Collaboration technology affordances from virtual collaboration in the time of COVID-19 and post-pandemic strategies

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alanah Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Technology Support ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Virtual Collaboration ◽  
Collaboration Technology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Work Transition ◽  
Technology Affordances ◽  
Insight Into

PurposeThis paper aims to explore key collaboration technology affordances from virtual collaboration and remote work during the time of COVID-19. The purpose of this exploration is to improve the understanding of technology-supported collaboration in order to achieve individual and organizational success with the adoption, use and implementation of virtual collaboration in a pandemic and post-pandemic world.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data is collected from 55 graduate students during a time of work transition due to COVID-19. This paper distills key collaboration technology affordances identified from participant feedback.FindingsThis paper identifies topics of virtual collaboration success as well as challenges related to organizational transitions during COVID-19. The findings from this work relate to four collaboration technology affordances including: (1) flexibility and productivity, (2) social connectedness and organizational culture, (3) technology support and (4) management and leadership. Additionally, this research provides insight into the complexities of virtual collaboration in these areas while also making recommendations for the post-pandemic future.Originality/valueThis research makes a contribution through the analysis of a unique set of data elaborating on participant experiences during a global pandemic as well as through the exploration of future implications.

The perils of notional membership during a pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 273-280
Author(s):  
Christina L. Dobbs ◽  
Christine Montecillo Leider
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Faculty Of Color ◽  
Women Faculty ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Diverse Backgrounds ◽  
Women Faculty Of Color ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Institutional Priority

PurposeIn this essay, the authors will describe several facets of their experience as women faculty of color in the academy during the pandemic, in order to explore how institutions might think of equity and diversity initiatives during the pandemic time.Design/methodology/approachThis essay discusses structural, leadership and individual considerations in supporting faculty from diverse backgrounds during the pandemic and beyond, by considering the typical strategies used by faculty of color to maintain active organizational memberships and how the pandemic has shifted those strategies.FindingsUltimately, this essay grapples with diversity as an institutional priority during the unique and shifting circumstances of remote work and teaching and research during the pandemic.Originality/valueThis essay provides insight into how institutions who want to maintain diversity progress during and postpandemic must be more thoughtful about the hiring structures, decision-making spaces and overarching missions.

Understanding teleworkers’ technostress and its influence on job satisfaction

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayoung Suh ◽  
Jumin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Job Characteristics ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Relevant Research ◽  
Virtual Collaboration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a theoretical model that predicts a teleworker’s job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach By drawing on the technostress model and job characteristics theory, this study proposed a theoretical model. The proposed model was tested through a survey of 258 teleworkers from two global IT companies that have adopted telework programs. Findings The results show that technology and job characteristics jointly induce teleworkers’ technostress, which in turn reduces their job satisfaction. The results also indicate that the manner in which technology and job characteristics influence teleworkers’ technostress varies depending on the intensity of teleworking (IOT). Interestingly, this study finds that teleworkers with a low IOT are more vulnerable to technostress than those with a high IOT. Research limitations/implications By discussing the magnitude of the different factors that determine teleworkers’ technostress and job satisfaction, this study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of teleworkers’ challenges. The study provides insights and prescriptive guidelines that will help managers and companies develop strategies to maximize the benefits of teleworking implementation. Practical implications This study provides insights and prescriptive guidelines for managers or companies to develop strategies to maximize the benefits of teleworking implementation. Originality/value This paper is one of the first to develop and empirically test an integrated model of technostress and job characteristics. The paper outlines relevant research avenues for researchers investigating remote work and virtual collaboration.

Six practical tips for practicing cyberhygiene in the middle of a global pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 137-141
Author(s):  
Kimberly Peretti ◽  
Amy Mushahwar ◽  
Jon Knight
Keyword(s):  
Information Security ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Business Management ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Blind Spots

Purpose Discusses the long-term cybersecurity challenges businesses face as COVID-19 cases spike and remote work environments need to remain operational, scalable, and capable of flexing with cycles of virus resurgence. Design/Methodology/Approach Discusses the target-rich environment cybercriminals have during this time, and steps businesses should take to secure their environments and raise employee awareness as more devices are being used remotely for company business and more company data is being sent, located, or stored outside the protections of the company infrastructure. Findings The remote work environment is likely to be around for the foreseeable future and businesses need to ensure they are secured for long-term success. Practical implications The authors offer information security and IT teams practical ways businesses can keep their systems secure and functioning: (1) Consider Basic Cyberhygiene; (2) Identify Security Blind Spots; (3) Review and Update Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response Plans; (4) Remain Vigilant for Scams and Phishing Attacks; (5) Be Aware of Applicable Industry-Specific Guidelines; (6) Revisit Risk Exceptions. Originality/Value Practical guidance from experienced data privacy and cybersecurity lawyers in response to COVD-19 for Information Security, IT, and business management teams.

