Supporting Inter-Agency Collaboration in Emergency Management: Recurring Challenges Relevant for CSCW

Emergency management requires effective collaboration between different agencies. This work implies several challenges due to a heterogeneous mix of actors with different procedures, practices, and support tools. Despite being focused in various research streams, emergency responders still report challenges with sharing information and establishing shared situational awareness in responding to complex events. The paper presents results from a large-scale digital tabletop exercise that illustrate recurring challenges related to support for collaborative procedures, a communication network structure combining several media, use of geocollaborative tools, and configuration of collaborative environments in co-located operations centers. CSCW researchers are well positioned to further address these challenges and thus make an impact in a domain of high societal importance.Supporting Inter-Agency Collaboration in Emergency Management: Recurring Challenges Relevant for CSCWpublishedVersio

A Research Review on Building Information Modeling in Construction―An Area Ripe for IS Research

This article presents a review of the research on Building Information Modeling (BIM) in construction, with the aim of identifying areas in this domain where IS research can contribute. The concept of BIM comprises an infrastructure of IT tools supporting collaborative and integrated design, assembly, and operation of buildings. This integrated construction approach, with all stakeholders editing or retrieving information from commonly shared models, requires major changes to well-established processes, organizational roles, contractual practices, and collaborative arrangements in the construction industry. Through a review of 264 research articles on BIM, we found that this research spans a wide area of technological and organizational topics, of which many have a clear resonance to focal areas in IS research. Our analysis shows that IS, to some extent, serves as a reference discipline and that theories used in IS research are also informing contemporary BIM research. The following areas in need of further IS research were identified: studies on the relationship between BIM’s functional affordance and human agency, adoption and use of BIM for inter-organizational collaboration, the influence of organizational culture on BIM practices, the capabilities of BIM for transforming industry practice, and identifying the business value of BIM. Considering that a well-established knowledge base in IS research can be drawn upon for studying these issues, combined with the exciting potential of BIM for transforming a major industry such as building construction, we conclude that BIM is an area ripe for IS research

In Search of Mechanisms. Conducting a Critical Realist Data Analysis

Critical realism has emerged as an alternative to positivist and interpretive research during the past decade. Yet, the number of empirical studies based on this perspective has so far been limited. This indicates a need for a more explicit method for critical realist data analysis. To address this, we extend former research on critical realist methodology by presenting a framework for identifying and understanding causal structures in critical realist studies, termed mechanisms. The framework consists of steps involved in identifying structural components of a mechanism, how these components interact to produce to an outcome, and contextual influences on this outcome. We illustrate the application of the framework through an example of the identification of IS innovation mechanisms in a case study in the airline industry. Overall, we argue that the mechanism approach can improve empirical studies in the IS field, by providing ontological depth, creative thinking and more precise explanations

Is Information Systems a science? An inquiry into the nature of the information systems discipline

The Information Systems (IS) discipline is apparently undergoing an identity crisis. Academicians question the need for IS departments in colleges stating the absence of a core for the field and its integration within other business functions as a basis for its elimination. At the same time, many practitioners, as reflected in the US government\u27s recent IT labor shortage report, continue to ignore IS as a distinct field of study. This article briefly outlines these and other challenges and argues that notwithstanding underlying philosophical differences, it can be concluded that IS is an emerging scientific discipline. This conclusion is reached through an assessment of the debate surrounding the issue of whether IS should be a discipline and an analysis of the IS discipline using some key characteristics of science. The arguments put forth in this paper have four key implications for the IS community: a continuing emphasis on adopting scientific principles and practices for conducting inquiry into IS phenomena; an enhancement of the self-concept of IS academics and professionals through a common identity; enhances the ability of supporters of the IS field to defend against criticisms, integration with other disciplines, and resource rivalry; and creates the potential of being well-situated to building a cumulative tradition in the field

Expanding the Notion of Relevance in IS Research: A Proposal and Some Recommendations

