Building Trust in Virtual Teams-Evaluating Online Collaboration from a Human-Centred Design Perspective

This thesis investigates how enabling the social nature of online communication can lead to building trust in virtual team collaboration. This was mostly done by researching previous study results and connecting them to establish a theoretical linkage between rich online communications and high trust. Furthermore, an empirical study was conducted at Volvo Information Technology located at Gothenburg, Sweden in support to the key insights developed. In the working process, firstly, the challenges in virtual work were identified in traditional online collaboration (i.e. via Email, Instant messenger, Video conference etc.), which was followed by a survey to get an idea on the usage of collaboration tools at Volvo IT. The study further extends to understanding the changes in communication behavior of people outside workplace over the last decade and hence the changes that have occurred in users’ mental model and user experience of online communication. Connectivity has become another basic need in modern lifestyle and the online world is catching up with the offline world faster than we ever thought possible. The rich social applications facilitate innovative ways to create and maintain relationships online by allowing people to actively create content and interact with others. This is even more noticeable in relationships where people are geographically dispersed and possess a global mindset. As technology advances, global companies want to benefit more from the online collaboration. With current collaboration tools available, companies like Volvo IT is running online live meetings, training workshops, webinars and so on. However, the non-technical variables of a successful team such as group cohesion and trust etc. have remained as big concerns when it comes to online collaboration. This study argues that traditional online collaboration tools do not encourage online social engagement to support cognitive and psychological needs of the virtual team members who use them on regular basis to coordinate with each other. Social communication is fundamental in creating good relationships and foster group dynamics similar to that of traditional face-to-face work environments. The study also analyses the user experience of Facebook to understand why this and other social networking websites are so successful in creating relationships online that the collaboration strategists are eyeing onto despite the so-called productivity issues. Finally, the thesis also looks into few latest industry trends and movements in the field of enterprise online collaboration by the time of writing it

The Difference, System and ‘Double-D’ GMM Panel Estimators in the Presence of Structural Breaks

The effects of structural breaks in dynamic panels are more complicated than in time series models as the bias can be either negative or positive. This paper focuses on the effects of mean shifts in otherwise stationary processes within an instrumental variable panel estimation framework. We show the sources of the bias and a Monte Carlo analysis calibrated on United States bank lending data demonstrates the size of the bias for a range of auto-regressive parameters. We also propose additional moment conditions that can be used to reduce the biases caused by shifts in the mean of the data

Dundee Discussion Papers in Economics 265:Estimating United States phillips curves with expectations consistent with the statistical process of inflation

‘Modern’ Phillips curve theories predict inflation is an integrated, or near integrated, process. However, inflation appears bounded above and below indeveloped economies and so cannot be ‘truly’ integrated and more likely stationary around a shifting mean. If agents believe inflation is integrated asin the ‘modern’ theories then they are making systematic errors concerning the statistical process of inflation. An alternative theory of the Phillips curveis developed that is consistent with the ‘true’ statistical process of inflation. It is demonstrated that United States inflation data is consistent with thealternative theory but not with the existing ‘modern’ theories

Unveiling the Potential of Big Data Analytics for Transforming Higher Education in Bangladesh; Needs, Prospects, and Challenges

Big Data Analytics has gained tremendous momentum in many sectors worldwide. Big Data has substantial influence in the field of Learning Analytics that may allow academic institutions to better understand the learners needs and proactively address them. Hence, it is essential to understand Big Data and its application. With the capability of Big Data to find a broad understanding of the scientific decision making process, Big Data Analytics (BDA) can be a piece of the answer to accomplishing Bangladesh Higher Education (BHE) objectives. This paper reviews the capacity of BDA, considers possible applications in BHE, gives an insight into how to improve the quality of education or uncover additional values from the data generated by educational institutions, and lastly, identifies needs and difficulties, opportunities, and some frameworks to probable implications about the BDA in BHE sector. Keywords; Big Data Analytics, Learning Analytics, Quality of Education, Challenges, Higher Education, Banglades

Regional house price cycles in the UK, 1978-2012: a Markov switching VAR

There is an extensive literature on UK regional house price dynamics, yet empirical work focusing on the duration and magnitude of regional housing cycles has received little attention. This paper employs Markov Switching Vector auto regression (MSVAR) methods to examine UK house price cycles in UK regions at NUTS1 level. The research findings indicate that the regional structure of the UK house market is best described as two large groups of regions with marked differences in the amplitude and duration of the cyclical regimes between the two groups. These differences have implications for the design of both macroeconomic and housing sector policies

Corruption in Islamic Perspective and the Roles of Information and Communication Technology(ICT) to Control It

Corruption is a hurdle for development and good governance in the least developed countries (LDC), and emerging and development economies (EDE). In Islamic Shariah it is a great sin. It has a bad impact upon the socio-economic development of any nation. Since the last couple of decade Academics have given strong attention on controlling corruption. In this modern information age Information and Communication Technology (ICT) becomes almost compulsory in daily life. Effort of this study is to see ICT as an anti corruption tool to prevent corruption to comply Shariah rules. Key Words: ICT, Corruption, Islamic Ethics, Social Developmen

The difference, system and ‘Double-D’ GMM panel estimators in the presence of structural breaks

The effects of structural breaks in dynamic panels are more complicated than in time series models as the bias can be either negative or positive. This paper focuses on the effects of mean shifts in otherwise stationary processes within an instrumental variable panel estimation framework. We show the sources of the bias and a Monte Carlo analysis calibrated on United States bank lending data demonstrates the size of the bias for a range auto-regressive parameters. We also propose additional moment conditions that can be used to reduce the biases caused by shifts in the mean of the data