Rethinking bibliographic utilities for library consortia

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 7-9
Author(s):  
Israel Odede
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Distributed Network ◽  
Network Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Consortia ◽  
Individual Ownership ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The paper aims to critically examine the bibliographic utility as a roadmap to increase library consortia and provide an insight into a new library consortia strategy that integrates librarians into a system of sharing both resources and knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a literature review approach with a focus on bibliographic utility as a necessary prerequisite for effective library consortia, which is a paradigm shift from the concept of individual ownership to a collective access of distributed network resources and knowledge. Findings The reviewed literature indicated that significant bibliographic utilities and integrated library systems are factors that shaped and developed consortia activities in libraries. Originality/value The bibliographic utility has limited literature, and a few published scholarly studies have combined bibliographic utility and library consortia as strategies to share resources and knowledge

Formation of contracts for the international sale of goods under Korean law and the CISG

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-223
Author(s):  
Byung Mun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Case Law ◽  
The Other ◽  
Basic Question ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Sale Of Goods ◽  
The Comparative Study ◽  
International Sales ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the rules on the formation of contracts under Korean law and the Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) in a comparative way and introduce the relevant proposed rules under the Amendment Draft of the Korean Civil Code (KCC). In addition, it attempts to compare and evaluate them in light of the discipline of comparative law. Design/methodology/approach In order to achieve the purposes of the study, it executes a comparative study of the rules as to the formation of contracts of the CISG, Korean law and the Amendment Draft of the KCC. The basic question for this comparative study is placed on whether a solution from one jurisdiction is more logical than the others and to what extent each jurisdiction has responded to protect the reasonable expectations of the parties in the rules as to the formation of contracts. Findings The comparative study finds that most of the rules under the CISG are quite plausible and logical and they are more or less well reflected in the proposals advanced by the KCC amendment committee. On the other hand, the other rules under the CISG which have brought criticisms in terms of their complexity and inconsistent case law invite us their revision or consistent interpretation. The drawbacks of the CISG have also been well responded in the Amendment Draft of the KCC. Nevertheless, it is quite unfortunate that the Amendment Draft of the KCC still has a rule that regards any purported performance with non-material alteration of the terms of an offer as an acceptance. Originality/value This study may provide legal and practical advice to both the seller and the buyer when they enter into a contract for international sales of goods. In addition, it may render us an insight into newly developed or developing rules in this area and show us how they interact with each other. Furthermore, it may be particularly useful in Korea where there is an ongoing discussion for revision of the KCC.

Professionals freaking out: the case of accreditation in Dutch higher education

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 473-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Everard van Kemenade ◽  
Teun W. Hardjono
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Iso 9000 ◽  
Preliminary Survey ◽  
External Evaluation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evaluation Systems ◽  
System A ◽  
Engineering And Technology ◽  
Insight Into

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define what factors cause willingness and/or resistance among lecturers in universities towards external evaluation systems, especially accreditation.Design/methodology/approachA model has been designed to describe possible factors of willingness and/or resistance towards accreditation based on Ajzen and Metselaar. A literature review has been undertaken on the effects of external evaluation like ISO 9000 as well as accreditation systems such as Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and European Quality Improvement System. A questionnaire has been administered to a group of 63 lecturers from three departments at Fontys University in The Netherlands. The results of this preliminary survey have been presented to 1,500 academics in The Netherlands and Flanders to collect empirical data.FindingsResistance to accreditation can be found in the consequences of accreditation for the work of the lecturer (workload), negative emotions (stress and insecurity); the lack of knowledge and experience (help from specialists is needed); and lack of acceptance (other paradigm).Originality/valueThe paper provides more insight into the difficulties that organizations, especially universities, have to commit their employees to external evaluation. It might be possible to generalize the findings to other professionals in other organizations. Little research in this field has been undertaken so far.

scholarly journals The future of financial markets and regulation: what strategy for Europe?

foresight ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Baptiste Gossé ◽  
Dominique Plihon
Keyword(s):  
Financial Markets ◽  
Capital Market ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Financial Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Realistic Option ◽  
The Future ◽  
Unstable Environment ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose – This article aims to provide insight into the future of financial markets and regulation in order to define what would be the best strategy for Europe. Design/methodology/approach – First the authors define the potential changes in financial markets and then the tools available for the regulator to tame them. Finally, they build five scenarios according to the main evolutions observed on the financial markets and on the tools used by the regulator to modify these trends. Findings – Among the five scenarios defined, two present highly unstable features since the regulator refuses to choose between financial opening and independently determining how to regulate finance in order to preserve financial stability. Three of them achieve financial stability. However, they are more or less efficient or feasible. In terms of market efficiency, the multi-polar scenario is the best and the fragmentation scenario is the worst, since gains of integration depend on the size of the new capital market. Regarding sovereignty of regulation, fragmentation is the best scenario and the multi-polar scenario is the worst, because it necessitates coordination at the global level which implies moving further away from respective national preferences. However, the more realistic option seems to be the regionalisation scenario: this level of coordination seems much more realistic than the global one; the market should be of sufficient size to enjoy substantial benefits of integration. Nevertheless, the “European government” might gradually increase the degree of financial integration outside Europe in line with the degree of cooperation with the rest of the world. Originality/value – Foresight studies on financial markets and regulation are quite rare. This may be explained by the difficulty to forecast what will be their evolution in the coming decades, not least because finance is fundamentally unstable. This paper provides a framework to consider what could be the best strategy of regulators in such an unstable environment.

