ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PROBLEM SOLVING VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES: A LEARNING PERSPECTIVE

Active participation of members is considered essential to the success of virtual communities. We incorporated the Adaptive Structuration Theory and Expectancy-Value Theory to propose a conceptual model in explaining active participation in problem solving virtual communities from a learning perspective. In this model, learning orientation and learning expectancy were identified as predictors of active participation according to Expectancy-Value Theory. We further analyzed the influence of structural feature (community adaptivity) and structural spirits (leadership and conflict management) based on Adaptive Structuration Theory and suggested that they would affect active participation through learning expectancy. The theoretical model presented in this article provided a fresh perspective on problem solving virtual community and we hope the findings would suggest important implications for the design and management of problem solving virtual communities

Leaving Nothing to Chance: Modeling the Proactive Structuration of a New Technology

Adaptive structuration theory (AST, DeSanctis and Poole 1994) describes how people come to understand and use a technology. In this paper we develop the idea of proactive structuration--how social networking can be proactively managed in order to speed the comprehensive adaptation of a technology within a community of users. We examine two facets of proactive structuration--formal institutionalization of a community of practice and socialization of users--and stochastically model the impact of proactive structuration on comprehensive adaptation latency. Implications for the effective management of new technology adoption are discussed.

AN EXTENDED ADAPTIVE STRUCTURATION THEORY FOR THE DETERMINANTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF VIRTUAL TEAM SUCCESS

Virtual teams represent an organizational form which can revolutionize the workplace and provide organizations with unprecedented levels of flexibility and responsiveness. Extant reviews on virtual team research lack in two important aspects: First they do not explain the inconsistencies in virtual team research, and second they fail to explain how virtual teams achieve success. This paper, based on an extensive literature review of available research on virtual teams, identifies key drivers of virtual team effectiveness. Integrating the identified drivers, it develops a conceptual, analytical framework with 9 propositions, to explain virtual teams’ path to success. The new framework is termed as EAST (extended adaptive structuration theory). It goes beyond the generalized frameworks, such as AST (Adaptive Structuration Theory) and Input- Output frameworks to identify virtual team specific constructs such as Mission, Emergent Socio- Emotional States, and Individual Dimension. EAST identifies potential areas of future research for scholars, and provides advice to IS professionals regarding how to deploy virtual teams

Research Agenda for Studying Open Source II: View Through the Lens of Referent Discipline Theories

In a companion paper [Niederman et al., 2006] we presented a multi-level research agenda for studying information systems using open source software. This paper examines open source in terms of MIS and referent discipline theories that are the base needed for rigorous study of the research agenda

Towards a Holistic Understanding of Technology-mediated Learning Appropriation

Information technology in the learning process is one major success factor for innovative learning scenarios. A necessary pre-condition is the faithful appropriation of technology-mediated learning (TML) to ensure learning outcomes. However, research still lacks insights concerning determinants and consequences of a faithful TML appropriation. Therefore, this research-in-progress paper presents a mixed-methods research approach to gain a holistic understanding of TML appropriation. First, based on the insights of adaptive structuration theory, a theoretical model is developed considering objective and subjective measures for TML appropriation as well as antecedents and consequences of TML appropriation. Second, the mixed-methods approach is presented in order to evaluate the theoretical model. Our expected contribution to theory includes an extension of both TML and adaptive structuration theory with an in-depth view of TML appropriation. Expected practical contributions include the derivation of design implications for TML services that are faithfully appropriated to ensure learning success of TML participants

RECONCEPTUALIZING IT USE IN THE POST-ADOPTIVE CONTEXT

The information systems (IS) community has developed many theories, approaches, and models that identify conditions and determinants of successful IT use. However, each model in the IS literature has evolved to address specific aspects and dimensions. This has led to conflicting results concerning the impact of IT use. Consequently, while a rich body of knowledge has emerged, with prominent models such as the Technology Acceptance Model or the IS Success Model, the complexity of defining a suitable multi-dimensional construct for IT use has largely been neglected. In this paper, we develop a new causal model of IT use. Based on Adaptive Structuration Theory, we argue for the multidimensionality of IT use and thoroughly derive its components. Moreover, we introduce two new concepts into studies of successful IT use: functional affordance and symbolic expression. Both establish a relation between the IT system under investigation and its users. In doing so, we provide a novel, synthesized approach for investigating IT use in the context of post-adoptive behaviours and the framework of Adaptive Structuration Theory

Rethinking the Concept of IT Use

The information systems (IS) community has developed many theories, approaches, and models that identify conditions and determinants of successful IT use. However, each model in the IS literature has evolved to address specific aspects and dimensions. This has led to conflicting results concerning the impact of IT use. Consequently, while a rich body of knowledge has emerged, with prominent models such as the Technology Acceptance Model or the IS Success Model, the complexity of defining a suitable multi-dimensional construct for IT use has largely been neglected. In this paper, we develop a new causal model of IT use. Based on Adaptive Structuration Theory, we argue for the multi-dimensionality of IT use and thoroughly derive its components. Moreover, we introduce two new concepts into studies of successful IT use: functional affordance and symbolic expression. Both establish a relation between the IT system in investigation and its users. In doing so, we provide a novel, synthesized approach for investigating IT use in the context of the IS Success Model and the framework of Adaptive Structuration Theory

Attitude, aptitude, ability and autonomy: ther emergence of "off-roaders", a special class of nomadic worker

This is an electronic version of an article published in Harmer, B. M., & Pauleen, D. J. (2010). Attitude, aptitude, ability and autonomy: the emergence of ‘offroaders’, a special class of nomadic worker. Behaviour & Information Technology, 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0144929x.2010.489117 Behaviour & Information Technology is available online at: www.tandfonline.comFreedom to choose when, where and on what to work might be viewed as mere telework. However, when we mix the adoption of ubiquitous technologies with personalities that take pleasure in problem solving and achievement for its own sake, a strong need for autonomy, the freedom to work wherever and whenever the mood strikes, and add a dash of entrepreneurial spirit, then perhaps we are seeing an emergent class of worker, and even the possibility of new organisational forms. This research draws on adaptive structuration theory to search for evidence of a different way of working, hidden among otherwise familiar patterns. It concludes by considering what implications the employment of such individuals might have for management processes with organisations

Appropriating Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in Colleges of Business: Extending Adaptive Stucturation Theory for Testability

Enterprise resource planning systems are a form of advanced information technology that is quickly becoming commonplace in colleges of business. The nature of software, industry involvement, and academe influences how enterprise resource planning systems are integrated into business education processes. The appropriation of these systems in an academic setting involves a great deal of change, which, if not carefully considered, could result in failure to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for students, the academic institution and industry stakeholders. Adaptive structuration theory provides a conceptual change model that helps capture the longitudinal change process. In order to provide a better understanding of the periods of routine use at the center of adaptive structuration theory, we introduce theory from the concerns-based adoption model. We integrate aspects of these two theories in the academic setting to provide a theoretical framework that explains the enterprise resource planning systems appropriation process and provide a method for studying the utilization of advanced information technologies for educational purposes. This framework may also be used as a practical means of identifying and considering appropriation issues when planning and evaluating enterprise resource planning systems usage in the classroom