@proceedings {9999, title = {Impacts of the Use of Machine Learning on Work Design}, year = {2020}, month = {11/2020}, publisher = {ACM}, address = {Virtual Event, NSW, Australia}, abstract = {

The increased pervasiveness of technological advancements in automation makes it urgent to address the question of how work is changing in response. Focusing on applications of machine learning (ML) to automate information tasks, we draw on a simple framework for identifying the impacts of an automated system on a task that suggests 3 patterns for the use of ML{\textemdash}decision support, blended decision making and complete automation. In this paper, we extend this framework by considering how automation of one task might have implications for interdependent tasks and how automation applies to coordination mechanisms.

}, keywords = {artificial intelligence, automation, Coordination, machine learning, work design}, isbn = {978-1-4503-8054-6/20/11}, doi = {10.1145/3406499.3415070}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Impacts_of_ML_for_HAI_2020.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Bolici, Francesco} } @article {9999, title = {Appealing to different motivations in a message to recruit citizen scientists: results of a field experiment}, journal = {Journal of Science Communication}, volume = {17}, year = {2018}, chapter = {A02}, abstract = {

This study examines the relative efficacy of citizen science recruitment messages appealing to four motivations that were derived from previous research on motives for participation in citizen-science projects. We report on an experiment (N=36,513) that compared the response to email messages designed to appeal to these four motives for participation. We found that the messages appealing to the possibility of contributing to science and learning about science attracted more attention than did one about helping scientists but that one about helping scientists generated more initial contributions. Overall, the message about contributing to science resulted in the largest volume of contributions and joining a community, the lowest. The results should be informative to those managing citizen-science projects.

}, keywords = {Citizen Science}, doi = {10.22323/2.17010202}, url = {https://jcom.sissa.it/archive/17/01/JCOM_1701_2018_A02}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/JCOM_1701_2018_A02.pdf}, author = {Lee, Tae Kyoung and Kevin Crowston and Mahboobeh Harandi and Carsten {\O}sterlund and Grant Miller} } @proceedings {9999, title = {Stigmergic coordination in Wikipedia}, year = {2018}, abstract = {

We examine a novel approach to coordination, namely stigmergic coordination, that is, coordination mediated by changes to a shared work product. Stigmergy stands in contrast to the two coordination approaches identified in the existing literature on coordination, explicit coordination, based on direct communication through discussion page or user talk pages, and implicit coordination, based on unspoken expectations and shared mental models of the task to be accomplished. We look for evidence of stigmergic coordination in the context of Wikipedia, as one of the most successful experiments in online collaborative knowledge building. Using a novel approach to identifying edits to the same part of a Wikipedia article, we show that a majority of edits to two example articles are not associated with discussion on the article Talk page, suggesting the possibility of stigmergic coordination. However, some amount of discussion does seem to be related to article quality, suggesting the limits to this approach to coordination.

}, keywords = {Coordination, distributed groups, on-line epistemic community, Stigmergy, Wikipedia}, url = {http://www.opensym.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/OpenSym2018_paper_34.pdf}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/stigmergic-coordination-wikipedia\%20final.pdf}, author = {Amira Rezgui and Kevin Crowston} } @article {9999, title = {Core-periphery communication and the success of free/libre open source software projects}, journal = {Journal of Internet Services and Applications}, volume = {8}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We examine the relationship between communications by core and peripheral members and Free/Libre Open Source Software project success. The study uses data from 74 projects in the Apache Software Foundation Incubator. We conceptualize project success in terms of success building a community, as assessed by graduation from the Incubator. We compare successful and unsuccessful projects on volume of communication and on use of inclusive pronouns as an indication of efforts to create intimacy among team members. An innovation of the paper is that use of inclusive pronouns is measured using natural language processing techniques. We also compare the volume and content of communication produced by core (committer) and peripheral members and by those peripheral members who are later elected to be core members. We find that volume of communication is related to project success but use of inclusive pronouns does not distinguish successful projects. Core members exhibit more contribution and use of inclusive pronouns than peripheral members. }, keywords = {Apache Software Foundation, communication, core and periphery, free/libre open source software (FLOSS), inclusive pronouns, natural language processing, project success}, doi = {10.1186/s13174-017-0061-4}, url = {http://rdcu.be/uguP}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/170707\%20JISA\%20final.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Shamshurin, Ivan} } @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 {2017, title = {Work~features to support stigmergic coordination in distributed teams}, year = {2017}, type = {Interactive paper}, abstract = {

When work products are shared via a computer system, members of distributed teams can see the work products produced by remote colleagues as easily as those from local colleagues. Drawing on coordination theory and work in computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), we theorize that these work products can provide information to support team coordination, that is, that work can be coordinated through the outcome of the work itself, a mode of coordination analogous to the biological process of stigmergy. Based on studies of documents and work, we postulate three features of work products that enable them to support team coordination, namely having a clear genre, being visible and mobile, and being combinable. These claims are illustrated with examples drawn from free/libre open source software development teams. We conclude by discussing how the proposed theory might be empirically tested.

