scholarly journals Sociomateriality and Organizational Analysis: from Rhetoric to Relevance

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (97) ◽  
pp. 241-264
Author(s):  
Edvalter Becker Holz

Abstract This essay expands upon the debate on sociomateriality with a critique of the current ontological agenda. Based upon the influential literature from the fields of management and organization studies, and information systems, it presents the emergence, the development, the consolidation and the popularization of the debate on the relations between the social and the material in organizations. Drawing on this trajectory, the paper suggests that the current agenda for a sociomaterial ontology is constituted predominantly through rhetorical uses of the notion of ontology. The relevance of this contribution lies in questioning the supposed development of a sociomaterial ontology, describing and exemplifying its rhetorical strategies: authorial randomness, theoretical centrifugation, and conceptual procrastination. It concludes that it is necessary to return to the phenomenon as relevant “in” the debate from the point of view of its trajectory: the diffusion of new technologies and the subsequent implications at the organizational and social levels. The main implication for future research is the adoption of pragmatic ontologies with the aim of restoring the primacy of the phenomenon over the ontology.

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (97) ◽  
pp. 241-264
Author(s):  
Edvalter Becker Holz

Abstract This essay expands upon the debate on sociomateriality with a critique of the current ontological agenda. Based upon the influential literature from the fields of management and organization studies, and information systems, it presents the emergence, the development, the consolidation and the popularization of the debate on the relations between the social and the material in organizations. Drawing on this trajectory, the paper suggests that the current agenda for a sociomaterial ontology is constituted predominantly through rhetorical uses of the notion of ontology. The relevance of this contribution lies in questioning the supposed development of a sociomaterial ontology, describing and exemplifying its rhetorical strategies: authorial randomness, theoretical centrifugation, and conceptual procrastination. It concludes that it is necessary to return to the phenomenon as relevant “in” the debate from the point of view of its trajectory: the diffusion of new technologies and the subsequent implications at the organizational and social levels. The main implication for future research is the adoption of pragmatic ontologies with the aim of restoring the primacy of the phenomenon over the ontology.


2011 ◽  
pp. 140-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. Taylor

The introduction of new technologies to accumulate large amounts of data has resulted in the need for new methods to secure organizational information. Current information security strategies tend to focus on a technology-based approach to securing information. However, this technology-based approach can leave an organization vulnerable to information security threats. Organizations must realize that information security is not necessarily a technology issue, but rather a social issue. Humans operate, maintain, and use information systems. Their actions, whether intentional or accidental, are the real threat to organizations. Information security strategies must be developed to address the social issue.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 14-32
Author(s):  
Sabrina Priego ◽  
Meei-Ling Liaw

Previous literature in the area of computer assisted language learning in Second/Foreign Language (L2/FL) education has highlighted the benefits of using virtual environments for learning the target language and culture (e.g. Blyth, 2018; Lloyd, Rogerson, & Stead, 2017; Shih, 2015). In addition, a number of researchers have demonstrated that one of the important attributes of virtual environments for language learning is the affordances of physical and social presence (e.g. Cho, Yim, & Paik, 2015; McKerlich, Riis, Anderson, & Eastman, 2011; Peterson, 2011; Wang, Lawless-Reljic, Davies, & Callaghan, 2011). However, to our knowledge, no previous studies have investigated the affordances of virtual environments from the makers’ point of view. In this present study, 22 Canadian pre-service teachers used a 360 degree camera and Virtual Reality (VR) software to construct VR environments that were used as cultural virtual tours. They then invited 24 Taiwanese students to interact with them in their created immersive environments. Analyses of the pre-service teachers’ final written reflections showed that most of them reported that they experienced a sense of physical and social presence in their self-created VR environments and that they enjoyed participating in the VR project. However, various factors, such as the design of the task, technical difficulties with the VR equipment, and limits of the social VR network were also found to have negatively influenced their satisfaction with the VR experience. Findings from this study might inform other L2/FL teachers who design VR environments and integrate social VR in their classes. Suggestions for future research are also provided.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-82
Author(s):  
Flávia Maria Santoro ◽  
Rosa Maria E. Moreira da Costa

Information Systems (IS) plays an essential role in shaping almost all sectors of society, such as, commerce, politics, services, entertainment, information, relationships, among others. Digital technologies have enabled a new dimension of products, transmission, storage, and access to information. The outcome of this whole transformation process is intended to provide improvement and facilitating the lives and practices of individuals in society. However, we have also to face its negative impacts. We argue that situations involving both the design and the adoption or use of IS should be analyzed from the point of view of Ethics through a well-defined process that might help the professional and/or the citizen in making decisions in sensitive contexts when conceptual conflicts show up. To justify the definition of this process, we discuss the significance of the new technologies based on Andrew Feenberg's Philosophy of Technology. Grounded on this theory, we highlight the benefits and problems of the new technologies in the contemporary world. Finally, we present the process proposal and analyze the results of its application in the context of two well-known real cases and discuss the results in light of the theoretical foundation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
LUIS ADRIAN LASSO CARDONA

Introduction: This bibliographic review article is the product of research on new technological trends, focusing on citizen security, carried out at the SIEL research hotbed of the Universidad del Valle-Buga headquarters, Colombia in 2019. Problem: Investigate the new technological trends aimed at the citizen security sector. Objective: Identify the new technological trends in the sector of citizen security, its application in the world and expose the current state in Colombia. Methodology: Documentary review of primary sources of the last 5 years, such as; scientific articles, government pages, laws, press releases and recognized newspapers. Results: Since MinTIC was created in Colombia, in partnership with different government entities, society in general has benefited from projects in areas such as education, health, housing and security. The modernization of control institutions in Colombia is evident being the security sector one of the most advantageous. Conclusion: In general terms, sectors such as technology and education are still lagging behind. As for the security sector, there is no doubt the effort and progress in research and development of new technologies present in the vast majority of government entities. Originality: new technological trends are investigated from the point of view of citizen security in several application scenarios. Limitations: For the most part, the review focuses on aspects of citizen security, indicating very little the social field


