Use of Social Media in the Workplace: Contradictions and Unintended Consequences

Even though social media technologies have been increasingly adopted in the workplace, few studies have looked at the consequences and contradictory outcomes of this adoption. This exploratory case study seeks to understand how organizations are using social media and what the consequences of this adoption are, from the perspective of managers and users. Ten in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers and social media users of a large professional association in the US (Pro-Org, a pseudonym). Preliminary findings suggest that adoption of social media is not a controlled process, and contradictory expectations among management and coping strategies from users may undermine organizational capacity to achieve its outcomes regarding social media

Distance Matters, Except When It Doesn\u27t: Discontinuities in Virtual Work

Virtual work has become an increasingly common phenomenon in today\u27s organizations. Substantial and continuing changes in organizational processes and IT infrastructure have increased the pace and intensity of working across traditionally impermeable boundaries, enabling diverse forms of collaboration. However, our understanding of the consequences and implications of virtual work still lags and research results have been contradictory. We suggest that some of these inconsistencies have been because the boundaries that characterize virtual work-time, space, culture, organization, and so forth-are objective demarcations that are not uniformly problematic. It is only when those working in virtual settings perceive a boundary to be a discontinuity that it hinders work processes. We develop a model of virtual work that differentiates between boundaries and discontinuities, which helps account for contradictory findings. By examining the process of virtual work in more detail, we can uncover issues that are the underlying cause of problems, rather than deal with the more obvious symptoms that can mask underlying problem. Our model has implications both for research and for those working in virtual environments

Ride-Sharing Services and Environmental Sustainability: An Empirical Investigation of UberX Entry and Gas Emissions

On-demand ride-sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, promote themselves as an innovation that solves old transportation problems and as sustainable transportation systems that reduce traffic congestions and environmental impact. Despite the increasing studies that examine the societal and economic impact of on-demand ride-sharing services, little is known on the environmental impact of these services. Using data collected from 46 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States, we employ difference-in-differences framework to investigate the impact of the entry of an on-demand ride-sharing service, UberX, on gas emission levels. The results suggest an increase in the maximum levels of gas emissions after the introduction of UberX

Perceived discontinuities and continuities in transdisciplinary scientific working groups

We examine the DataONE (Data Observation Network for Earth) project, a transdisciplinary organization tasked with creating a cyberinfrastructure platform to ensure preservation of and access to environmental science and biological science data. Its objective was a difficult one to achieve, requiring innovative solutions. The DataONE project used a working group structure to organize its members. We use organizational discontinuity theory as our lens to understand the factors associated with success in such projects. Based on quantitative and qualitative data collected from DataONE members, we offer recommendations for the use of working groups in transdisciplinary synthesis. Recommendations include welcome diverse opinions and world views, establish shared communication practices, schedule periodic synchronous face-to-face meetings, and ensure the active participation of bridge builders or knowledge brokers such as librarians who know how to ask questions about disciplines not their own

OPENING THE SOCIAL MEDIA BLACK BOX - A FEATURE-BASED APPROACH

In this study we analysed 25 social media tools that have a significant penetration in the market, and defined a comprehensive list of features related to social media technologies. Using a grounded approach, we conducted a cluster analyses to organize tools and their features into categories. Groups of tools that share similar capabilities emerged from the data. Finally, we identified similarities in features among tools in the same cluster. The result is a feature-based classification of the social media tools that are available in the market. The paper proposes a set of research questions intended to guide future studies related to social media features within the organization

Use of Social Media in the Workplace

As social media become more pervasive and widespread in the workplace, there is an increasing need to study and understand the factors driving working professionals to use social media for work related purposes. Yet, knowledge about the factors influencing the use of social media technologies at work remains limited. Drawing from the uses and gratifications (U&G) theory, the objective of this study is to uncover the motivational factors driving the use of social media in the workplace. The U&G framework can help to understand the needs and wants of working professionals with regards to the use of social media for work related purposes. In addition, this study also investigates the influence of prior social media experience to complement the U&G theory. A survey was designed and administered to 157 working professionals. Results from the hierarchical regression analysis revealed that respondents with prior social media experiences were more likely to use social media at work. In addition, we also found that factors such as gratifications obtained from socializing and tasks accomplishment were also significant in influencing the use social media for work related purposes. Implications and directions for future work are discussed

Exploring the Virtual Work Environment: A Process Perspective

In the 20th century, the use of ICT allowed organizations to stretch themselves in time and space, morphing from primarily a physical form to an electronic or virtual work environment (VWE)1 entity. Operations have been pushed farther and farther into the realm of communications and away from anything that could be done without a communications network. As companies become increasingly informatted (2) and make use of individual employee\u27s expertise and knowledge, they become more dependent on the individual to adjust direction and adapt to the changing environment. ICTs, therefore, have forced a shift in view even as they facilitate a shift in physical circumstances (3)