}, keywords = {Coordination, Stigmergy}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Stigmergy\%20theory\%20paper\%20to\%20share.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and James Howison and Bolici, Francesco and Carsten {\O}sterlund} } @article {9998, title = {Stigmergic coordination in FLOSS development teams: Integrating explicit and implicit mechanisms}, journal = {Cognitive Systems Research}, volume = {38}, year = {2016}, pages = {14{\textendash}22}, keywords = {Coordination, Stigmergy}, doi = {10.1016/j.cogsys.2015.12.003}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/COGSYS-RS-\%28HHS\%29-\%282015\%29-\%283\%29.pdf}, author = {Bolici, Francesco and James Howison and Kevin Crowston} } @conference {2011, title = {Gaming for (citizen) science: Exploring motivation and data quality in the context of crowdsourced science through the design and evaluation of a social-computational system}, booktitle = {{\textquotedblleft}Computing for Citizen Science{\textquotedblright} workshop at the IEEE eScience Conference}, year = {2011}, month = {12/2011}, address = {Stockholm, Sweden}, abstract = {In this paper, an ongoing design research project is described. Citizen Sort, currently under development, is a web-based social-computational system designed to support a citizen science task, the taxonomic classification of various insect, animal, and plant species. In addition to supporting this natural science objective, the Citizen Sort platform will also support information science research goals on the nature of motivation for social-computation and citizen science. In particular, this research program addresses the use of games to motivate participation in social-computational citizen science, and explores the effects of system design on motivation and data quality. A design science approach, where IT artifacts are developed to solve problems and answer research questions is described. Research questions, progress on Citizen Sort planning and implementation, and key challenges are discussed.}, keywords = {Citizen Science, data quality, Design, Design Science, Games, Gaming, Motivation, Participation, Social Computational Systems}, url = {http://itee.uq.edu.au/~eresearch/workshops/compcitsci2011/index.html}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/gamingforcitizenscience_ver6.pdf}, author = {Nathan Prestopnik and Kevin Crowston} } @conference {2011, title = {Mechanisms for Data Quality and Validation in Citizen Science}, booktitle = {"Computing for Citizen Science" workshop at the IEEE eScience Conference}, year = {2011}, month = {12/2011}, address = {Stockholm, Sweden}, abstract = {Data quality is a primary concern for researchers employing public participation in scientific research, or {\textquotedblleft}citizen science,{\textquotedblright} to accomplish data collection and analysis tasks. This mode of scientific collaboration relies on contributions from a large, often unknown population of volunteers with widely variable expertise. In this paper, we review the commonly employed mechanisms for ensuring data quality. We also discuss results of a survey of citizen science projects that reports on the use of some of these mechanisms, noting that it is most common for projects to employ multiple mechanisms to ensure data quality and appropriate levels of validation.}, keywords = {Citizen Science, data quality, data validation}, url = {http://itee.uq.edu.au/~eresearch/workshops/compcitsci2011/index.html}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/PID2090593.pdf}, author = {Wiggins, Andrea and Newman, Greg and Stevenson, Robert D. and Kevin Crowston} } @article {9998, title = {Participation in ICT-Enabled Meetings}, journal = {Journal of Organizational and End User Computing}, volume = {23}, year = {2011}, chapter = {15{\textendash}36}, abstract = {Meetings are a common occurrence in contemporary organizations, and almost everyone shares an understanding of what a meeting is and what participation in a meeting looks like. Yet our exploratory study at Intel, an innovative global technology company, suggests that meetings are evolving beyond this familiar perspective as the pervasive use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) changes work practices associated with meetings. Drawing on data gathered from interviews prompted by entries in the employees{\textquoteright} electronic calendar system, we examine the multiple ways in which meetings build and reflect work in the organization and derive propositions to guide future research. Specifically, we identified four aspects of meetings that reflect work in the 21st century: meetings are integral to work in team-centered organizations, tension between group and personal objectives, discontinuities, and ICT support for fragmented work environment.}, keywords = {Computer-Mediated Communication, Information Technology}, doi = {10.4018/joeuc.2011040102}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/JOEUC_to_distribute.pdf}, author = {Chudoba, Katherine M. and Mary Beth Watson-Manheim and Kevin Crowston and Lee, Chei Sian} } @article {2010, title = {The under-appreciated role of stigmergic coordination in software development}, year = {2010}, abstract = {

Coordination in software development teams has been a topic of perennial interest in empirical software engineering research. The vast majority of this literature has drawn on a conceptual separation between work and coordination mechanisms, separate from the work itself, which enable groups to achieve coordination. Traditional recommendations and software methods focused on planning: using analysis to predict and manage dependencies. Empirical research has demonstrated the limits of this approach, showing that many important dependencies are emergent and pointing to the persistent importance of explicit discussion to managing these dependencies as they arise. Drawing on work in Computer-Supported Collaborative Work and building from an analogy to collaboration amongst insects (stigmergy), we argue that the work product itself plays an under-appreciated role in helping software developers manage dependencies as they arise. This short paper presents the conceptual argument with empirical illustrations and explains why this mechanism would have significant implications for Software Engineering coordination research. We discuss issues in marshaling clear positive evidence, arguing that these issues are responsible, in part, for the under-consideration of this mechanism in software engineering and outlining research strategies which may overcome these issues.

