[AISWorld] International Journal of e-Collaboration (IJeC) Volume 6, Issue 3, July-September 2010

[Kock, Nereu F.]

The contents of the latest issue of:

International Journal of e-Collaboration (IJeC)
Official Publication of the Information Resources Management Association
Volume 6, Issue 3, July-September 2010 
Published: Quarterly in Print and Electronically
ISSN: 1548-3673 EISSN: 1548-3681
Published by IGI Publishing, Hershey-New York, USA
www.igi-global.com/ijec

Editor-in-Chief: Ned Kock, Texas A&M International University, USA

PAPER ONE

Communication Genres for Dispersed Real-Time Collaboration (RTC): The Role of Presence and Awareness

Frank Frößler (University College Dublin, Ireland)

E-collaboration systems have become the backbone infrastructure to support virtual work in and across organizations. Fuelled by recent technology trends, the market today offers an abundance of systems that often support a wide range of communication and collaboration features. In this article, the author presents a study that sheds light on the market for e-collaboration systems by structuring the range of available systems into meaningful classes. Samples of ninety-four e-collaboration systems are characterized using a classification approach. The author describes the system classes and discusses trends of systems integration and convergence.

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.
http://www.igi-global.com/Bookstore/Article.aspx?TitleId=44907 

PAPER TWO

Self-Regulation in Instant Messaging (IM): Failures, Strategies, and Negative Consequences

Anabel Quan-Haase (University of Western Ontario, Canada)

In this paper, the author examines RTC and its implications on people's lives. This paper analyzes the production and reproduction of presence and awareness through (RTC-mediated) communication genres. Specifically, the author argues that presence and awareness are two interrelated concepts. Four communication genres are presented, which people intentionally or unintentionally draw on in dispersed settings to create awareness. Furthermore, presence, understood as a person's sensation of being perceived by others in whatever he or she is doing, is influenced by the information imparted through communication genres. The author argues that the sensation of presence shapes the characteristics of communication genres and that RTC technology modifies existing or enables new communicative practices. Consequently, emerging RTC technologies may affect the sensation of presence in dispersed settings. The line of argument is developed by presenting the working conditions and communication practices of a university professor, working on several projects with both dispersed and co-located colleagues. 

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.
http://www.igi-global.com/Bookstore/Article.aspx?TitleId=44908 

PAPER THREE

Instant Messaging in Global Software Teams

Suling Zhang (Kean University, USA) 
Felix Köbler ( Technische Universität München, Germany ) 
Marilyn Tremaine (Rutgers University, USA) 
Allen Milewski (Monmouth University, USA)

Instant Messaging (IM) has been strictly forbidden in some companies as an unproductive use of time and exists in others via unsanctioned employee actions without explicit approval or directive from upper management. This paper examines a set of globally distributed software teams in a company that has explicitly installed and integrated IM capabilities with its collaboration management tools. Through a set of semi-structured interviews and the application of adaptive structuration theory, this study finds that because of the unique characteristics of global software development, IM is a highly useful tool for maintaining team cohesiveness and supporting team communication. Although the study finds strong support for the value of IM, it also identifies that the time distributed nature of the work, the informality of the medium as it interacts with different cultures and the productivity loss from IM's interruptive nature are problematic. A set of recommendations is made to address these problems. The paper concludes that IM is a useful tool for global software development and its advantages outweigh its problems.

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.
http://www.igi-global.com/Bookstore/Article.aspx?TitleId=44909 

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For full copies of the above articles, check for this issue of the International Journal of e-Collaboration (IJeC) in your institution's library. This journal is also included in the IGI Global aggregated "InfoSci-Journals" database: www.infosci-journals.com.
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CALL FOR PAPERS

Mission of IJeC:

The mission of the International Journal of e-Collaboration (IJeC) is to publish papers that address the design and implementation of e-collaboration technologies, assess the behavioral impacts of e-collaboration technologies on individuals and groups, and present theoretical considerations on links between the use of e-collaboration technologies and behavioral patterns. This journal emphasizes technologies that include Web-based chat tools, Web-based asynchronous conferencing tools, e-mail, listservs, collaborative writing tools, group decision support systems, teleconferencing suites, workflow automation systems, and document management technologies.

Coverage of IJeC:

Topics to be discussed in this journal include (but are not limited to) the following:

Analysis of different research methods and their impact on the study of e-collaboration technologies in organizations 
Collaborative writing tools 
Comprehensive reviews of previous studies on e-collaboration technologies in organizations 
Design and evaluation of asynchronous learning networks (ALNs) in organizational setting 
Design and evaluation of intelligent e-collaboration technologies in organizational settings 
Design, implementation, and assessment of e-business solutions that include e-collaboration features 
E-collaboration technologies impact on individuals and society 
E-collaboration technologies impact on knowledge management and organizational learning 
E-collaboration technologies support for distributed process reengineering and process improvement 
E-collaboration technologies support for quality certification programs 
E-collaboration technologies support for the creation of virtual teams and virtual organizations 
E-mail 
Listservs 
Organizational and national culture as moderating factors in the adoption and use of e-collaboration technologies in organizations 
Web-based asynchronous conferencing tools
Web-based chat tools

Interested authors should consult the journal's manuscript submission guidelines at www.igi-global.com/ijec.

All inquiries and submissions should be sent to:
Editor-in-Chief: Ned Kock at nedkock at tamiu.edu


Nereu F Kock
Professor
nedkock at tamiu.edu
Tel. (956) 326-2521
Fax (956) 326-2494
Division of International Business and Technology Studies
Texas A&M International University
PH 304B
,  

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