During my research process, I've found it pretty hard to get an article about MC in some of the Premium Journal. Yes, it takes years to publish an article in those Premium Journal, but I cannot believe none of them have examined MC, which is such a hot topic in these few years.
Well perhaps once again, it proves the fact that being a Gen Yer, I expect knowledge to be available publicly immediately.
Thursday, 24 April 2008
What is Mass Collaboration?
O’Reilly, T. (2005). What Is Web 2.0: Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software. O’Reilly Media, (online resource), retrieved 4 April 2007.
Tapscott and Williams, 2007, Wikinomics, Penguin Group, New York
Elliott, M. A., 2007, Stigmergic Collaboration: A Theoretical Framework for Mass Collaboration, PhD Thesis, The University of Melbourne, Retrieved April 3, 2008, from http://mark-elliott.net/view/Dissertation
Martin, N., 2007, Keep Your Eyes on the Enterprise: Emails, Wikis, Blogs, and Corporate Risk, EContent, 30(6), 54-59
McAfee, A. P., 2006, Enterprise 2.0: The Dawn of Emergent Collaboration, MIT Sloan Management Review, 47(3), 20-28
Tapscott and Williams, 2007, Wikinomics, Penguin Group, New York
Elliott, M. A., 2007, Stigmergic Collaboration: A Theoretical Framework for Mass Collaboration, PhD Thesis, The University of Melbourne, Retrieved April 3, 2008, from http://mark-elliott.net/view/Dissertation
Martin, N., 2007, Keep Your Eyes on the Enterprise: Emails, Wikis, Blogs, and Corporate Risk, EContent, 30(6), 54-59
McAfee, A. P., 2006, Enterprise 2.0: The Dawn of Emergent Collaboration, MIT Sloan Management Review, 47(3), 20-28
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Theoretical Essay
The next assignment coming up which is related to the thesis is the theoretic piece. It is essentially an explanatory or introductory essay on the main theories in our field of interest. I found it quite frustrating to do this particular assignment as there is no general theory of collaboration which has been widely accepted and adapted.
The article What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution, written by David A Whetten (1989), seems to be useful in providing a framework for me to structure the theoretical essay.
Whetten suggests that there are four building blocks of theory development: What, How, Why and the fourth condition, which place limitations on the propositions, 'Who, Where and When'
The what refers to the factors (variables, concepts or constructs) that are logically considered as a part of the explanation of the phenomena. Two criteria should be used to judged on the basis of comprehensiveness and parsimony.
The how refers to the relationships between the between or the patterns of the constructs of the phenomenon.
The why refers to the underlying dynamics that explain the proposed casual relationships.
Although no general theory of collaboration is well developed and the introduction of mass collaboration has brought about radical change for organisations, various studies have been conducted in many literature to try to address each of the above building block of theory development.
The article What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution, written by David A Whetten (1989), seems to be useful in providing a framework for me to structure the theoretical essay.
Whetten suggests that there are four building blocks of theory development: What, How, Why and the fourth condition, which place limitations on the propositions, 'Who, Where and When'
The what refers to the factors (variables, concepts or constructs) that are logically considered as a part of the explanation of the phenomena. Two criteria should be used to judged on the basis of comprehensiveness and parsimony.
The how refers to the relationships between the between or the patterns of the constructs of the phenomenon.
The why refers to the underlying dynamics that explain the proposed casual relationships.
Although no general theory of collaboration is well developed and the introduction of mass collaboration has brought about radical change for organisations, various studies have been conducted in many literature to try to address each of the above building block of theory development.
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Collaborate.com
Today as I was googling the 'general theory of collaboration', I accidentally found this site collaborate.com
There is an interesting article about Generational Trust and Collaboration written by John Coleman, which is exactly what I am trying to investigate in my thesis.
Generational differences can be categorised in terms of four broad generations, the Seniors, the Baby Boomers, the Gen Xers and the Gen Yers. Although the article combines Gen Xers and Yers into the same group, majority of researches treat them differently. Distinctive characteristics of each generation have an influence on their perception of the use of mass collaborative technology and collaborative behaviour, yet the relationships between generational differences and collaborations have merely been discussed in the literature, especially in the context of an organisation.
Further more, the term 'Net Generation' is loosely defined. They are suggested to be the generation who were growing up digital. However, as John Coleman describes, many Boomers and Gen Xers, who only adopt digital technology in their early or late adulthood, share similar characteristics of the Net Geners. So who belongs the Net Gen?
While the observations presented in this article illustrate how different generations have a different levels of trust in the online world, and the younger generations are more likely to engage in collaborative behaviour, these observations are presumably based on socialising online community. As we think of collaboration in an organisation, are people (across generations) still likely to engage in collaborative behaviour? Is trust the antecedent of collaboration in an organisation? What is the implications of this?
They are the questions that need to be investigated.
There is an interesting article about Generational Trust and Collaboration written by John Coleman, which is exactly what I am trying to investigate in my thesis.
Generational differences can be categorised in terms of four broad generations, the Seniors, the Baby Boomers, the Gen Xers and the Gen Yers. Although the article combines Gen Xers and Yers into the same group, majority of researches treat them differently. Distinctive characteristics of each generation have an influence on their perception of the use of mass collaborative technology and collaborative behaviour, yet the relationships between generational differences and collaborations have merely been discussed in the literature, especially in the context of an organisation.
Further more, the term 'Net Generation' is loosely defined. They are suggested to be the generation who were growing up digital. However, as John Coleman describes, many Boomers and Gen Xers, who only adopt digital technology in their early or late adulthood, share similar characteristics of the Net Geners. So who belongs the Net Gen?
While the observations presented in this article illustrate how different generations have a different levels of trust in the online world, and the younger generations are more likely to engage in collaborative behaviour, these observations are presumably based on socialising online community. As we think of collaboration in an organisation, are people (across generations) still likely to engage in collaborative behaviour? Is trust the antecedent of collaboration in an organisation? What is the implications of this?
They are the questions that need to be investigated.
Collaboration and Organisations
Recently, I am investigating the use of mass collaborative technology in the workplace. And in particular, the role of generational differences in the use of the technology.
So I guess it makes sense to utilise Web 2.0 technology to help myself a little bit :)
So I guess it makes sense to utilise Web 2.0 technology to help myself a little bit :)
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