Managing conflict in online debate communities

First Monday ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Beck ◽  
Bikalpa Neupane ◽  
John M. Carroll
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Production System ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Beliefs And Values ◽  
Potential Sources ◽  
Online Debate

Kialo is a novel peer production system focused on pro/con debate construction. Distributed moderator teams vet and accept claims submitted by writers. Moderators also edit and refactor debates as they grow. Thus, moderators play a critical role in cultivating and maintaining debates. Conflict between moderators is typical. It is a feature of argumentation and debate. However, not all conflict is productive. Conflict between moderators can undermine collaboration (by distracting from the task of managing debates) and drive attrition (by discouraging participation on the site altogether). Based on a ten-month participant observation on Kialo, we identify a common source of conflict between moderators: adversarial beliefs and values. Moderators are not neutral participants on Kialo. They take positions on debate topics. We suggest foregrounding these positions, which are potential sources of conflict, through interface design as a scalable way to facilitate conflict management.

scholarly journals Managing Conflict in Online Debate Communities: Foregrounding Moderators' Beliefs and Values on Kialo

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Beck ◽  
Bikalpa Neupane ◽  
John M. Carroll
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Production System ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Beliefs And Values ◽  
Potential Sources ◽  
Online Debate

Kialo is a novel peer production system focused on pro/con debate construction. Teams of moderators vet and accept claims submitted by writers. Moderators also edit and refactor debates as they grow. Thus, moderators play a critical role in cultivating and maintaining debates. Conflict between moderators is typical. It is a feature of argumentation and debate. However, not all conflict is productive. Conflict between moderators can undermine collaboration (by distracting from the task of managing debates) and drive attrition (by discouraging participation on the site altogether). Based on a ten-month participant observation on Kialo, we identify a common source of conflict between moderators: adversarial beliefs and values. Moderators are not neutral participants on Kialo. They take positions on debate topics. We suggest foregrounding these positions, which are potential sources of conflict, through interface design as a scalable solution to conflict management.

Multistate product traceforward investigation to link imported romaine lettuce to a US cyclosporiasis outbreak – Nebraska, Texas, and Florida, June–August 2013

2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (13) ◽  
pp. 2709-2718 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. F. BUSS ◽  
M. V. JOSHI ◽  
J. L. DEMENT ◽  
V. CANTU ◽  
T. J. SAFRANEK
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Common Origin ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Romaine Lettuce ◽  
Us States ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Potential Sources ◽  
Production Practices ◽  
Sources Of Contamination

SUMMARYDuring June–August 2013, 25 US states reported 631 cyclosporiasis cases including Nebraska and Iowa where a regional investigation implicated common-source imported salad mix served in two chain restaurants. At least two common-origin growing fields were likely sources of contaminated romaine lettuce. Using producer- and distributor-provided data, we conducted a grower-specific traceforward investigation to reveal exposures of ill US residents elsewhere who reported symptom onset during 11 June–1 July 2013, the time period established in the Nebraska and Iowa investigation. Romaine lettuce shipped on 2–6 June from one of these Mexico-origin growing fields likely caused cyclosporiasis in 78 persons reporting illness onsets from 11 June to 1 July in Nebraska, Texas, and Florida. Nationwide, 97% (314/324) of persons confirmed with cyclosporiasis with symptom onset from 11 June to 1 July 2013 resided in 11 central and eastern US states receiving approximately two-thirds of romaine lettuce from this field. This grower's production practices should be investigated to determine potential sources of contamination and to develop recommendations to prevent future illnesses.

How the Chinese really negotiate: observations from an Australian-Chinese trade negotiation

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 38-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rod McColl ◽  
Irena Descubes ◽  
Mohammad Elahee
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Trade Negotiation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negotiation Strategies ◽  
Management Approaches

Purpose Previous research suggests that negotiation style and conflict management strategies are influenced heavily by cultural factors. In the case of the Chinese, findings have largely produced stereotypical views about their behavior, but the authors argue that this position is becoming increasingly blurred in the global economy. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using participant observation during negotiations of a free-trade agreement between China and Australia followed by in-depth interviews with Chinese delegates. Findings Consistent with Confucianism and a Taoism-based value system, there was evidence of strong cultural influence on conflict management approaches. Two a priori Chinese strategies were evident – avoidance and accommodating, with five tactics. However, contrary to previous research, the authors found use of two conflict management strategies normally associated with a western approach – competing and compromising, with five associated tactics. Practical implications Chinese negotiators are knowledgeable and capable of adopting western negotiation strategies and tactics. The authors advise managers involved in international negotiations with Chinese managers to be cautious when relying on historical stereotypical assessments and to think differently about the emerging Chinese negotiator. Originality/value Few published negotiation studies involve real negotiations based on actual observations, particularly in an international setting. Contrary to many published studies, we demonstrate that conflict management approaches used by Chinese negotiators have evolved into a blend of traditional Chinese and western styles.

scholarly journals An actor-network theory perspective to study the non-adoption of a collaborative technology intended to support online community participation

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-365
Author(s):  
Gibran Rivera ◽  
Andrew M. Cox
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Technology

