1,720,966 research outputs found
Web Science: understanding the emergence of macro-level features on the World Wide Web
No full textIn this monograph we consider the development of Web Science since the launch of this journal and its inaugural publication ‘A Framework for Web Science’. The theme of emergence is discussed as the characteristic phenomenon of Web-scale applications, where many unrelated micro-level actions and decisions, uninformed by knowledge about the macro-level, still produce noticeable and coherent effects at the scale of the Web. A model of emergence is mapped onto the multitheoretical multilevel (MTML) model of communication networks of Monge and Contractor. Four specific types of theoretical problem are outlined. First, there is the need to explain local action. Second, the global patterns that form when local actions are repeated at scale have to be detected and understood. Third, those patterns feed back into the local, with intricate and often fleeting causal connections to be traced. Finally, as Web Science is an engineering discipline, issues of control of this feedback must be addressed. The idea of a social machine is introduced, where networked interactions at scale can help to achieve goals for people and social groups in civic society; an important aim of Web Science is to understand how such networks can operate, and how they can control the effects they produce on their own environment
Communicating shared vision in a scientific research organization
No full textA wide body of organizational and leadership literature suggests that individuals develop shared interpretations about organizational vision which facilitate shared attitudes and coordinated behavior. From an interpretive, communication perspective social interaction facilitates shared organizational meanings which underlie consensual attitudes and collective action. Within the context of a scientific research organization technical and project leadership, cohesive or structurally equivalent communication relationships, involvement in invisible colleges through professional activities, and shared demographic characteristics are essential for the development of shared meanings which stimulate unified attitudes and collaborative behaviors among professionals. This study adopts a semantic network approach and relies on observational, interview, and survey data collected from members of a European scientific research center to test the loci and outcomes of shared organizational vision. The first stage of analysis tests the loci of actual and perceived shared vision including leadership (positional, task, and visionary), communication (professional, personal, and external), professional activities (professional association memberships and journal readership), and demographic characteristics. The second stage of analysis tests the outcomes of shared vision and relates all the above factors to attitudinal outcomes (work group coordination and cohesion, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and internal work motivation), and behavioral outcomes (joint projects, joint work produced, and multi-disciplinary work produced). The results indicate that although only external communication significantly influenced members' overall actual shared vision, a number of variables significantly influenced members' individual vision-themes of moving beyond French nationalism, engaging in interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration, doing parallel computing and supercomputing, and establishing a unique, state-of-the-art Center. Additionally, members' perceptions of shared vision were significantly influenced by format and task leadership, direct communication, professional activities, and work group membership. The results indicate that although the degree of actual shared vision did not significantly influence members' attitudes or behaviors, members' perceptions of shared vision significantly influenced their attitudes about work group coordination, work group cohesion, organizational commitment, pay satisfaction, social satisfaction, and supervisory satisfaction; as well as their collaborative behavior, including joint projects, joint works, and multi-disciplinary works produced. Finally, a number of other leadership, communication, professional activity, and demographic factors significantly influenced members' attitudes and behaviors.Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-07T11:54:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 1995Item marked as restricted to the 'UIUC Users [automated]' Group (id=2) by Howard Ding ([email protected]) on 2011-05-07T14:34:08Z
Item is restricted indefinitely.Restriction data tranferred 2014-07-01T11:12:55-05:00
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Why Would You Save Your Files in a Group Folder?---Motivations for Information Sharing Through Digital Repositories in Project Groups
No full textThe major theoretical contributions of this study are: (i) extending research on knowledge networks by incorporation of non-human agents, adaptation of theories that were previously applied only to human-to-human context to human-to-non-human interaction context, and applying the MTML perspective to the explanation of knowledge allocation behaviors; (ii) explicating the nuances of explanatory power of multiple theories in a model, by taking into account the influence of organizational context. The main practical contributions are: (i) to help small groups design digital repositories so as to achieve their potential as shared resources; (ii) to help the management proactively design and implement desirable combinations of contextual factors in order to facilitate information sharing.Made available in DSpace on 2015-09-28T16:04:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2007Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 88816
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Reason: Restricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETDsRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETDsU of I Only174 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007
Structures of Communication to Retrieve Information in Organizational Work Teams: A Transactive Memory Perspective
No full textThe findings indicate that certain hypothesized structures are supported while others are not. Particularly, team members in work teams ranging in size from 10 to 17 utilized their perceptions of expertise and organizational required knowledge (the knowledge required of a coworker based on perceptions of task responsibility) when deciding from whom on their team they would retrieve information. Additionally, the findings indicate that team members' perceptions of expertise align more closely with retrieval patterns than do self-reported expertise. In other words, there is an apparent disconnect between people's self-perceptions of expertise and the perceptions that teammates have of their expertise.Made available in DSpace on 2015-09-28T16:04:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2003Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 88791
