@article {9998, title = {Functional and Visionary Leadership in Self-Managing Virtual Teams}, journal = {Group \& Organization Management}, volume = {46}, year = {2021}, month = {04/2021}, pages = {424{\textendash}460}, abstract = {

In this conceptual article, we present a theory of leadership in self-managing virtual teams. We describe leadership in this setting as a process that results in the creation, reinforcement and evolution of shared mental models and shared norms that influence team member behaviour towards the successful accomplishment of shared goals. We distinguish two types of leadership. We identify leadership that works within and reinforces existing models and norms to influence team contributions as {\textquotedblleft}functional{\textquotedblright} leadership. We identify leadership that results in changes in models and norms as {\textquotedblleft}visionary{\textquotedblright} leadership. We propose that successful self-managing virtual teams require both types of leadership and that they will exhibit a paradoxical combination of shared, distributed functional leadership complemented by strong, concentrated and centralized visionary leadership and that visionary leadership is enabled by functional leadership in the form of substantive team member contributions.

}, keywords = {functional leadership, Leadership, Self-managing teams, structuration theory, virtual teams, visionary leadership}, doi = {10.1177/1059601120955034}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/1059601120955034_0.pdf}, author = {Eseryel, U. Yeliz and Kevin Crowston and Heckman, Robert} } @article {2020, title = {MIDST: An enhanced development environment that improves the maintainability of a data science analysis}, journal = {International Journal of Information Systems and Project Management}, volume = {8}, year = {2020}, abstract = {

With the increasing ability to generate actionable insight from data, the field of data science has seen significant growth. As more teams develop data science solutions, the analytical code they develop will need to be enhanced in the future, by an existing or a new team member. Thus, the importance of being able to easily maintain and enhance the code required for an analysis will increase. However, to date, there has been minimal research on the maintainability of an analysis done by a data science team. To help address this gap, data science maintainability was explored by (1) creating a data science maintainability model, (2) creating a new tool, called MIDST (Modular Interactive Data Science Tool), that aims to improve data science maintainability, and then (3) conducting a mixed method experiment to evaluate MIDST. The new tool aims to improve the ability of a team member to update and rerun an existing data science analysis by providing a visual data flow view of the analysis within an integrated code and computational environment. Via an analysis of the quantitative and qualitative survey results, the experiment found that MIDST does help improve the maintainability of an analysis. Thus, this research demonstrates the importance of enhanced tools to help improve the maintainability of data science projects.

}, doi = {10.12821/ijispm080301}, url = {http://www.sciencesphere.org/ijispm/archive/ijispm-080301.pdf}, author = {Jeffery Saltz and Kevin Crowston and Heckman, Robert and Yatish Hegde} } @proceedings {9999, title = {Helping data science students develop task modularity}, year = {2019}, abstract = {

This paper explores the skills needed to be a data scientist. Specifically, we report on a mixed method study of a project-based data science class, where we evaluated student effectiveness with respect to dividing a project into appropriately sized modular tasks, which we termed task modularity. Our results suggest that while data science students can appreciate the value of task modularity, they struggle to achieve effective task modularity. As a first step, based our study, we identified six task decomposition best practices. However, these best practices do not fully address this gap of how to enable data science students to effectively use task modularity. We note that while computer science/information system programs typically teach modularity (e.g., the decomposition process and abstraction), and there remains a need identify a corresponding model to that used for computer science / information system students, to teach modularity to data science students.