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Radosław Sterna ◽  
Paweł Strojny ◽  
Krzysztof Rębilas

The social facilitation effect describes the change in the performance of the task under the influence of the presence of observers. The effect itself consists of two components: social facilitation in simple tasks and social inhibition in complex tasks. In the context of the dynamic development of new technologies, the question of the possible influence on human behavior by virtual characters gains importance. We attempted to critically describe and summarize current research on social facilitation in order to answer the question of whether it occurs in virtual environments. We found 13 relevant studies, 3 of which demonstrated social facilitation, 4 social inhibition and 1 demonstrated the whole effect. The conclusions drawn from the analysis are ambiguous. Firstly, we identified that 12 out of 13 analyzed studies failed to show the whole effect. Secondly, we encountered several shortcomings of the summarized research that further complicated its interpretation. The shortcomings: presence of the researcher, unclear usage of “agent” and “avatar”, evaluation of activation, no pilot tests of observers and no description of how their characteristics are generated, among others, are discussed. Furthermore, we investigated the effect sizes and their variability. The average effect size for social facilitation was g = 0.18, CI [-0.28; 0.64] and for social inhibition g = -0.18, CI [-0.40; 0.04]. In social facilitation, a substantial level of heterogeneity was detected. Finally, we conclude that it is still too early to provide a definite answer to the question of whether social facilitation exists in Virtual Environments. We recommend limiting evaluation activation to the lowest possible level, conducting pilot tests prior to the experiment, avoiding the presence of the researcher in the experimental room and a clear distinction of “agent” and “avatar”, as measures to achieve a better quality in future research.


2021 ◽  
pp. 25-29
Author(s):  
Paola Inverardi

AbstractAutonomous systems make decisions independently or on behalf of the user. This will happen more and more in the future, with the widespread use of AI technologies in the fabric of the society that impacts on the social, economic, and political sphere. Automating services and processes inevitably impacts on the users’ prerogatives and puts at danger their autonomy and privacy. From a societal point of view, it is crucial to understand which is the space of autonomy that a system can exercise without compromising laws and human rights. Following the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies 2018 recommendation, the chapter addresses the problem of preserving the value of human dignity in the context of the digital society, understood as the recognition that a person is worthy of respect in her interaction with autonomous technologies. A person must be able to exercise control on information about herself and on the decisions that autonomous systems make on her behalf.


2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 455-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Brucato

Cameras are ubiquitous and increasingly mobile. While CCTV has captured considerable attention by surveillance researchers, the new visibility of police activities is increasingly produced by incidental sousveillance and wearable on-officer camera systems. This article considers advocacy for policing’s new visibility, contrasting that of police accountability activists who film police with designers and early adopters of on-officer cameras. In both accounts, these devices promise accountability by virtue of their mechanical objectivity. However, to each party, accountability functions rather differently. By attending to the social and legal privileging of police officers’ perspectives, the article provides an explanation for design decisions that produced Taser’s AXON Flex on-officer cameras and for why police are embracing these new technologies. Critics of these cameras cite privacy concerns, officer discretion in operating cameras, and department disclosure of footage. Nonetheless, advocates of police accountability often presume more video documenting police use of force is always helpful. However, the utility of surveillance video is conditioned by point of view. Police agencies in the U.S. are rapidly adopting on-officer camera systems, because they acknowledge ubiquitous surveillance and that these devices aid in nullifying third-party documentation in favor of a perspective that favors officers. As such, these cameras are counter-sousveillance technologies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-169
Author(s):  
Silviu Costachie

AbstractIn the following paper we will discuss about the situation of the Romanian gypsies living in Spain and the main problems involved by their presence in this country. We will analyze the causes that made them emigrate to Spain, together with a historical analysis of this process, the living conditions they have (housing, employment, education...). Also, we will present the social problems they suffer because of their particular culture, other than Spanish, the main settlements where they chosen to live in Spain and social acceptance from the point of view of the Spanish population. The present article is the direct result of a research program that was developed almost two years ago by the Research Center for Regional Development and European Integration of the University of Bucharest, part of a larger research program regarding the ethnic minorities of Romania. The main important aspect of this research is the fact that we used two target groups interviewed both in Romania and Spain and also, we used official information regarding Romanian gypsy located actually on Spanish territory, according with the official Spanish census. This way we managed to gather a large quantity of information and to provide to the reader a closer to reality image of the status of Romanian gypsy presently living inside Spanish border. Also, the novelty brought by this research is the fact that we tried to present the social and integration problems encountered by the Romanian gypsies located in the cities or villages of Spain. The article might be considered a starting point for future research upon this subject.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 0-0

The global competition have extended the scope of trade and extended the supply chains causing the information management to be an essential part of the businesses. Many new technologies have recently been adapted by organizations in the era of digitalization. Cloud computing had an important place in these technologies and has been integrated widely to organizations. In recent days unexpected and risky periods such as the global pandemic increased the interest towards cloud computing topic in both academically and practically. The purpose of this study is to analyze and classify the contributions of the studies published in cloud computing field. The cloud literature is analyzed systematically from the management and business point of view. The review is limited with journal articles and papers published between 2014 and 2019. This research summarizes the current research attempts, discovers the research gaps and provides a research agenda for the future research on cloud computing within the context of information management in business and management by a global perspective.


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