Shared Mental Models in Creative Virtual Teamwork

This paper presents an experiment on the impact of Shared Mental Models (SMM) on creative virtual teamwork. We tested whether the usage of an online whiteboard influences the building of SMM in the initial phase of virtual teamwork. As SMM are the foundation for successful collaboration in teams, we transferred the construct on measuring the team task and team goal in a creative virtual team process. In the first section of the paper a theoretical discussion on SMM, creativity and virtual teamwork will be presented. Subsequently, our experiment on virtual teamwork via the use of a virtual tool and its impact towards SMM will be introduced and the results will be discussed. We identified that specific creative competencies of virtual tools enhance the level of SMM but still lack in perceived efficiency compared to physically present teamwork. The findings recommend further research on the applicability, effectiveness and capabilities of creative virtual tools

How Are They Elected? Vote Buying And General Election In Ogan Ilir District, South Sumatera Province

This article designed to examine patronage practice in the 2014 general election in Ogan Ilir district, South Sumatera Province, Indonesia, before and after election in one electoral area (Ogan Ilir 1). We apply Nine Step to Victory (Alamsyah, 2015) framework to achieve this goal. Our key informants are some legislative candidates and their brokerage or winning team at various level. Primary data gathered through depth interview and secondary data collected from the government institution. This data will be analyzed using interactive model (Miles, Huberman, and Saldana, 1994). Drawing on the qualitative approach, we find that, before election day, all candidates in this area practicing vote buying and patronage to get political support from the voters. A form of patronage dominated by club goods, and cash transfer (transport allowance, communication and consumption cost, and vote buying). We do not find incumbency candidate who is practicing fork barrel. After election day, especially when the winner candidates, has been working as a legislator, he has an obligation to continuing patronage through informal and cultural networking (personal or community event). In this various event, he must deliver goods, services, or money to the people (as an individual or group). Our results are strengthening the previous finding that all candidates have begun implementing patronage strategy when they are recruiting the winning team, campaign, and realize vote buying. Family, especially extended family, and friendship is the primary foundation for all candidates to build brokerage (the winning team) structure. All candidates also using “by name by address” strategy to guide vote-buying practice. We discuss this finding, showing limitation and agenda for the research on this topic