}, keywords = {Coordination, FLOSS, Stigmergy}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/stigmergy-short.pdf}, author = {Bolici, Francesco and James Howison and Kevin Crowston} } @conference {Bolici:2009, title = {Coordination without discussion? Socio-technical congruence and Stigmergy in Free and Open Source Software projects}, booktitle = {2nd International Workshop on Socio-Technical Congruence, ICSE}, year = {2009}, month = {19 May}, address = {Vancouver, Canada}, keywords = {Coordination, FLOSS}, url = {http://docs.google.com/View?id=dhncd3jd_405fzt842gv}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Coordination\%20without\%20discussion\%3F\%20Socio-technical\%20congruence.pdf}, author = {Bolici, Francesco and James Howison and Kevin Crowston} } @inbook {Crowston:2008b, title = {The bug fixing process in proprietary and free/libre open source software: A coordination theory analysis}, booktitle = {Business Process Transformation}, year = {2008}, pages = {69-99}, publisher = {M. E. Sharpe}, organization = {M. E. Sharpe}, address = {Armonk, NY}, abstract = {To support business process transformation, we must first be able to represent business processes in a way that allows us to compare and contrast them or to design new ones. In this paper, I use coordination theory to analyze the bug fixing processes in the proprietary operating system development group of a large mini-computer manufacturer and for the Free/Libre Open Source Software Linux operating system kernel. Three approaches to identifying dependencies and coordination mechanisms are presented. Mechanisms analyzed include those for task assignment, resource sharing and managing dependencies between modules of source code. The proprietary development organization assigned problem reports to engineers based on the module that appeared to be in error, since engineers only worked on particular modules. Alternative task assignment mechanisms include assignment to engineers based on workload or voluntary assignment, as in Linux. In the proprietary process, modules of source code were not shared, but rather {\textquotedblleft}owned{\textquotedblright} by one engineer, thus reducing the need for coordination. In Linux, where multiple developers can work on the same modules, alternative resource sharing mechanisms have been developed to manage source code. Finally, the proprietary developers managed dependencies between modules informally, relying on their personal knowledge of which other engineers used their code. The Linux process allows developers to change code in multiple modules, but emphasizes modularity to reduce the need to do so.}, keywords = {Coordination, FLOSS}, isbn = {9780765611918}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/The\%20bug\%20fixing\%20process\%20in\%20proprietary\%20.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston}, editor = {Grover, Varun and Markus, M. Lynne} } @inbook {Crowston:2006c, title = {Coordination theory: A ten-year retrospective}, booktitle = {Human-Computer Interaction in Management Information Systems}, year = {2006}, pages = {120-138}, publisher = {M. E. Sharpe, Inc.}, organization = {M. E. Sharpe, Inc.}, abstract = {Since the initial publication in 1994, Coordination Theory has been referenced in nearly 300 journal articles, book chapters, conference papers and theses. Coordination Theory provides an approach to a core problem in HCI: analyzing group work to suggest alternative approaches involving computer support. Coordination Theory suggests identifying the dependencies between the tasks the different group members are carrying out and the coordination mechanisms the group use to coordinate their work and then considering alternative mechanisms. This chapter will analyze the contribution of this body of research to determine how Coordination Theory has been used for user task analysis and modelling for HCI. Issues that will be addressed include: 1)how the theory has been applied; 2) factors that led to the success of the theory; and 3)identification of areas needing further research. }, keywords = {Coordination}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/CT\%20Review\%20to\%20distribute.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Rubleske, Joe and James Howison}, editor = {Zhang, P. and Galletta, D.} } @proceedings {Crowston:2005, title = {Coordination of Free/Libre Open Source Software development}, year = {2005}, address = {Las Vegas, NV, USA, December}, abstract = {The apparent success of free/libre open source software (FLOSS) development projects such as Linux, Apache, and many others has raised the question, what lessons from FLOSS development can be transferred to mainstream software development? In this paper, we use coordination theory to analyze coordination mechanisms in FLOSS development and compare our analysis with existing literature on coordination in proprietary software development. We examined developer interaction data from three active and successful FLOSS projects and used content analysis to identify the coordination mechanisms used by the participants. We found that there were similarities between the FLOSS groups and the reported practices of the proprietary project in the coordination mechanisms used to manage task-task dependencies. However, we found clear differences in the coordination mechanisms used to manage task-actor dependencies. While published descriptions of proprietary software development involved an elaborate system to locate the developer who owned the relevant piece of code, we found that {\textquotedblleft}self-assignment{\textquotedblright} was the most common mechanism across three FLOSS projects. This coordination mechanism is consistent with expectations for distributed and largely volunteer teams. We conclude by discussing whether these emergent practices can be usefully transferred to mainstream practice and indicating directions for future research.}, keywords = {Coordination, FLOSS}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Coordination\%20of\%20Free\%20Libre\%20Open\%20Source\%20Software\%20Development.pdf , https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/CoordinationFreeLibreOSSDevSlides.