Dealing with emergent design science research projects in IS

Multiple models, methods and frameworks have been proposed to guide Design Science Research (DSR) application to address relevant classes of problems in Information Systems (IS) discipline. While much of the ambiguity around the research paradigm has been removed, only the surface has been scratched on DSR efforts where researcher takes an active role in organizational and industrial engagement to solve a specific problem and generalize the solution to a class of problems. Such DSR projects can have a significant impact on practice, link theories to real contexts and extend the scope of DSR. Considering these multiform settings, the implications to theorizing nor the crucial role of researcher in the interplay of DSR and IS projects have not been properly addressed. The emergent nature of such projects needs to be further investigated to reach such contributions for both theory and practice. This paper raises multiple theoretical, organizational and managerial considerations for a meta-level monitoring model for emergent DSR projects

Strengthening Social Ties via ICT in the Organization

Knowledge work increasingly relies on the \ utilization of information and communication \ technology (ICT). However, communication and \ knowledge sharing via ICT may be challenging due \ the lack of physical face-to-face interaction. The \ strength of social ties is critical to the success of an \ organization, since it determines how deeply \ individuals interact with each other. Prior research \ has paid only limited attention to the role of ICT in \ the strengthening of social ties within an \ organization. To address this research gap, we have \ conducted a qualitative study outlining different tie \ strengthening characteristics of ICT. The results of \ this study suggest that especially asynchronous and \ synchronous text based interaction and \ communication history forms an effective mechanism \ for an organization to facilitate social ties. As a \ theoretical contribution, we develop a new \ theoretical model representing the intra- \ organizational characteristics of ICT in relation to \ media synchronicity and tie strength. This theoretical \ model also includes new tie-strength components for \ ICT-mediated interaction

HOW CAN EUROPEAN BLOCKCHAIN SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE BE USED FOR MANAGING EDUCATIONAL DIGITAL CREDENTIALS?

Self-sovereign identity deals with the way individuals can manage their identity in the digital world. This is high in priority for European Blockchain Infrastructure (EBSI) that is leveraging blockchain technology and offers a decentralized solution that enables higher education institutions (HEI) to manage sensitive digital data that shouldn’t be forged, such as digital credentials (e.g., diplomas and proofs of studying). This simplifies the way digital credentials can be issued and verified by HEIs while giving the ownership of them to the learner. However, there is an absence of empirical research using EBSI ecosystem for cross-border verification of digital credentials. To address this gap, we used design science research method and developed an artefact. A study between two HEIs was conducted, and the artefact was evaluated through qualitative analysis by interviewing 19 administrators from HEIs. As a contribution, our study identifies 14 considerations that might affect the implementation of such a system in practice. However, we conclude that institutional and national strategies towards digital credentials play a bigger role than technical considerations for implementation

What Makes a (Ro)bot Smart? Examining the Antecedents of Perceived Intelligence in the Context of Using Physical Robots, Software Robots, and Chatbots at Work

In recent years, the acceptance and use of intelligent robots and other kinds of intelligent systems have begun to gain more and more attention also in information systems research. Here, many studies have found the perceived intelligence of robots to act as one critical antecedent for their acceptance and use, but few studies have focused on the antecedents of perceived intelligence itself. In this study, we aimed to address this gap in prior research by examining the effects of individual intelligence dimensions on the overall intelligence perception of robots in the work context. In addition, we also examined the potential differences in these effects as well as in the individual intelligence dimensions and overall intelligence perception themselves between three common types of robots: physical robots, software robots, and chatbots. These examinations were based on online survey data from 1,080 present or prior users of robots at work. In summary, we found that adaptability, personality, autonomy, and multifunctionality act as the most influential antecedents of perceived intelligence in the case of all three types of robots. In addition, we also found that software robots and chatbots perform better than physical robots in most individual intelligence dimensions and in overall intelligence perception

One More, One More... You Get Stuck – The Role of Craving in Smartphone-Related Technostress