}, keywords = {data science, modularity, Stigmergy}, doi = {10.24251/HICSS.2019.134}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10125/59549}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/modularity-HICSS-final-afterReview.pdf}, author = {Jeffery Saltz and Heckman, Robert and Kevin Crowston and Sangseok You and Yatish Hegde} } @article {9999, title = {Roles and politeness behavior in community-based Free/Libre Open Source Software development}, journal = {Information and Management}, volume = {54}, year = {2017}, pages = {573-582}, abstract = {Community-based Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development relies on contributions from both core and peripheral members. Prior research on core-periphery has focused on software coding-related behaviors. We study how core-periphery roles are related to social-relational behavior in terms of politeness behavior. Data from two FLOSS projects suggest that both core and peripheral members use more positive politeness strategies than negative strategies. Further, core and peripheral members use different strategies to protect positive face in positive politeness, which we term respect and intimacy respectively. Our results contribute to FLOSS research and politeness theory. }, keywords = {Core-periphery structure, Open source software development, Politeness behavior}, doi = {10.1016/j.im.2016.11.006}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Group_maintenance\%20paper\%20to\%20share.pdf}, author = {Kangning Wei and Kevin Crowston and Eseryel, U. Yeliz and Heckman, Robert} } @article {9998, title = {Group maintenance in technology-supported distributed teams}, journal = {Information \& Management}, volume = {51}, year = {2014}, month = {4/2014}, pages = {297-309}, abstract = {In this paper we investigate group maintenance behavior in community-based Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development teams. Adopting a sociolinguistic perspective, we conceptualize group maintenance behavior as interpersonal communication tactics{\textemdash}specifically, social presence and politeness tactics{\textemdash}that help maintain relationships among group members. Developer email messages were collected from two FLOSS projects with different development status and content-analyzed to identify frequently-used group maintenance tactics. We then compared the two projects on the group maintenance tactics used, finding differences that reflect changes in the project work practices. Our work contributes theoretically to FLOSS research and has practical implications for FLOSS practitioners. }, doi = {10.1016/j.im.2014.02.001}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Group_maintenance\%20paper_part\%20I_20140122_final.pdf}, author = {Kangning Wei and Kevin Crowston and Li, Na and Heckman, Robert} } @article {9999, title = {Using natural language processing for qualitative data analysis}, journal = {International Journal of Social Research Methodology}, volume = {15}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, chapter = {523-543}, abstract = {Social researchers often apply qualitative research methods to study groups and their communications artefacts. The use of computer-mediated communications has dramatically increased the volume of text available, but coding such text requires considerable manual effort. We discuss how systems that process text in human languages (i.e., natural language processing, NLP) might partially automate content analysis by extracting theoretical evidence. We present a case study of the use of NLP for qualitative analysis in which the NLP rules showed good performance on a number of codes. With the current level of performance, use of an NLP system could reduce the amount of text to be examined by a human coder by an order of magnitude or more, potentially increasing the speed of coding by a comparable degree. The paper is significant as it is one of the first to demonstrate the use of high-level NLP techniques for qualitative data analysis.}, doi = {10.1080/13645579.2011.625764}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/NLP_for_qualitative_analysis.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Allen, Eileen E. and Heckman, Robert} } @article {9999, title = {Leadership in self-managing virtual teams}, year = {2010}, month = {12/2010}, publisher = {Syracuse University School of Information Studies}, abstract = {In this paper, we present a theory of leadership in self-managing virtual teams. We are particularly interested in self-managing virtual teams because self-management seems to be a common phenomenon in teams that interact primarily through information technology (so-called virtual teams). Building on leadership theory and structuration theory, the theory describes leadership as a process that results in the reinforcement, creation and evolution of ongoing structures and distinguishes between two types of leadership. We identify first-order leadership as leadership that works within and reinforces existing structures to elicit and guide group contributions. We define second-order leadership as behavior that effects changes in the structure that guides group action. We argue that second-order leadership is enabled by first-order leadership, is therefore action embedded, and is grounded in processes that define the social identity of the team. We propose that effective self-managing virtual teams will exhibit a paradoxical combination of shared, distributed first-order leadership complemented by strong, concentrated, and centralized second-order leadership. We conclude by presenting a set of research questions and suggestions for future research.}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/JOB\%20REVISED\%20to\%20distribute.