Correlation between sustainability education and engineering students’ attitudes towards sustainability

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Sustainability Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fundamental Knowledge ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Development Course ◽  
Beliefs And Attitudes ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of a sustainable development course on the beliefs, attitudes and intentions of a cohort of engineering students in a university in Miri, Malaysia, towards sustainability. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaire survey was conducted among the cohort of students encompassing the three facets mentioned. Findings The respondents expressed low to medium agreement towards all the survey items related to beliefs, attitudes and intentions. A sense of moral obligation towards sustainability is linked to higher sustainability awareness, willingness to safeguard sustainability and a sense of responsibility towards sustainable development. The respondents were generally perceived to have fundamental knowledge of sustainable development. Research limitations/implications This study shows that a sustainable development course called Engineering Sustainable Development offered in a university in Miri, produced positive impacts on the beliefs, attitudes and intentions of the engineering students towards sustainable development. Sustainable development courses are generally instrumental to impart the value and practices of sustainability among university students. Originality/value As limited correlational studies on whether sustainable development courses effectively shape the beliefs and attitudes of students have been previously conducted, this study provides insight into the effectiveness of one of such courses and how the course can be further improved to enhance its effectiveness.

The carmine dilemma: does the natural colourant preference outweigh nausea?

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (8) ◽  
pp. 1915-1928
Author(s):  
Judith Müller-Maatsch ◽  
Johannes Jasny ◽  
Katharina Henn ◽  
Claudia Gras ◽  
Reinhold Carle
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Consumer Perception ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
German Population ◽  
Misleading Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Broad Cross Section ◽  
First Time ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the consumers’ perception of natural and artificial food colourants. Furthermore, attitudes towards the application of carmine, being technically important and ubiquitously used to impart red shades, are assessed and analysed. Originating from insects, carmine is considered as natural but may arouse disgust. Design/methodology/approach In total, 625 individuals were surveyed using an online, self-administered questionnaire to represent a broad cross-section of the German population. Findings Independent of their origin, the application of colourants was rejected by 57.0 per cent of the interviewees. In total, 31.8 per cent of the participants stated a neutral attitude, while only 11.2 per cent expressed a positive notion. Most respondents preferred colourants from natural sources to artificial ones. While consumers perceive natural food colourants composed of genuine plant pigments positively, 61.6 per cent of respondents disliked the application of animal-derived colourants, 24.8 per cent of them did neither reject nor like it, and only 13.6 per cent of the interviewees stated a positive attitude towards them. The findings of this paper further indicate consumers’ preference for colourants to be either artificial or plant-derived rather than carmine. Food colourants are being rejected, possibly due to misleading information and confusing labelling. Consequently, information about carmine, including its origin and production, did not increase the aversion to products that are dyed with it, but increased their acceptance. Originality/value This study outlines consumer perception and attitudes towards food colourants. For the first time, the findings of this paper report the effect of revealing information about an additive, which initially aroused disgust, and its influence on consumer perception.

scholarly journals A Cronobacter turicensis O1 Antigen-Specific Monoclonal Antibody Inhibits Bacterial Motility and Entry into Epithelial Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 876-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Schauer ◽  
Angelika Lehner ◽  
Richard Dietrich ◽  
Ina Kleinsteuber ◽  
Rocío Canals ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Foodborne Pathogen ◽  
Antimicrobial Effect ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Cell Agglutination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
O Antigen ◽  
Lethal Infection ◽  
Insight Into

Cronobacter turicensisis an opportunistic foodborne pathogen that can cause a rare but sometimes lethal infection in neonates. Little is known about the virulence mechanisms and intracellular lifestyle of this pathogen. In this study, we developed an IgG monoclonal antibody (MAb; MAb 2G4) that specifically recognizes the O1 antigen ofC. turicensiscells. The antilipopolysaccharide antibody bound predominantly monovalently to the O antigen and reduced bacterial growth without causing cell agglutination. Furthermore, binding of the antibody to the O1 antigen ofC. turicensiscells caused a significant reduction of the membrane potential which is required to energize flagellar rotation, accompanied by a decreased flagellum-based motility. These results indicate that binding of IgG to the O antigen ofC. turicensiscauses a direct antimicrobial effect. In addition, this feature of the antibody enabled new insight into the pathogenicity ofC. turicensis. In a tissue culture infection model, pretreatment ofC. turicensiswith MAb 2G4 showed no difference in adhesion to human epithelial cells, whereas invasion of bacteria into Caco-2 cells was significantly inhibited.

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