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Reason: Restricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETDsRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETDsU of I Only209 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003
Discontinuance of Innovations: Social Network Characteristics, Product Attributes, and Adopter Traits Related to Post -Adoption Behavior
No full textThis dissertation investigated three factors related to discontinuance of innovations: egocentric social network characteristics, innovation attributes, and adopter demographics/use patterns. Discontinuance, the post-adoption rejection of an innovation, is among the least frequently investigated aspects of diffusion of innovations theory (Parthasarathy & Bhattacherjee, 1998; Rogers, 1995). The analysis identified three categories of post-adoption behavior: continued adoption, retraction discontinuance (the combination of disenchantment and replacement discontinuance), and a new theoretic construct, completion discontinuance, a phenomenon that occurs when adopters terminate their use of an innovation after its purpose has been fulfilled. Data were collected via postal mail survey from 299 users of an innovative educational technology product designed for home school families. Using multinomial logistic regression, 13 hypotheses were tested. Among an array of 24 variables, six predictors of post-adoption behavior were statistically significant: behavior of alters in the social network, attitudes of alters in the social network, relative advantage, observability, number of elementary age children, and tenure with the innovation.Made available in DSpace on 2015-09-28T16:04:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2003Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 88795
Lift date: Forever
Reason: Restricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETDsRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETDsU of I Only186 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003
Structures of Communication to Retrieve Information in Organizational Work Teams: A Transactive Memory Perspective
No full text209 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003.The findings indicate that certain hypothesized structures are supported while others are not. Particularly, team members in work teams ranging in size from 10 to 17 utilized their perceptions of expertise and organizational required knowledge (the knowledge required of a coworker based on perceptions of task responsibility) when deciding from whom on their team they would retrieve information. Additionally, the findings indicate that team members' perceptions of expertise align more closely with retrieval patterns than do self-reported expertise. In other words, there is an apparent disconnect between people's self-perceptions of expertise and the perceptions that teammates have of their expertise.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD
Why Would You Save Your Files in a Group Folder?---Motivations for Information Sharing Through Digital Repositories in Project Groups
No full text174 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007.The major theoretical contributions of this study are: (i) extending research on knowledge networks by incorporation of non-human agents, adaptation of theories that were previously applied only to human-to-human context to human-to-non-human interaction context, and applying the MTML perspective to the explanation of knowledge allocation behaviors; (ii) explicating the nuances of explanatory power of multiple theories in a model, by taking into account the influence of organizational context. The main practical contributions are: (i) to help small groups design digital repositories so as to achieve their potential as shared resources; (ii) to help the management proactively design and implement desirable combinations of contextual factors in order to facilitate information sharing.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD
The broader social network of community planning: a diagnostic tool for communities to assess their planning capacity
No full textThis research examined the relationship between social networks of a community and its planning
capacity. Nine common patterns (traits) of effective planning efforts were identified and aligned with
social network methods. This provided the framework from which to develop a tool determining the
ability of a community to implement planning efforts, regardless of which planning approach it is
utilizing. Between 2007 and 2009, the diagnostic tool was administered through a case study. The case
study employed a snowball survey and key informant interviews that explored informal and formal
communication patterns of a community’s planning capacity.
Based upon that research, a model was developed to formatively assess the ability of any community to
implement plans and planning activities. In doing so, it is hoped community leaders and planning
professionals may more effectively understand the full communicative dynamics at work in their local
planning implementation efforts. In that way locals may be able to better engage, be empowered to plan
in a more comprehensive manner, and potentially be more successful in resolving their communities’
challenges. The diagnostic model tool is called the “Engaged Planning Communities Diagnostic Tool.”Item withdrawn by Mark Zulauf ([email protected]) on 2011-11-08T19:00:11Z
Item was in collections:
University of Illinois Theses & Dissertations (ID: 1)
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Bureaucratic and individual knowledge and action in the public services units of an academic library