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Heckman, Robert and Misiolek, Nora} } @proceedings {2010, title = {Machine Learning and Rule-Based Automated Coding of Qualitative Data}, year = {2010}, month = {10/2010}, address = {Pittsburgh, PA}, abstract = {Researchers often employ qualitative research approaches but large volumes of textual data pose considerable challenges to manual coding. In this research, we explore how to implement fully or semi-automatic coding on textual data (specifically, electronic messages) by leveraging Natural Language Processing (NLP). In particular, we compare the performance of human-developed NLP rules to those inferred by machine learning algorithms. The experimental results suggest that NLP with machine learning can be an effective way to assist researchers in coding qualitative data. }, keywords = {FLOSS, NLP}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/ml_nlp.pdf , https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/ASIST\%20poster\%202p\%20final.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Xiaozhong Liu and Allen, Eileen E. and Heckman, Robert} } @proceedings {Scialdone:2009, title = {Group Maintenance Behaviours of Core and Peripheral Members of Free/Libre Open Source Software Teams}, year = {2009}, address = {Skövde, Sweden, 3-6 June}, abstract = {Group Maintenance is pro-social, discretionary, and relation-building behavior that occurs between members of groups in order to maintain reciprocal trust and cooperation. This paper considers how Free/libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) teams demonstrate such behaviors within the context of e-mail, as this is the primary medium through which such teams communicate. We compare group maintenance behaviors between both core and peripheral members of these groups, as well as behaviors between a group that remains producing software today and one which has since dissolved. Our findings indicate that negative politeness tactics (those which show respect for the autonomy of others) may be the most instrumental group maintenance behaviors that contribute to a FLOSS group{\textquoteleft}s ability to survive and continue software production. }, keywords = {FLOSS, Group Maintenance}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/34finalmjs.pdf}, author = {Scialdone, Michael J. and Heckman, Robert and Kevin Crowston}, editor = {Boldyreff, Cornelia and Kevin Crowston and Lundell, Bj{\"o}rn and Wasserman, Tony} } @article {Li:2008a, title = {Asynchronous Decision-Making in Distributed Teams (Poster)}, year = {2008}, month = {8{\textendash}12 November}, address = {San Diego, CA}, keywords = {Decision-Making, FLOSS}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/CSCW2008Poster11x17Draft.pdf}, author = {Li, Qing and Heckman, Robert and Allen, Eileen E. and Kevin Crowston and Eseryel, U. Yeliz and James Howison and Wiggins, Andrea} } @proceedings {Li:2008, title = {Decision Making Paths in Self-Organizing Technology-Mediated Distributed Teams}, year = {2008}, address = {Paris, France, 14-17 December}, abstract = {This paper investigates decision making in self-organizing technology-mediated distributed teams. This context provides an opportunity to examine how the use of technological support to span temporal and organizational discontinuities affects decision-making processes. 258 software-modification decision episodes were collected from the public emailing lists of six Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) projects over a span of five years. Six decision-making paths were identified as 1) short-cut decision-making path; 2) implicit-development decision-making path; 3) implicit-evaluation decision-making path; 4) normative decision-making path; 5) dynamic decision-making path; and 6) interrupted/delayed decision-making path. We suggest that the nature of the tasks and the affordances of the technology used reduce the need for explicit coordination, resulting in a broader range of possible decision processes than are observed in face-to-face groups.}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Decision\%20Making\%20Paths\%20in\%20Self\%20Organizing\%20Technology\%20Mediated\%20Dist.pdf}, author = {Li, Qing and Heckman, Robert and Kevin Crowston and James Howison and Allen, Eileen E. and Eseryel, U. Yeliz} } @proceedings {, title = {Depicting What Really Matters: Using Episodes to Study Latent Phenomenon}, year = {2008}, abstract = {Research on processes and practices around information systems is often best conducted in naturalistic setting. To conduct valid and reliable research in such settings, researchers must find ways to reliably bound the phenomenon in which they are interested. In this paper we propose that researchers use episodes{\textemdash}events or processes occurring over a specified period of time{\textemdash}to isolate that which interests them from the vast set of related human behavior. The paper discusses the nature of episodes in the literature and suggests particular research settings in which episodes can be useful. The paper describes a three stage methodology to identify episodes for systematic data collection and analysis. The paper presents an example study using episodes to study group learning process in distributed groups.}, keywords = {Learning, Process}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Depicting\%20What\%20Really\%20Matters\%20Using\%20Episodes\%20to\%20Study\%20Latent\%20Phe.pdf}, author = {Annabi, Hala and Kevin Crowston and Heckman, Robert} } @proceedings {Scialdone:2008, title = {Group Maintenance in Technology-Supported Distributed Teams}, year = {2008}, address = {Anaheim, CA, 9-13 August}, abstract = {Are geographically-distributed teams which exhibit high levels of group maintenance between members successful? We answer this through content analysis of emails from two Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) teams. Our results illustrate that the groups utilize low levels of organizational citizenship behaviors and high levels of positive politeness actions.