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Kangning Wei and Li, Qing and Eseryel, U. Yeliz and James Howison} } @conference {Chudoba:2005a, title = {Meet Me in Cyberspace: Meetings in the Distributed Work Environment}, booktitle = {Academy of Management Conference, OCIS Division}, year = {2005}, address = {Honolulu, HI}, abstract = {Meetings have long been a critical activity in contemporary work life. At least since Mintzberg{\textquoteright}s classic study of managerial behavior, researchers have documented and practitioners have bemoaned the amount of time spent in meetings. Despite these problems, meetings are becoming even more common in organizations. Teams are now found throughout the organization, from the manufacturing floor to senior management. Organizational work increasingly occurs in teams, with participation in meetings becoming a core work activity. How are these meetings conducted? What are the implications of the increased use of ICT in these meetings? As more and more members of organizational teams are distributed and must make extensive use of ICT in order to work together, these questions become even more important. Using the device of genre system, an interrelated set of socially constructed communicative actions, we examine meetings from the perspective of employees at a company in the technology industry. We began with the questions: Are meetings in the 21st century different from Mintzberg{\textquoteright}s conceptualization? If so, how? Drawing on data gathered from interviews that used entries in the employees{\textquoteright} electronic calendar system, we found that employees are attending a large number of meetings (20\% reported more than 25 meetings in a week) and spending significant time in meetings (27\% reported more than 30 hours in a week in meetings). The majority of meetings included non-collocated participants and extensive use of ICT. We explore the implications of these and other findings for collaboration and ICT support.}, keywords = {Computer-Mediated Communication, Virtuality}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/academy2005calendar.pdf}, author = {Chudoba, Katherine M. and Mary Beth Watson-Manheim and Lee, Chei Sian and Kevin Crowston} } @article {Scozzi:2005, title = {Methods for modeling and supporting innovation processes in SMEs}, journal = {European Journal of Innovation Management}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, year = {2005}, pages = {120{\textendash}137}, abstract = {Purpose {\textendash} Sets out to investigate business modeling techniques (BMTs) which can be used to support and improve innovation processes within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach {\textendash} Based on a literature review, different analysis perspectives on innovation processes are identified and discussed, and some firm needs and problems are pointed out. The importance of BMTs to firms is further tested by an empirical study whose initial results are reported. Finally, by matching problems and techniques characterized by the same ontology, the BMTs most suitable to address SME needs are identified and their role within the innovation process discussed. Findings {\textendash} The main result of the paper is the identification of the problems facing SMEs in innovation processes and the possible support offered by BMTs. Though methods and models alone do not assure the success in the innovation development process (IDP), they are enabling factors and can support the creation of strategies, reasoning, insights and communication. Originality/value {\textendash} The adoption of such BMTs, facilitating the codification of the characteristics of the IDP, might be particularly useful in those environments where, due to the lack of specialized resources, it is difficult to structure all of the information related to the innovation process and to exploit the related benefits and opportunities. }, keywords = {Coordination, Organizational Modelling}, doi = {10.1108/14601060510578619}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/MethodsForModeling.pdf}, author = {Scozzi, Barbara and Garavelli, C. and Kevin Crowston} } @article {Sawyer:2005, title = {Redefining access: Uses and roles of information and communication technologies in the US residential real estate industry from 1995 to 2005}, journal = {Journal of Information Technology}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, year = {2005}, pages = {213{\textendash}233}, abstract = {We discuss three industry-level changes in the US residential real estate industry due, in part, to the take up and uses of information and communication technologies (ICT): (1) changes in the processes of transacting residential real estate, (2) changing roles for information, and (3) changing nature of intermediation, with the real estate transaction as more complex than the seller{\textendash}agent{\textendash}buyer simplification would suggest. We speculate that these changes are currently indeterminate due to ongoing confusion among the impacts of first and second-level effects, the roles of ICT in redefining access to data, and the importance of localized, social structures of real estate markets. To develop these findings, we take an institutional perspective and draw on multiple data collection methods. This provides us a means to highlight the value of an institutional perspective for studying industrial-level change.}, keywords = {Computer-Mediated Communication, Real Estate}, doi = {10.1057/palgrave.jit.2000049}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/jit05.pdf}, author = {Sawyer, Steve and Rolf Wigand and Kevin Crowston} } @inbook {, title = {A coordination theory approach to process description and redesign}, booktitle = {Organizing Business Knowledge: The MIT Process Handbook}, year = {2003}, publisher = {MIT Press}, organization = {MIT Press}, type = {Technical report}, abstract = {Managers must understand, influence, and redesign organizational processes to improve business performance. In this paper we present a technique for documenting a business process. The technique has six steps: defining process boundaries, collecting data, determining actors and resources, determining activities, determining dependencies and model verification. While similar to other processmapping techniques, our approach is novel in incorporating ideas from coordination theory, thus the attention to dependencies. As a result, the technique is useful both for documenting a process and suggesting ways in which the process could be redesigned. We present an extended illustration with the hope that the technique can be used by readers of this article.