No full textThis study examined the patterns of knowledge and action demonstrated by public services staff in interactions with users. It was a three-month ethnographic study of five public services units in an academic library, using participant observation. The data were analyzed by a framework (coorientation) which compared the staff's perceptions of shared knowledge in the unit with knowledge that is actually shared.Library staff perceive they know the activities, procedures, and policies that are sanctioned by the authoritative structure of the institution. Following Weber's analysis of rules and regulations that govern bureaucratic offices, this knowledge is called bureaucratic knowledge.Service points fall into two groups: those where bureaucratic knowledge predominates (bureaucratic service points), primarily circulation and reserve, and those where little bureaucratic knowledge is perceived as governing action (non-bureaucratic service points), primarily reference service points. Knowledge of both kinds exists, however, at all service points.Staff at bureaucratic service points share bureaucratic knowledge of what tasks the unit performs, who performs them, how they should be performed and under what conditions. In addition, much knowledge of policies and procedures is diverse; however, in general, the staff believe that their version of policy and procedural knowledge is known by most as the way things are supposed to be. This situation, where people perceive that their knowledge is known by all, when, in fact, it is not known by all, is labelled the fallacy of shared knowledge. As a result, staff at bureaucratic service points perceive more uniformity of bureaucratic action than actually exists.Two modes of responding to the requests of users were identified. In the bureaucratic mode, staff members ascertain only enough detail about the user's request to fit it into a repertory of authorized tasks and authorized criteria about who is eligible to have these tasks performed for them.In the individual mode, the staff member learns the details of the user's situation and then uses judgment, calling on various kinds of knowledge (bureaucratic, institutional, and professional) and experience to develop a course of action fitting the individual situation.The study also examines the role of bureaucratic knowledge in whether or not users got what brought them to the library, as determined by a third party. Reasons that users did not get what brought them to the library were identified as (1) not offering procedures that would mitigate against institutional contraints, (2) enforcement of policies, (3) staff actions representing instances of the fallacy of shared bureaucratic knowledge, (4) the user's incomplete understanding of the staff member's communication, and (5) various problems related to equipment.Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-07T12:42:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 1991Item marked as restricted to the 'UIUC Users [automated]' Group (id=2) by Howard Ding ([email protected]) on 2011-05-07T14:44:44Z
Item is restricted indefinitely.Restriction data tranferred 2014-07-01T11:19:44-05:00
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Reason: ETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissionETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissionU of I Onl
The making of regulatory independence
No full textThis study offers an ethnographic account of life at a regulatory agency to offer a new perspective on an important question: how does a regulatory agency become and remain independent? Relying on an analytical framework based on scholarship in legal anthropology, this study provides elements of an answer based on an insider’s view of regulation, illuminating the complex, messy, and political nature of what may seem from the outside as calm and neutral application of technical expertise.
The formal account suggests that legislative action defines the position and mandate of such an agency making it independent—immune from political influence in its decision-making. However, experience has shown that the making and maintenance of independence is a challenge, especially as these agencies typically enter arenas much after other powerful economic and political interests have established their own positions. The result is that in spite of efforts of international financial institutions, governments, and regulatory staffers worldwide to create independent regulatory agencies, many of these agencies are severely constrained in their ability to function effectively.
Using unprecedented access to individuals working at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), this study will show that regulatory staffers are constantly struggling to make and maintain their position, define their role, and keep their agency going. These individuals engage in strategic choice-making, applying ideas and creating rituals in their various attempts to define a role for the agency. Even if they could call upon a formal mandate as defined in the law, the agency’s position is largely determined through the actions of the individuals working at the agency and, interestingly, through the actions of other entities in the arena. The role and position of the regulatory agency thus has various sources and is defined through multiple activities, including the act of regulation itself.
If regulation is political, this study proposes rethinking regulation in terms of its semi-independence. A regulatory agency’s procedures and decisions are all part of the attempt of that agency to define a role for itself and are, consequently, political in nature. This political behavior is shaped by the preferences, values, and relative positions of other entities in the arena. By engaging in such political behavior, the agency becomes semi-independent; it might not be an apolitical rule-applier, but it may also be able to define a more meaningful role for itself. Rethinking regulatory independence as an ongoing effort thus situates an agency within political and social contexts, allowing us a new perspective on this widespread activity.Item withdrawn by Mark Zulauf ([email protected]) on 2011-04-18T22:02:35Z
Item was in collections:
University of Illinois Theses & Dissertations (ID: 1)
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license.txt: 4062 bytes, checksum: 5a97133a1d649c98022bb30d803041b8 (MD5)Item marked as restricted to the 'Administrator' Group (id=1) by William Ingram ([email protected]) on 2011-05-25T14:30:00Z
Item is restricted until 2013-05-25T14:29:35ZRestriction data tranferred 2014-07-01T11:17:32-05:00
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Release Date: 2015-07-16 12:23:02 UTC
Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD system. Author granted 2 yr extension UofI only accessItem marked as restricted to the 'Administrator' Group (id=1) by Sarah Shreeves ([email protected]) on 2013-05-21T19:44:22Z
Item is restricted until 2015-06-21T19:44:22ZItem marked as restricted to the 'UIUC Users [automated]' Group (id=2) by Sarah Shreeves ([email protected]) on 2013-05-21T20:08:49Z
Item is restricted until 2015-06-21T20:08:49ZItem marked as restricted to the 'UIUC Users [automated]' Group (id=2) by Sarah Shreeves ([email protected]) on 2013-11-16T18:23:02Z
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