Based on an analysis of a priori discussion on the notion of relevance, this paper proposes a holistic view of relevance in IS research. This expanded notion of relevance incorporates a broader definition of audience/stakeholder, and includes additional dimensions such as scope/value of relevant research, time frame, and situatedness of relevance. In view of this definition, it is argued that practical relevance is not the sole goal of academic research. Hence, the authors recommend, for example, that knowledge claims in IS need to be better communicated and targeted for the future development and recognition of the IS discipline

Diffusing Crisis Management Solutions through Living Labs: Opportunities and Challenges

ABSTRACT Despite increasing focus on user involvement among the developers of crisis management technologies, the diffusion of these solutions in target user communities is slow. This paper discusses to what extent the Living Lab approach, based on open innovation and co-creation between users and developers, could facilitate the diffusion of crisis management solutions. Our analysis shows correspondence between the core principles of the Living Labs approach and the user interaction focus in development research in ISCRAM. However, the task urgency and criticality of crisis situations limits the possibility for testing and experimenting with technology in real use situations. Instead, the main distinguishing principle of the Living Lab approach is the nature and scope of stakeholder involvement. By creating an arena where community stakeholders participate equally with developers and researchers in sharing ideas and testing new technological solutions, chances for successful diffusion of these solutions in real use practice could be strengthened

Diffusing Crisis Management Solutions through Living Labs: Opportunities and Challenges

Despite increasing focus on user involvement among the developers of crisis management technologies, the diffusion of these solutions in target user communities is slow. This paper discusses to what extent the Living Lab approach, based on open innovation and co-creation between users and developers, could facilitate the diffusion of crisis management solutions. Our analysis shows correspondence between the core principles of the Living Labs approach and the user interaction focus in development research in ISCRAM. However, the task urgency and criticality of crisis situations limits the possibility for testing and experimenting with technology in real use situations. Instead, the main distinguishing principle of the Living Lab approach is the nature and scope of stakeholder involvement. By creating an arena where community stakeholders participate equally with developers and researchers in sharing ideas and testing new technological solutions, chances for successful diffusion of these solutions in real use practice could be strengthened

Agile Knowledge Networking - A novel approach to research collaboration between industry and academia

-The paper presents a novel approach to interaction between industry and academia, in the form of a knowledge networking program as implemented by a telecommunications company. Compared to traditional in-house R&D, this program represents an agile and “lightweight” approach to getting access to scientific knowledge supporting the company’s quest for disruptive innovations. Supported by a team of student trainees, the program facilitates interaction with a large number of top academic scholars worldwide. The paper reports experiences and lessons learned from the program so far, and discusses areas of further improvement in terms of managing the collaborative R&D process and cultivating the networking capability of the company

DEFINING THE IT ARTEFACT IN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR EPARTICIPATION: AN ENSEMBLE VIEW

Social media has become a popular outlet for various eParticipation activities, such as online campaigning by political parties. Much research on this topic is currently being undertaken, and so far research has shown that political parties often have limited success with their efforts. Much is yet unclear as to the results and possible applications of social media use. One contribution to this could be to clearly define the social media IT artefact as a socio-technical object. In this paper, we propose and define an ensemble view on social media use in eParticipation, consisting of a framework for the identification of technological issues, and information infrastructures to address the social issues. Together, these provide us with a comprehensive definition of the social media IT artefact

From common operational picture to common situational understanding: An analysis based on practitioner perspectives

The concepts of Situational Awareness (SA) and Common Operational Picture (COP) are closely related and well-acknowledged to be crucial factors for effective emergency management. In multi-agency operations, such as extreme weather events, the involved first responders manage the event with different mandates, objectives, and tools which can make it challenging to build a COP. Effective collaboration requires a common situational understanding, based on knowledge about each other’s responsibilities and tasks, mutual respect and trust, as well as common communication tools for emergency communication and information sharing. This paper argues that the COP serves as a basis for deciding on further action, and thus represents a first stage in the process of establishing common situational understanding among the involved actors. The empirical basis for the study includes interviews with Norwegian emergency management stakeholders, analysis of audio-logs, and review of public documents. Based on the analysis we present a framework comprising activities and processes involved in establishing a COP as a basis for common situational understanding.publishedVersio