}, keywords = {Coordination}, isbn = {9780585480244}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/wp204.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Osborn, Charley} } @article {Crowston:2003, title = {The evolution of high-reliability coordination mechanisms for collision avoidance}, journal = {The Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application (JITTA)}, volume = {5}, year = {2003}, pages = {1-29}, abstract = {Resource sharing and allocation are important coordination problems in most processes and organizations. They are especially critical in transportation systems, where the resource to be shared and allocated is the space through which various vehicles move and the problem is ensuring that vehicles do not conflict in their use of the space{\textemdash}that is, that they do not collide. Transportation systems are interesting because they accomplish this resource allocation in a highly reliable and often highly distributed fashion. In this paper, we apply coordination theory to analyze collision avoidance as a coordination problem. Coordination theory suggests that coordination problems are created by dependencies among activities and resources that constrain how the activities can be performed. To avoid or overcome these constraints, additional work must be performed in the form of a coordination mechanism that manages the dependency. From this perspective, transportation systems can be viewed as collections of mechanisms for allocating a scarce resource, namely the space through which vehicles move. The claim of coordination theory is that having identified the type of dependency involved in transportation systems, we can consider alternative coordination mechanisms and more importantly, the tradeoffs between them. More interestingly, we can analyze how the use of information technology differentially affects the costs of different mechanisms thus shifting the tradeoff. As well, the range of coordination mechanisms identified may have implications for resource allocation in other kinds of organizations.}, keywords = {Coordination}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/5045\%20pdf.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston} } @article {Sawyer:2003, title = {The social embeddedness of transactions: Evidence from the residential real estate industry}, journal = {The Information Society}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, year = {2003}, pages = {135{\textendash}154}, abstract = {Information and communications technologies (ICT) are becoming pervasive in the residential real-estate industry and their usage is affecting the work lives of real-estate agents. Drawing on data from a regional study of the residential real-estate industry in the United States, we focus on the disintermediation or, more accurately, the reintermediation of real-estate agents in the sales process. Using data collected from interviews, direct observation, and archival records, we examine how real-estate agents are (1) taking advantage of new ICT in their work, and (2) protecting themselves from others wishing to displace their position in the real-estate value chain. Our analysis of this activity draws on two contrasting theoretical perspectives to illuminate the roles of residential real-estate agents: transaction cost and social capital. The results of this study provide insights into the ways in which ICT are used to build and draw on the social relationships that underpin the actual transactions, to help guide the process of buying/selling a house, and to invoke expertise as needed. }, keywords = {Computer-Mediated Communication, Coordination, Real Estate}, doi = {10.1080/01972240309460}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/tis2001final.pdf}, author = {Sawyer, Steve and Kevin Crowston and Rolf Wigand and Allbritton, Marcel} } @inbook {Crowston:1994b, title = {A Taxonomy of Organizational Dependencies and Coordination Mechanisms}, booktitle = {Organizing Business Knowledge: The MIT Process Handbook}, year = {2003}, pages = {85-108}, publisher = {MIT Press}, organization = {MIT Press}, type = {Working paper}, abstract = {Interdependency and coordination have been perennial topics in organization studies. The two are related because coordination is seen as a response to problems caused by dependencies. Past studies, however, describe dependencies and coordination mechanisms only in general terms, without characterizing in detail differences between dependencies, the problems dependencies create or how the proposed coordination mechanisms address those problems. This vagueness makes it difficult or impossible to determine what alternative coordination mechanisms might be useful in a given circumstance or to directly translate these alternative designs into specifications of individual activities. In this paper I develop a taxonomy of dependency types by considering possible combinations of activities using resources. The taxonomy includes task-resource dependencies and three types of task-task dependencies: shared resources, producer-consumer and common output. For each type of dependency, alternative coordination mechanisms are described. I conclude by discussing how the taxonomy helps to analyze organizational processes and suggest alternative processes. Although you will perform with different ingredients for different dishes, the same general processes are repeated over and over again. As you enlarge your repertoire, you will find that the seemingly endless babble of recipes begins to fall rather neatly into groups of theme and variations... --Child, Bertholle and Beck (1981, p. vii) }, keywords = {Coordination}, isbn = {0585480249}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/ATaxonomyOfOrganizationalDependencies.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston}, editor = {Malone, Thomas W. and Kevin Crowston and Herman, George} } @article {2000, title = {The on-line Ph.D. as computer-supported cooperative work}, volume = {31}, year = {2000}, pages = {10-11}, abstract = {This issue{\textquoteright}s column by Professor Kevin Crowston is in response to Professor Peter Carr{\textquoteright}s column about the online Ph.D. that appeared in the last issue of Decision Line (Vol. 31, No. 3). Dr. Crowston summarizes the previous arguments and then discusses current research on the subject of applying computer-supported work to graduate education. For instance, he emphasizes the importance of face-to-face interaction for particular kinds of collaborative tasks. I hope you find this next entry in the debate about {\textquotedblleft}online{\textquotedblright} versus {\textquotedblleft}face-to-face{\textquotedblright} Ph.D. programs to be a stimulating and enlightening exercise as you contemplate the important questions surrounding the future of doctoral education.