by explicitly examining the interactions of task, technology and time, along with their combined impact on team processes and outcomes. This model was tested empirically using data from a longitudinal field experiment that manipulated setting type---virtual vs. collocated teams. Data about members' perceptions and team performance were collected using a repeated measures research design structured around a database design project. Results of the analysis provide partial support for the model and offer insights about the development of trust in virtual teams. Implications of the findings for research and practice are discussed

Smart catchment management and application in the Swartkops River and Estuary

The influence of urbanization and industrialization on natural resources results in complex water resource management. In South Africa, there has been escalating rural-urban migration, a growing population in urban areas, and the mushrooming of informal settlements in cities over the last five decades. In the pursuit of protecting water resources, these contextual realities create a significant challenge to policymakers, planners, and implementers. Due to rapid population growth, climate change, recent droughts, and growing competition among agricultural, industrial, commercial, environmental, and domestic sectors, water resources are presently under severe stress in South Africa. This situation necessitates the effective management of water resources. This study completed a situational assessment for the Swartkops Catchment to examine the extent of pollution, mapped sources of pollution, investigated water quality governance and identified hot spot areas to provide the foundation for effective and efficient catchment management. To determine the current water quality status of the Swartkops Catchment, this current study investigated spatial and temporal variation in physico-chemical parameters, nutrients, and faecal bacteria. This study applied a mixed-method research design using semi-structured interviews and focus groups discussions as data collection methods to investigate the water quality governance of the Swartkops Catchment. Following the situational assessment of the Swartkops Catchment, the effectiveness of applying innovative smart catchment practices to improve water quality was investigated. The word smart in this context refers to innovative mechanisms that will ensure effective and efficient water resources management. The PHP scripting language (Hypertext Preprocessor), Android studio, Wampserver, and JavaScript were used to develop the Water Use Screening System (WUSS) and Pollution Incident Reporting System (PRS). In South Africa, stormwater infrastructure suffers from unsustainable utilization. Stormwater systems discharge into many of the country‘s rivers and estuaries, including Swartkops, leading to water quality degradation. To improve the Recommended Ecological Category (REC) of the Swartkops Estuary to Category C, drivers that contribute to poor water quality must be understood to inform appropriate management interventions. Results from sampling in Markman Canal were compared with historical water quality data. The present study showed that the Markman Canal contributed faecal bacteria, nutrients, and trace metals to the Swartkops Estuary. The Markman Canal was the greatest source of trace metals to the Swartkops Estuary compared to the other point sources entering the estuary. The results show that arsenic and mercury levels in the Markman Canal and the Swartkops Estuary were higher than that previously measured. Iron and copper concentrations were higher in the Markman Canal whereas only copper increased in the Swartkops Estuary.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202

Smart catchment management and application in the Swartkops River and Estuary

The influence of urbanization and industrialization on natural resources results in complex water resource management. In South Africa, there has been escalating rural-urban migration, a growing population in urban areas, and the mushrooming of informal settlements in cities over the last five decades. In the pursuit of protecting water resources, these contextual realities create a significant challenge to policymakers, planners, and implementers. Due to rapid population growth, climate change, recent droughts, and growing competition among agricultural, industrial, commercial, environmental, and domestic sectors, water resources are presently under severe stress in South Africa. This situation necessitates the effective management of water resources. This study completed a situational assessment for the Swartkops Catchment to examine the extent of pollution, mapped sources of pollution, investigated water quality governance and identified hot spot areas to provide the foundation for effective and efficient catchment management. To determine the current water quality status of the Swartkops Catchment, this current study investigated spatial and temporal variation in physico-chemical parameters, nutrients, and faecal bacteria. This study applied a mixed-method research design using semi-structured interviews and focus groups discussions as data collection methods to investigate the water quality governance of the Swartkops Catchment. Following the situational assessment of the Swartkops Catchment, the effectiveness of applying innovative smart catchment practices to improve water quality was investigated. The word smart in this context refers to innovative mechanisms that will ensure effective and efficient water resources management. The PHP scripting language (Hypertext Preprocessor), Android studio, Wampserver, and JavaScript were used to develop the Water Use Screening System (WUSS) and Pollution Incident Reporting System (PRS). In South Africa, stormwater infrastructure suffers from unsustainable utilization. Stormwater systems discharge into many of the country‘s rivers and estuaries, including Swartkops, leading to water quality degradation. To improve the Recommended Ecological Category (REC) of the Swartkops Estuary to Category C, drivers that contribute to poor water quality must be understood to inform appropriate management interventions. Results from sampling in Markman Canal were compared with historical water quality data. The present study showed that the Markman Canal contributed faecal bacteria, nutrients, and trace metals to the Swartkops Estuary. The Markman Canal was the greatest source of trace metals to the Swartkops Estuary compared to the other point sources entering the estuary. The results show that arsenic and mercury levels in the Markman Canal and the Swartkops Estuary were higher than that previously measured. Iron and copper concentrations were higher in the Markman Canal whereas only copper increased in the Swartkops Estuary.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202