}, keywords = {FLOSS, Group Maintenance}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/GroupMaintenance.pdf}, author = {Scialdone, Michael J. and Li, Na and James Howison and Heckman, Robert and Kevin Crowston} } @proceedings {Heckman:2007, title = {Emergent decision-making practices in Free/Libre Open Source Software FLOSS development teams}, year = {2007}, address = {Limerick, Ireland, 10-14 June}, abstract = {We seek to identify work practices that make Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development teams effective. Particularly important to team effectiveness is decision making. In this paper, we report on an inductive qualitative analysis of 360 decision episodes of six FLOSS development teams. Our analysis revealed diversity in decision-making practices that seem to be related to differences in overall team characteristics and effectiveness. }, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/20070320\%20OSS\%20Conference_v15_final\%20submitted.pdf}, author = {Heckman, Robert and Kevin Crowston and Eseryel, U. Yeliz and James Howison and Allen, Eileen E. and Li, Qing} } @article {2007, title = {Emergent leadership in self-organizing virtual teams (Poster)}, year = {2007}, address = {Montr{\'e}al, Qu{\'e}bec, Canada, 9{\textendash}12 Dec}, keywords = {FLOSS, Leadership}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/20081204\%20ICIS\%20Poster_v.5.1.pdf}, author = {Heckman, Robert and Kevin Crowston and Misiolek, Nora and Eseryel, U. Yeliz} } @article {2007, title = {Investigating the Dynamics of FLOSS Development Teams (Poster)}, year = {2007}, note = {SD 2007 poster - Full Adobe PDF 2007 HSD PI{\textquoteright}s conference poster reporting on the grant project work to date in a full Adobe PDF file. HSD 2007 poster - Small PDF HSD 2007 conference grant progress reporting poster in a smaller PDF file. }, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/HSDposter_8.ai_.pdf , https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/HSDposter_8.pdf}, author = {Li, Na and Li, Qing and Kangning Wei and Heckman, Robert and Eseryel, U. Yeliz and Liddy, Elizabeth D. and James Howison and Kevin Crowston and Allen, Eileen E. and Scialdone, Michael J. and Inoue, Keisuke and Harwell, Sarah and Rowe, Steven and McCracken, Nancy and Wiggins, Andrea} } @proceedings {Heckman:2007a, title = {A structurational perspective on leadership in virtual teams}, year = {2007}, pages = {151{\textendash}168}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Portland, OR}, abstract = {Building on behavioural leadership theory and structuration theory, we present a two-order theory of leadership. It describes four classes of first-order leadership behaviours (task coordination, substantive task contribution, group maintenance and boundary spanning) and defines second-order leadership as behaviour that influences changes in the structure that guides group action. We argue that second-order leadership is enabled by first-order leadership and is therefore action embedded and grounded in processes that define the social identity of the group. We propose that effective virtual teams will exhibit a paradoxical combination of shared, distributed first-order leadership complemented by strong, concentrated, and centralized second-order leadership. We conclude by suggesting future research that might be conducted to test and further elaborate our theory.}, keywords = {FLOSS, Leadership}, doi = {10.1007/978-0-387-73025-7_12}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/AStructurationalPerspectiveOnLeadership.pdf}, author = {Heckman, Robert and Kevin Crowston and Misiolek, Nora}, editor = {Kevin Crowston and Seiber, Sandra} } @article {Massad:2006, title = {Customer satisfaction with electronic service encounters}, journal = {International Journal of Electronic Commerce}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, year = {2006}, pages = {73{\textendash}104}, abstract = {Customer relationship management is an integral component of business strategy for on-line service providers. This paper investigates the aspects of on-line transactions in electronic retailing that are most likely to satisfy or dissatisfy customers, thereby increasing or decreasing the likelihood of building and maintaining relationships with them. For this study, 513 respondents reported behaviors, perceptions, beliefs, events, features, characteristics, attributes, and situations that expressed their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with electronic service encounters. Content analysis of these encounters yielded three meta-categories, six categories, and 33 subcategories of customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction with on-line service providers. The findings suggested that three major categories are robust even in the electronic context of the Internet. The antecedents identified were relevant both to product-related services (e.g., books, apparel) and to pure services (e.g., on-line banking, on-line stock trading). The study found that the characteristics and behaviors of customer-contact employees play an important role in on-line service encounters. It also revealed a percentage decrease in satisfactory incidents, a percentage increase in unsatisfactory incidents, and a percentage increase in unsatisfactory incidents involving employee characteristics and behaviors as service encounters move from a bricks-and-mortar environment to an electronic context. This suggests that customer-contact employees may not be well equipped to deal with on-line customers.}, doi = {10.2753/JEC1086-4415100403}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/ijec2006.pdf}, author = {Massad, Nelson and Heckman, Robert and Kevin Crowston} } @proceedings {Heckman:2006b, title = {Emergent decision-making practices in technology-supported self-organizing distributed teams}, year = {2006}, address = {Milwaukee, WI, 10{\textendash}13 Dec}, abstract = {We seek to identify work practices that make technology-supported self-organizing distributed (or virtual) teams (TSSODT for short) effective in producing outputs satisfactory to their sponsors, meeting the needs of their members and continuing to function. A particularly important practice for team effectiveness is decision making: are the right decisions made at the right time to get the work done in a way that satisfies team sponsors, keeps contributors happy and engaged, and enables continued team success? In this research-in-progress paper, we report on an inductive qualitative analysis of 120 decision episodes taken by 2 Free/libre Open Source Software development teams. Our analysis revealed differences in decision-making practices that seem to be related to differences in overall team effectiveness.