}, keywords = {Computer-Mediated Communication, Learning}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/dl00.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston} } @article {Malone:1999, title = {Tools for inventing organizations: Toward a handbook of organizational processes}, journal = {Management Science}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, year = {1999}, note = {Reprinted in Malone, T. W., Crowston, K. \& Herman, G. (Eds.) Organizing Business Knowledge: The MIT Process Handbook. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2003. Reprinted in Malone, T. W., Laubacher, R. \& Scott Morton, M. S. (Eds.). Inventing the Organizations of the 21st Century. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2003.}, pages = {425{\textendash}443}, abstract = {This paper describes a novel theoretical and empirical approach to tasks such as business process redesign and knowledge management. The project involves collecting examples of how different organizations perform similar processes, and organizing these examples in an on-line "process handbook." The handbook is intended to help people: (1) redesign existing organizational processes, (2) invent new organizational processes (especially ones that take advantage of information technology), and (3) share ideas about organizational practices. A key element of the work is an approach to analyzing processes at various levels of abstraction, thus capturing both the details of specific processes as well as the "deep structure" of their similarities. This approach uses ideas from computer science about inheritance and from coordination theory about managing dependencies. A primary advantage of the approach is that it allows people to explicitly represent the similarities (and differences) among related processes and to easily find or generate sensible alternatives for how a given process could be performed. In addition to describing this new approach, the work reported here demonstrates the basic technical feasibility of these ideas and gives one example of their use in a field study.}, keywords = {Coordination, Handbook, Process}, doi = {10.1287/mnsc.45.3.425}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/ms99.pdf}, author = {Malone, Thomas W. and Kevin Crowston and Lee, Jintae and Pentland, Brian and Dellarocas, Chrysanthos and Wyner, George and Quimby, John and Osborn, Charley and Bernstein, Avi and Herman, George and Klein, Mark and O{\textquoteright}Donnell, Elissa} } @inbook {Crowston:1998b, title = {Communicative style and gender differences in computer-mediated communications}, booktitle = {Cyberghetto or Cybertopia: Race, Class and Gender on the Internet}, year = {1998}, pages = {185{\textendash}204}, publisher = {Praeger}, organization = {Praeger}, abstract = {This chapter reports on an experiment that explored how gender interacts with communicative style to affect decisions to participate in computer-mediated communications (e.g., Usenet newsgroups). Although some field studies indicate that style has a differential effect on men and women, the data fails to confirm this hypothesis. However, significant differences were found in interest in topics, as well as effects of style across all subjects, which have implications for the design of future studies on this topic.}, keywords = {Computer-Mediated Communication}, isbn = {9780275959937}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/book\%20chapter.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Kammerer, Ericka}, editor = {Ebo, Bosah} } @proceedings {Chen:1997, title = {Comparative diffusion of the telephone and the world wide web: An analysis of rates of adoption}, year = {1997}, pages = {110{\textendash}115}, publisher = {Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education}, address = {Toronto, Canada}, abstract = {This paper investigates the diffusion process of the World Wide Web technology by means of a comparison with telephone diffusion at the end of the nineteenth century. The Web technology has diffused at exponentially around the world. In contrast, the telephone technology, a similar innovation of interactive communication technology imbued with typical uncertainty and impedance, took several decades to diffuse. This paper diagnoses the fundamental differences between these two innovations by analyzing their innovation perceived attributes, such as relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability, and attempts to explain the determinants of their rates of adoption.}, keywords = {Computer-Mediated Communication}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/webnet97.html}, author = {Chen, H. and Kevin Crowston}, editor = {Lobodzinski, Suave and Tomek, Ivan} } @article {Crowston:1997a, title = {A coordination theory approach to organizational process design}, journal = {Organization Science}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, year = {1997}, pages = {157{\textendash}175}, abstract = {An important practical problem for many managers is finding alternative processes for performing a desired task, for example, one that is more efficient, cheaper, or that is automated or enhanced by the use of information technology. Improving processes also poses theoretical challenges. Coordination theory provides an approach to the study of processes. In this view, the design of a process depends on the coordination mechanisms chosen to manage dependencies among tasks and resources involved in the process. In this paper, I use coordination theory to analyze the software change process of a large mini-computer manufacturer. Mechanisms analyzed include those for task assignment, resource sharing, and managing dependencies between modules of source code. For each, I suggest alternative mechanisms and thus alternative designs for the process. The organization assigned problem reports to engineers based on the module that appeared to be in error, since engineers only worked on particular