Smartphones have been integrated into nearly every aspect of human life. Because of them, being entertained, communicating with others, and finding information has never been easier. Even though such possibilities are positive on the surface, the versatile nature of smartphones has also created issues, such as people using them compulsively or excessively. By collecting and analyzing data from 30 semi-structured interviews, we explored how users may experience craving (unstoppable/uncontrollable desire to use, despite the negative consequences) that make them use smartphones compulsively or excessively. Such use may eventually lead to technostress, which is stress caused by technology use. We present three levels of craving (stimuli, sensation, and content) and discuss how they affect smartphone use and technostress. We contribute to research by discussing craving in the context of technostress. As a practical implication, different stakeholders could use our results to address the issues relating to stress caused by smartphone use

Design principles for social exchange in social virtual reality-enabled virtual teams

Social virtual reality (SVR) is a novel technology that can simulate and potentially enhance our face-to-face interactions. However, our understanding of interpersonal communication in SVR is still limited. To address this research gap, we describe how SVR enables social exchange (i.e., fundamental communication patterns of trust and reciprocity between individuals), which is closely related to virtual team performance. We present an information systems design theory for social exchange in SVR-enabled virtual teams (SE-SVR). Drawing from affordance theory and social exchange theory, we describe how SVR material properties (i.e., avatars, virtual objects, virtual space, and verbal and nonverbal communication features) enable and foster social exchange in SVR. As a theoretical contribution, we propose design principles for social exchange in SVR and connect them with testable theoretical propositions. Furthermore, we present the concept of interacting with presence, which facilitates users’ affordance perceptions in SVR. We conceptually validate our design principles and illustrate our design through an artifact instantiation: XR Campus, which is a minimum viable product of a collaborative platform for the ECIU University. Our SE-SVR theory has important research and practice implications because it explains how critical aspects of organizational remote communication can be considered in SVR design.Peer reviewe

EMPLOYEES’ CHALLENGES AND NEEDS FOR RESKILLING WHEN WORKING WITH SOFTWARE ROBOTS

Software robots are becoming increasingly adopted in different industries. The growing rate of automatization will affect more and more people and will result in changes in businesses of all sizes. Impacts can be observed at both the organizational and individual employee levels. A growing number of studies of software robots’ advantages and disadvantages on an organizational or industry-specific level have been carried out. However, there is limited knowledge about the employees’ perceptions of challenges and new skills needed when working with software robots. This study addresses this gap by using open-ended questionnaire responses from employees who have worked with software robots. This study aims to contribute to prior knowledge by identifying comprehensive sets of subcategories for employees’ perceptions of (1) the challenges as well as (2) the new skills needed when working with software robots. As practical implications, our findings can help organizations and individual workers prepare for the implementation and use of software robots by identifying potential challenges, planning for overcoming such challenges via suitable skills, and providing training for employees. According to our findings, many respondents mentioned learning new technical skills as a challenge, and because they have had to work with software robots, they have acquired additional knowledge, such as basic programming skills. Challenges related to reskilling constitute an interesting topic for further research

Emergence of technostress among employees working with physical robots

Despite the growing body of literature on technostress, there is limited knowledge about the emergence of technostress among people working with physical robots. In this paper, we aim to address this research gap by exploring how technostress emerges among employees working with physical robots. The study was based on qualitative online questionnaire responses from 199 present or previous users of robots at work. Based on our data, we identified several robot-related environmental conditions that contributed to perceived work-related stress. In addition, we identified personal and situational factors that influenced perceived stress. Our findings reveal that the emergence of technostress among employees working with physical robots has distinct characteristics, and that the technostressors identified in previous studies are insufficient for explaining stress in this context. Therefore, our study extends the technostress literature and provides insights into employees’ experiences in organizations that use physical robots

SOCIAL NETWORKING SERVICES AS A FACILITATOR FOR SCIENTISTS’ SHARING ACTIVITIES

Understanding and structuring the use of social software by scientists is of high importance in modern research and education – new ways of cooperation and knowledge sharing leads to new ways of work for researchers in both, higher education and enterprises. The possibilities of social networking services provides means for open discourse and offers easier ways to make scientific and educational resources available to the knowledge community. Within this paper, we create a research model and study knowledge sharing and technology acceptance related influence factors to share knowledge in the form of artefacts. These artefacts consist of open science and open educational resources. With our study we will validate the model of sharing influences and understand which factors are most relevant for scientists in IS discipline to share scientific and educational information through social networking services. Through the research, an improved understanding for the use of social software for globally distributed and open scientific communication is obtained

How to get things done in social virtual reality–A study of team cohesion in social virtual reality–enabled teams

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