Virtual Team Effectiveness And Sequence Of Conditions

This study examines the sequence of Group Task Pressure (GTP) and communication medium conditions on group effectiveness. It contributes to the task-technology fit research by considering the sequence of these conditions on task-technology fit related to group effectiveness. The study has value for professionals pursuing the construction and management of virtual teams. A pilot experiment was conducted using 22 subjects in eight groups with a mixed 2x2 design. Given the sample size, the study is more descriptive than inferential. The study manipulated GTP by combinations of time scarcity, reward and task complexity. The media conditions used in the study were face-to-face and synchronous computer-mediated chats. Group effectiveness was measured by the length of time groups took to complete assigned tasks. The four study conditions were: a simple task completed face-to-face, a simple task completed in a computer-mediated condition, a complex task completed in a face-to-face condition and a complex task in a computer-mediated condition. Each group was rotated through all the conditions. The sequence of communication medium conditions were significant, but not the sequence of GTP conditions. Groups starting in the face-to-face condition took less time to complete their rotation of tasks than groups starting in the computer-mediated condition. Groups starting in both the low and high GTP conditions took the same amount of time to complete the full rotation of task and conditions. Recommendations for subsequent research on group task pressure are presented

The Fate of Their Country: Politicians, Slavery Extension, and the Coming of the Civil War

Reconstructing the Big Apple Piecing together the new nation David Quigley\u27s book rests on three initially counterintuitive yet ultimately persuasive claims: a) Reconstruction was a Northern affair as well as a Southern ordeal, b) the North needed a reconstruction of its politica...

Testing the efficacy of a common visual perception test as a new method to diagnose unilateral spatial inattention with brain injury patients

Neglect or unilateral spatial inattention (USI) is defined as a condition where the patient fails to report, respond or orient to novel or meaningful stimuli presented to the side opposite of the brain lesion. 1 The Test of Visual Perceptual Skills non-motor Revised (TVPS-R) is a widely administered test of visual-analysis skills administered to brain injured patients to assess visual perception .. We hypothesized that USI could be diagnosed by administering the TVPS-R in the traditional horizontal format and in an experimental vertical format which would serve as a control. Our prediction being that more errors would be committed on the horizontal test items that were presented in the neglected hemi-field. We further hypothesized that by using a test we developed, the midline shift laser test, a measurable midline shift in an ipsilesional direction would be present in those subjects diagnosed with USI. We also planned to investigate the efficacy of the Star Cancellation test in paralleling the diagnoses of USI made by occupational therapists (OTs). Subjects for this investigation included those with recent brain injuries, both with neglect and without neglect. The diagnosis of neglect/US! was determined by licensed occupational therapists with experience in brain injury and neglect. The OTs then ran our series of tests, including the Star Cancellation test, two subtests of the TVPS-R in both a traditional horizontal format and an experimental vertical format, and finally the midline shift laser test. The results from all three tests were analyzed for recognizable patterns to confirm or disconfirm the study hypotheses. Results showed that subjects with neglect were not significantly more likely to miss the items in their neglected hemi-field on the TVPS-R subtests; however, they did show a greater rate of overall error compared to their non-neglect counterparts. All but one of the left neglect subjects had a significant midline shift to the right and of all three experimental methods the midline shift test appeared to be the most sensitive in diagnosing neglect. Further, the Star Cancellation test had an efficacy for diagnosing USI lower than previously reported. This study made clear that further research needs to be invested to determine the most accurate method for testing brain injured patients for USI diagnosis

Towards A Theoretical Model Of The Impacts Of Incorporating Webcams In Virtual Teams

Virtual teams have proliferated over the last ten years as businesses realized benefits in coordinating across geographic and departmental boundaries.  Studies of virtual teams, however, have revealed uneven success in team effectiveness. With the increase in quality and availability of video over the Internet, there are opportunities to improve effectiveness of virtual teams by integrating videoconferencing into synchronous meetings.  The purpose of this qualitative study is to evaluate the impact of video on team interactions and effectiveness.  Results showed a relationship between the added richness and authenticity brought about by video and increased effectiveness, while also showing a relationship between the increased stress of learning new technology and decreased effectiveness

The Value Of Webcams For Virtual Teams

The latest low-cost technology solutions provide practical and reliable video options form standard personal computers using the Internet.  By adding video to an established and geographically dispersed team process, this exploratory research tries to establish the experience of participants and perceived effectiveness of the team. Building on the literature, this qualitative research performs a content analysis design on a text transcription of weekly audio logs from participants.  This approach analyzes the rich content of team members to discover the relevance of differing elements within trust, technology, and effectiveness find support. By understanding the influences of adding video to teams, leaders, and managers should be able to make informed decisions regarding the adoption of video for each participant.  The attitude evolution regarding the use of technology over a period of six weeks provides further considerations for deployment

Histology Matters: Individualizing Treatment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

This editorial discusses the role of histology in non-small cell lung cancer treatment

Applying Constant Comparative Method with Multiple Investigators and Inter-Coder Reliability

Building on practice, action research, and theory, the purpose of this paper is to present a 10-step method for applying the Constant Comparative Method (CCM) of grounded theory when multiple researchers perform data analysis and meaning making. CCM is a core qualitative analysis approach for grounded theory research. Literature suggests approaches for increasing the credibility of CCM using multiple researchers and inter-coder reliability (ICR), but documentation of methods for collaboration on CCM data analysis is sparse. The context for developing the10-step CCM approach was a qualitative study conducted to understand the impact of webcams on a virtual team. To develop a methodology for the study, the researchers reviewed grounded theory literature to synthesize an approach for conducting CCM with multiple researchers. Applying action research, an integration of literature and practical experience conducting the qualitative study resulted in a model for using CCM with multiple researchers performing data analysis. The method presented in this paper provides practical guidance for applying CCM collaboratively and shares the researchers’ perspectives on the value of ICR

Glimmerglass Volume 28 Number 08 (1969)

Official Student Newspaper Issue is 4 pages long

Glimmerglass Volume 28 Number 03 (1968)

Official Student Newspaper Issue is 4 pages long