modules. Alternative task assignment mechanisms include assignment to engineers based on work- load or market-like bids. Modules of source code were not shared, but rather "owned" by one engineer, thus reducing the need for coordination. An alternative resource sharing mechanism would be needed to manage source code if multiple engineers could work on the same modules. Finally, engineers managed dependencies between modules informally, relying on their personal knowledge of which other engineers used their code; alternatives include formally defining the interfaces between modules and tracking their users. Software bug fixing provides a microcosm of coordination problems and solutions. Similar coordination problems arise in most processes and are managed by a similar range of mechanisms. For example, diagnosing bug reports and assigning them to engineers may have interesting parallels to diagnosing patients and assigning them to specialists. While the case presented does not formally test coordination theory, it does illustrate the potential of coordination theory for exploring the space of organizational processes. Future work includes developing more rigorous techniques for such analyses, applying the techniques to a broader range of processes, identifying additional coordination problems and mechanisms and developing tools for collecting and comparing processes and automatically suggesting potential alternatives.}, keywords = {Coordination}, doi = {10.1287/orsc.8.2.157}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/orgsci97.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston} } @article {Crowston:1996a, title = {An approach to evolving novel organizational forms}, journal = {Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, year = {1996}, pages = {29{\textendash}47}, publisher = {Springer}, abstract = {A key problem in organization theory is to suggest new organizational forms. In this paper, I suggest the use of genetic algorithms to search for novel organizational forms by reproducing some of the mechanics of organizational evolution. Issues in using genetic algorithms include identification of the unit of selection, development of a representation and determination of a method for calculating organizational fitness. As an example of the approach, I test a proposition of Thompson{\textquoteright}s about how interdependent positions should be assigned to groups. Representing an organization as a collection of routines might be more general and still amenable to evolution with a genetic algorithm. I conclude by discussing possible objections to the application of this technique.}, keywords = {Coordination}, issn = {1381-298X (Print) 1572-9346 (Online)}, doi = {10.1007/BF00125762}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/evol\%20struct\%20rewrite\%202.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston} } @inbook {Crowston:1993a, title = {Evolving novel organizational forms}, booktitle = {Computational Organization Theory}, year = {1994}, note = {Other publications: Crowston, K. Evolving novel organizational forms. In Ingemar Hulthage (Ed.), Computational Organization Design: Papers from the 1994 Spring Symposium (Technical Report SS-94-07) (pp. 35{\textendash}42). Menlo Park, CA: AAAI Press.}, pages = {19-38}, publisher = {Lawrence Erlbaum}, organization = {Lawrence Erlbaum}, address = {Hillsdale, NJ}, abstract = {A key problem in organization theory is to suggest new organizational forms. In this paper, I suggest the use of genetic algorithms to search for novel organizational forms by reproducing some of the mechanics of organizational evolution. Issues in using genetic algorithms include identification of the unit of selection, development of a representation and determination of a method for calculating organizational fitness. As an example of the approach, I test a proposition of Thompson{\textquoteright}s about how interdependent positions should be assigned to groups. Representing an organization as a collection of routines might be more general and still amenable to evolution with a genetic algorithm. I conclude by discussing possible objections to the application of this technique. }, keywords = {Coordination}, isbn = {0-8058-1406-X }, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/CCSWP185.html}, author = {Kevin Crowston}, editor = {Carley, Kathleen M. and Prietula, Michael J.} } @article {Malone:1994, title = {The interdisciplinary study of coordination}, journal = {Computing Surveys}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, year = {1994}, note = {Reprinted in Olson, G. M, Malone, T. W., and Smith, J. B. (Eds.) Coordination Theory and Collaboration Technology (pp. 7{\textendash}50). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001. Reprinted in Malone, T. W., Crowston, K. \& Herman, G. (Eds.) Organizing Business Knowledge: The MIT Process Handbook. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2002.}, pages = {87{\textendash}119}, publisher = {ACM}, abstract = {This survey characterizes an emerging research area, sometimes called coordination theory, that focuses on the interdisciplinary study of coordination. Research in this area uses and extends ideas about coordination from disciplines such as computer science, organization theory, operations research, economics, linguistics, and psychology. A key insight of the framework presented here is that coordination can be seen as the process of managing dependencies among activities. Further progress, therefore, should be possible by characterizing different kinds of dependencies and identifying the coordination processes that can be used to manage them. A variety of processes are analyzed from this perspective, and commonalities across disciplines are identified. Processes analyzed include those for managing shared resources, producer/consumer relationships, simultaneity constraints, and tank/subtask dependencies. Section 3 summarizes ways of applying a coordination perspective in three different domains: (1) understanding the effects of information technology on human organizations and markets, (2) designing cooperative work tools, and (3) designing distributed and parallel computer systems. In the final section, elements of a research agenda in this new area are briefly outlined. }, keywords = {Coordination}, doi = {10.1145/174666.174668}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/acmcs94.pdf}, author = {Malone, Thomas W. and Kevin Crowston} } @inbook {Crowston:1991, title = {Modelling coordination in organizations}, booktitle = {Artificial Intelligence in Organization and Management Theory}, year = {1991}, pages = {215-234}, publisher = {Elsevier}, organization = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, keywords = {Coordination}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/modellingcoordin00crow.