Effective performance management of inter-organisational collaborations through the construction of multiple identities

Although inter-organisational collaborations can offer better services, their performance management is complex and can often fail. Through the exploration of multiple (collaborative and non-collaborative) identities formed by partners, the paper offers guidelines for a more effective performance management of inter-organisational collaborations. More specifically, drawing upon a longitudinal qualitative study of a Greek inter-organisational collaboration, the findings of the research illustrate that both collaborative and non-collaborative identities can lead to better collaboration performance. Secondly, the study suggests that it is better to maintain the tension between stability and change within the collaborative process than resolve it. Finally, it offers four collaborative patterns for a more effective performance management of inter-organisational collaborations

Supporting participation in communities of practice by scientists from developing countries — The case of high energy physics

Over the last decade, researchers have hypothesized that a new form of scientific organization, the “collaboratory” holds promise to greatly benefit scientists from developing countries by allowing them to reach remotely located experts, instruments, and databases. However, there have been no empirical studies to prove or disprove this hypothesis. Adopting a qualitative approach, this study examines how collaboratories affect one of the factors that purportedly lead to scientific productivity—communities of practice. Results of data analysis indicate that collaboratories bring about new opportunities for scientists from developing countries to access scientists from developed countries and their practices, but barriers also exist. The full value of collaboratories can be achieved only after the technologies themselves and the social practices surrounding the use of technologies are improved.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63070/1/1450450288_ftp.pd

Who’s the Boss in Risky Business? Clarity around responsibility for decision making becomes critical during a crisis

This research uses a case study of the Ocean Ranger (OR) oil rig disaster to explore how the lack of clarity regarding decision makers contributes to crisis. The paper contributes to the literature by applying sensemaking and social construction theory to explain the OR disaster. While prior research focused on specific topics related to lack of clarity such as virtual work environments or communications, this study adds to the literature since it encompasses a wider lens by considering the impact of how the distributed nature of the offshore oil sector compounded by lack of clarity around the identity of decision makers, multiple companies involved and overlapping American and Canadian regulations all contributed to the OR disaster

Social Media and Sustainable Communication. Rethinking the Role of Research and Innovation Networks.

Purpose – Recent studies demonstrate the serious influence of social media on scholarly communication. However, scientists from academia seem to be rather carful in trying new technologies (Kaiser, Köhler, Weith 2016), with most preferring private channels first (Pscheida et al., 2013). Nevertheless, science and innovation are a public issue of wide interest. Communication is a fundamental prerequisite for transfer of information and creation of knowledge, but not sufficient to sustainably implement knowledge in society (Johnson & Chang 2000). Any innovative development from R&D needs to be published and distributed by means of communication and learning. Only if processes of learning are added relevant knowledge can be converted into actions and become effective (Larsen-Freeman 2013). Design/methodology/approach – New media technologies open up a variety of technological tools and innovative individual and organizational collaboration patterns. Does science consider such opportunities? What kind of data can be used to investigate the ICT / social media usage from a functional perspective? The authors decided to build their argumentation on two cases studies, describing the structural design of research networks, which are indeed quite similar. Therefore, the funding measure „Sustainable Land Management” as well as the research network „eScience Saxony” were considered. Both combine a series of smaller R&D projects within the context of a wider network. The data shows, however, differences in structure and scope (some projects follow a transdisciplinary approach while others do not) as well as further similarities in relation to the usage of social media. Originality/value – As a research question it is examined how actors of network projects design processes of transfer and implementation of knowledge in their project networks. For the empirical investigation, qualitative data of the two cases is obtained and evaluated systematically. The findings emphasize (1) the equality of knowledge communication and organization of joint learning experiences and, moreover, (2) similar conceptual understanding of transfer across projects. Moreover, they (3) consider similar media scenarios as appropriate. Marginally, also (4) processes of communication and learning receive attention – which are used as the operationalization of transfer and implementation in the studied networks. Practical implications – The aim of the research presented is to investigate the various effects of the research networks as a specific form of organizational intervention (Härtel et al, 2015). The authors thereby give attention to the transfer and implementation strategies from the perspective of knowledge communication, in respect of knowledge management, and use theoretical approaches from different disciplines including developmental and social sciences (Stützer et al., 2013) as well as education and organizational studies to elaborate the meaning of research and innovation networks

Putting social context into text: The semiotics of e-mail interaction

E-mail excludes the multiple nonlinguistic cues and gestures that facilitate face-to-face communication. How, then, should interaction in a text-based context be understood? The authors analyze the problems and solutions experienced by a research panel that communicated over e-mail and face-to-face for 18 months, evaluating both kinds of exchanges alongside survey and interview data. Semiotic and linguistic theory is used to expose essential properties associated with the successful communication of meaning in each context. The authors find that e-mail requires the cultivation of new techniques for specifically conveying the "pragmatic information" that connects the meaning of words to their users. Such information is assigned in e-mail through the use of what are termed emphatic, referential, and characterizing semiotic tactics. These tactics are also evident in sustained online interactions studied by other researchers. This theoretical vocabulary represents an alternative to the dominant sociological characterization of e-mail as an inferior substitute for face-to-face interaction. © 2008 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

Routine dynamics in virtual teams: the role of technological artifacts

Purpose In this paper, the authors extend their understanding of the internal dynamics of routines in contexts characterized by increased levels of virtuality. In particular, the authors focus on the role of routine artifacts in the internal dynamics of routines to answer the question: How does extensive reliance on information and communication technologies (ICTs) due to physical distance influence the internal dynamics of the new product development (NPD) routine (i.e. interactions between performative, ostensive and artifacts of routines) enacted by a virtual team? Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on an 18-month ethnographic study of the NPD routine performed by a virtual team. The authors relied predominantly on qualitative, ethnographic data collection and analysis methods, using semi-structured interviews, non-participant observation, and the collection of archival data and company documents (formal procedures, guidelines, application designs etc). Qualitative research offers a valuable means to investigate dynamic processes in organizations due to its sensitivity to the organizational context and potential to focus on activities as they unfold. Findings The findings highlight the central role of routine artifacts (ICTs) in the routine dynamics of the NPD routine performed by virtual team. In particular, the authors show that the use of the particular types of ICTs enabled team members to confidently and meaningfully relate to the overall routine activity and coordinate their actions in a context characterized by physical distance and extensive reliance on communication and collaboration technologies. Originality/value The paper sheds light into role of routine artifacts in the routine dynamics in a context characterized by a high degree of virtuality. This work contributes to the literature on routine dynamics by theorizing about the processes through which routine artifacts (ICTs) afforded routine participants the ability to act confidently and meaningfully to the present and dynamically coordinate their actions with their fellow routine participants

Trading Zones of Digital History

Will historians become programmers? How do historians collaborate with experts from computational domains? At the centre of the book is the question how historians are affected by such ongoing interactions. By following historians and studying digital history collaborations, Kemman critically discusses how digital history will impact historical scholarship