}, keywords = {Decision-Making, FLOSS}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Emergent\%20Decision\%20Making\%20Practices\%20In\%20Technology\%20Supported\%20Self\%20O.pdf}, author = {Heckman, Robert and Kevin Crowston and Li, Qing and Allen, Eileen E. and Eseryel, U. Yeliz and James Howison and Kangning Wei} } @proceedings {Annabi:2006, title = {From Individual Contribution to Group learning: the Early Years of Apache Web Server}, year = {2006}, pages = {77{\textendash}90}, address = {Lake Como, Italy, 8{\textendash}9 June}, abstract = {Open Source Software (OSS) groups experience many benefits and challenges with respect to the core group{\textquoteright}s effectiveness. In order to capitalize on the benefits and minimize the challenges, OSS groups must learn not only on the individual level, but also on the group level. OSS groups learn by integrating individual contributions into the group{\textquoteright}s product and processes. This paper reports on the characteristics of the learning process in OSS groups. The study utilized an embedded single case study design that observed and analyzed group learning processes in the Apache Web server OSS project. The study used learning opportunity episodes (LOE) as the embedded unit of analysis and developed and utilized three content analytic schemes to describe the characteristics of the learning process and the factors affecting this process.}, keywords = {FLOSS, Learning}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/FromIndividualContributionToGroup.pdf}, author = {Annabi, Hala and Kevin Crowston and Heckman, Robert} } @article {2006, title = {Investigating the Dynamics of FLOSS Development Teams (Poster)}, year = {2006}, note = {Poster describing the current state of the project for the HSD Principal Investigators{\textquoteright} conference, 14-15 September 2006, Washington DC.}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/hsd2006poster.pdf}, author = {Li, Qing and Kangning Wei and Heckman, Robert and Eseryel, U. Yeliz and Liddy, Elizabeth D. and James Howison and Kevin Crowston and Allen, Eileen E. and Inoue, Keisuke and Harwell, Sarah and Rowe, Steven and McCracken, Nancy} } @conference {Li:2006, title = {Language and power in self-organizing distributed teams}, booktitle = {OCIS Division, Academy of Management Conference}, year = {2006}, address = {Atlanta, GA}, abstract = {In this paper, a comparative case study is conducted to explore the way power is expressed and exercised through language use in distributed or virtual teams. Our research questions are {\textquotedblleft}how is power expressed in online interactions in self-organizing distributed teams, in a context without formal authority or hierarchy?{\textquotedblright} and {\textquotedblleft}What effects do expressions of power have on team outcomes?{\textquotedblright} To fully understand the role of power in self-organizing teams, we apply an input-process-output model on two open source projects-one successful and the other less successful. Two set of codes (source of power and power mechanism) are drawn from the data, and different power patterns interestingly show up between them. The findings lead us to speculate that strong, centralized leadership, the assertive exercise of power, and direct language may contribute to effectiveness in FLOSS teams. And the relevant conclusions and suggestions are provided for further research.}, keywords = {FLOSS}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/LanguageAndPowerInSelf-organizing.pdf}, author = {Li, Qing and Kevin Crowston and Heckman, Robert and James Howison} } @proceedings {Crowston:2005a, title = {A structurational perspective on leadership in Free/Libre Open Source Software teams}, year = {2005}, address = {Genova, Italy}, abstract = {In this conceptual paper, we present a structuration-based theory of leadership behaviours in self-organizing virtual distributed teams such as Free/Libre Open Source Software development teams. Such teams are often composed of members of relatively equal status or who are so disparate in background that formal organizational status seems irrelevant, reducing the usual leadership cues provided by organizational status and title. Building on a functional view of leadership and structuration theory, we suggest that leaders are individuals who develop team structures that then guide the actions of team members. Specifically, we examine structures of signification in the form of shared mental models, structures of domination in the form of role structures and structures of legitimation in form of rules and norms. The main contribution of our paper is the integration of various social theories to describe emergent leadership behaviours in distributed teams. We develop a set of propositions and illustrate with examples taken from Free/Libre Open Source Software development teams. We conclude by suggesting future research that might be conducted to test and further elaborate our theory.}, keywords = {FLOSS, Leadership}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/crowston-final.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Heckman, Robert and Annabi, Hala and Masango, Chengetai} } @article {2004, title = {A structurational model of leadership in virtual distributed groups}, year = {2004}, note = {"A structurational model of the dynamics of Free/Libre Open Source Software development teams". Presentation at the IFIP WG 8.2 OASIS Workshop 2004, Washington, DC, 12 December 2004. (Powerpoint file).}, keywords = {FLOSS}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/crowston_oasis_2004v3.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Annabi, Hala and Heckman, Robert} }