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston}, editor = {Masuch, Michael and Massimo, G.} } @mastersthesis {Crowston:1991a, title = {Towards a Coordination Cookbook: Recipes for Multi-Agent Action}, year = {1991}, school = {MIT Sloan School of Management}, type = {PhD doctoral dissertation}, abstract = {This thesis presents the first steps towards a theory of coordination in the form of what I call a coordination cookbook. My goal in this research is hypothesis generation rather than hypothesis testing: I attempt to develop a theory of coordination grounded in detailed empirical observation. I am especially interested in using this theory to identify ways of coordinating that may become more desirable when information technology is used to perform some of the coordination. I address the following question: how can we represent what people do to coordinate their actions when they work together on common goals, in a way that reveals alternative approaches to achieving those goals? To answer this question, I study groups of people making engineering changes to complex products as an example of a coordination-intensive task. I perform detailed case studies of the change process in three organizations: an automobile manufacturer, a commercial aircraft manufacturer and a computer system software developer. To analyze these cases, I develop a technique for describing the behaviour of the members of an organization, based on research in distributed artificial intelligence (DAI). I first develop a data-flow model of the change process to identify what information was used and how it was processed by the different members of the organization. Then, using ideas from DAI, I model what each individual must have known about the task and the rest of the organization to act as observed. To develop a theory of coordination, I generalize from these specific individuals to the kinds of tasks they performed. I develop a typology of interdependencies between organizational tasks and objects in the world (including resources and products). This typology includes four categories of coordination needs, due to interdependencies between: (1) different tasks, (2) tasks and subtasks, (3) tasks and objects in the world and (4) different objects. I then re-examine the cases to identify the coordination methods used to address these needs. (These coordination methods are similar in spirit to the weak problem solving methods of cognitive science.) I represent each method by a set of what I call coordination recipes that identify the goals, capabilities and knowledge of the individuals involved. In some cases, consideration of the possible distributions of these elements suggests approaches other than those actually observed. This framework allows an analyst to abstract from a description of how a particular organization performs a task to a description of the coordination needs of that task and a set of alternative coordination methods that could be used to address those needs. The results of my thesis should be useful in several ways. A better understanding of how individuals work together may provide a more principled approach for designing new computer applications, for analyzing the way organizations are currently coordinated and for explaining perceived problems with existing approaches to coordination. By systematically exploring the space of possible coordination strategies, we may be able to discover new kinds of organizations{\textemdash}organizations in which humans and computers work together in as yet unimagined ways.}, keywords = {Coordination, Process}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/thesis.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston} } @proceedings {Malone:1990, title = {What is coordination theory and how can it help design cooperative work systems?}, year = {1990}, note = {Reprinted in D. Marca and G. Bock. (Eds.) Groupware: Software for Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (pp. 100{\textendash}115). Washington: IEEE Press, 1992.}, pages = {357{\textendash}370}, publisher = {ACM Press}, address = {Los Angeles, CA}, keywords = {Coordination}, doi = {10.1145/99332.99367}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/10.1.1.92.4445.pdf}, author = {Malone, Thomas W. and Kevin Crowston}, editor = {Tatar, Deborah} } @proceedings {Mackay:1989, title = {How do experienced Information Lens users use rules?}, year = {1989}, note = {Proceedings Reprinted as ACM SIGCHI Bulletin, Volume 20, Issue SI.}, pages = {211{\textendash}216}, address = {Austin, TX}, abstract = {The Information Lens provides electronic mail users with the ability to write rules that automatically sort, select, and filter their messages. This paper describes preliminary results from an eighteen-month investigation of the use of this system at a corporate test site. We report the experiences of 13 voluntary users who have each had at least three months experience with the most recent version of the system. We found that: 1. People without significant computer experience are able to create and use rules effectively. 2. Useful rules can be created based on the fields present in all messages (e.g., searching for distribution lists or one{\textquoteright}s own name in the address fields or for character strings in the subject field), even without any special message templates. 3. People use rules both to prioritize messages before reading them and to sort messages into folders for storage after reading them. 4. People use delete rules primarily to filter out messages from low-priority distribution lists, not to delete personal messages to themselves.}, keywords = {Computer-Mediated Communication}, doi = {10.1145/67449.67491}, attachments = {https://crowston.syr.edu./sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/sigchi89.pdf}, author = {Mackay, Wendy E. and Malone, Thomas W. and Kevin Crowston and Rao, Ramana and Rosenblitt, David and Card, Stuart K.}, editor = {Bice, Ken and Lewis, Clayton} }