1.5 million years of information systems : From hunters-gatherers to the domestication of the networked computer

This paper develops the argument that information systems have not only existed for the last 50 years (as most accounts of ICT argue) or since the 1700 century (as some more accurate readings would propose), but they are indeed as old as mankind. It provides a historical account of how information and communication systems have greatly interacted with some major transformations in human society, in addition to demonstrating the implications of the most recent changes in the last 10 years with the Internet. It builds on literature which distinguishes 3 major phases in the history of mankind and provides accounts of the role of information and communication systems in each of these phases. The main argument is that the “domestication of information systems” is better understood when previous regime transformations and their dynamics are taken into account and investigated. Implications of these developments in relation to innovation and learning are provided.The past and the future of information systems: 1976-2006 and beyondRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

1.5 million years of information systems : From hunters-gatherers to the domestication of the networked computer

This paper develops the argument that information systems have not only existed for the last 50 years (as most accounts of ICT argue) or since the 1700 century (as some more accurate readings would propose), but they are indeed as old as mankind. It provides a historical account of how information and communication systems have greatly interacted with some major transformations in human society, in addition to demonstrating the implications of the most recent changes in the last 10 years with the Internet. It builds on literature which distinguishes 3 major phases in the history of mankind and provides accounts of the role of information and communication systems in each of these phases. The main argument is that the “domestication of information systems” is better understood when previous regime transformations and their dynamics are taken into account and investigated. Implications of these developments in relation to innovation and learning are provided.The past and the future of information systems: 1976-2006 and beyondRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Experiencing place-change:A shared sense of loss after closure of village facilities

Rural communities often display strong emotions in response to closures of facilities and services. Research into explaining community responses hardly pays attention to the socio-psychological process of 'loss' of such local facilities, which occurs when place bonds are disrupted. This paper explores how a rural community makes sense of place-change by examining how residents interpret, evaluate and cope with local facility-decline. Three focus group discussions were conducted in Tzummarum, a village in the Netherlands, just after the closure of a local sports hall was announced. A theoretical framework for community coping-responses is used to interpret the empirical results. We find that while the closure of local facilities can result in a disruption of individual place bonds, there is a discernible shared sense of loss based on the social and symbolical meaning that certain facilities have for the village community. This sense of loss can help explain collective coping responses. However, this study found that collective action is only considered for local facilities that foster a sense of community, provided there is enough collective efficacy

Business-to-Business Electronic Marketplaces and the Structure of Channel Relationships

Business-to-business (B2B) marketplaces have significant potential impacts on the structure of channel relationships and IT management arrangements. IS theory traditionally investigated electronic marketplaces from a transaction cost theory point of view. We identify three major limitations of transaction cost theory as it applies to B2B electronic marketplaces. A number of other literatures with a bearing on electronic marketplaces have critiqued and extended transaction cost models. Among them are strategic networks theory, marketing channel theory, and political economy. This paper reviews and attempts to synthesize these perspectives on electronic marketplaces and exchanges. We propose an integrative model combining transaction cost theory, strategic networks theory, relational exchange theory, and the theory of political economy. The synthesis promotes better operationalizations of EMP channel structure, identifies the antecedents and consequences of EMP channel structures, and suggests an agenda for future research

Webbing and Embedding a Vision: An Exploratory Study of Culture and Information Technology in a Business Community

This paper addresses the relationship between technology framing and new organizational forms and cultural artifacts embedded in information infrastructures such as intranets. Intranets can be viewed as important carriers of culture of organizations. New, young, web-based organizations provide interesting cases for exploratory research in this respect

Aversion to loss of place:The endowment effect for local facilities

Facility-decline is often met with community responses including protective behaviour. These reactions to place-change are preceded by the conscious and unconscious valuation of public places as communal assets and subsequent negative evaluation of closure. Previous studies show that closure of local facilities can be perceived as a loss to the community. However, a gap in place-based research in geography and environmental psychology is the lack of attention to psychological biases, such the endowment effect, that could influence in the perceived loss of facilities because people attach more value to something they are used to ‘having’. This paper uses insights from prospect theory as a reference point to theorise the socio-psychological process of dealing with place-change caused by the closure of local facilities. Analysis of a survey conducted in the Province of Fryslân, Netherlands, shows that positive subjective valuation of eight local facilities, as well as negative evaluation of closure, is influenced by the current availability and the social function of this facility in the neighbourhood. The results indicate that the endowment effect exists in the context of facility decline. This paper hopes to ignite a discussion, and to stimulate further research into the effect of psychological biases on place-based behaviour. Moreover, since previous studies show that a perceived sense of ownership and emotional and cognitive bonds can lead to endowment effects in other context, this study paves the way for research into the relationship between collective psychological ownership, place attachment, the endowment effect and overall aversion to loss of place.</p