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the value of Actor-network theory as an approach to explain the non-adoption of collaborative technology. Design/Methodology/Approach The notion of translation and related concepts pertaining to Actor-network theory are used to explore the case of non-participation in an organizational online community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 HR professionals belonging to a multi-campus university system in Mexico. Findings The study shows that participation in the online community did not occur as expected by those promoting its use. An initial inductive analysis showed that the factors that undermine participation had to do with the interface design of the technology and the individual motivations and benefits derived from participation. A second analysis, using ANT showed how processes of negotiation, conflict, enrolment, alignment, and betrayal that occurred during the emergence and evolution of the new network played a critical role in technology adoption leading to the dissolution of the initiative to adopt the collaborative technology. Originality/value The study shows the value of ANT as a tool to better understand the adoption and use of collaborative technology. The analysis goes beyond existing explanations of participation, which tend to focus attention on matters such as the interface design or the personal motivations and benefits derived from participation. It does so by moving away from solely looking at what occurs within the boundaries of a community and understanding the context within which it is being introduced. It prompts the analysis of moments of problematization, interessement, enrolment, and mobilization to explore the adoption process, including the role of non-human actors.

scholarly journals Sources of individual variation in plasma testosterone levels

2007 ◽  
Vol 363 (1497) ◽  
pp. 1711-1723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Kempenaers ◽  
Anne Peters ◽  
Katharina Foerster
Keyword(s):  
Individual Variation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Honest Signalling ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Potential Sources

The steroid hormone testosterone (T) plays a central role in the regulation of breeding in males, because many physiological, morphological and behavioural traits related to reproduction are T dependent. Moreover, in many seasonally breeding vertebrates, male plasma T levels typically show a pronounced peak during the breeding season. While such population-level patterns are fairly well worked out, the sources and the implications of the large variability in individual T levels within the seasonal cycle remain surprisingly little understood. Understanding the potential sources of individual variation in T levels is important for behavioural and evolutionary ecologists, for at least two reasons. First, in ‘honest signalling’ theory, T is hypothesized to play a critical role as the assumed factor that enforces honesty of the expression of sexually selected quality indicators. Second, T is often considered a key mediator of central life-history trade-offs, such as investment in survival versus reproduction or in mating versus parental care. Here, we discuss the patterns of within- and between-individual variation in male plasma T levels in free-living populations of birds. We argue that it is unclear whether this variability mainly reflects differences in underlying individual quality (intrinsic factors such as genetic or maternal effects) or in the environment (extrinsic factors including time of day, individual territorial status and past experience). Research in avian behavioural endocrinology has mainly focused on the effects of extrinsic factors, while other sources of variance are often ignored. We suggest that studies that use an integrative approach and investigate the relative importance of all potential sources of variation are essential for the interpretation of data on individual plasma T levels.

The Critical Role of TQM, JIT, and TPM in the Revisiting World Class Manufacturing and Manufacturing Excellence

2014 ◽  
Vol 660 ◽  
pp. 959-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukman Sukarma
Keyword(s):  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Production System ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Company Performance ◽  
Integrated Production ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
World Class ◽  
The Impact ◽  
World Class Manufacturing

Based on a comprehensive survey of existing manufacturing literature, the importance of the integrated production system in achieving manufacturing excellence is elaborated. In doing so, world-class manufacturing and manufacturing excellence are revisited. Four models of WCM and three concepts of ME are reviewed. Each element, which is considered to constitute WCM, is also discussed in detail. The impact of TQM, JIT, and TPM, individually and concurrently on company performance is exhaustively reviewed. Previous models of the integrated models are also compared. The existence of synergy in the application of TQM and JIT leading to additional performance improvement is also demonstrated. But the incorporation of TPM in the integrated production system has never been empirically investigated. Subsequent papers based on this study will present empirical evidence for the effectiveness of the integrated model.

Teaching how to fish: strategic practices in an entrepreneurial non-profit organization

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Alexandra Esperança Da Cunha Pimentel de Meira ◽  
Victor Meyer Jr., ◽  
Lucilaine Pascuci
Keyword(s):  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Nonprofit Organization ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Coupled Systems ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Bottom Of The Pyramid ◽  
Non Profit

The aim of this study is to analyze the strategic practices developed by a Brazilian nonprofit organization, which focuses on the promotion of social entrepreneurship at the bottom of the pyramid. The major goal of the study is to focus on the strategies of its project managers. The study is based on the concepts of Salamon (2003) and Moore (2000) and the role played by the nonprofit organization in the same manner that entrenches the theories of complex adaptive systems and the loosely coupled systems. It has also highlighted the use of strategy-as-practice as a theoretical basis to better understand the social actions. It is a case study of a qualitative nature. Data were collected from analysis of documents, non-participant observation and interviews. Data analysis revealed that project managers played a critical role as strategists. In their social practices they combine experience, sensemaking, interactions, decision making and knowledge together with neutrality and autonomy for action. The results revealed that the number of micro-entrepreneurs who benefited from the projects has grown significantly during the period of the study. Likewise, the income of these micro-entrepreneurs and that of their families has displayed a steady increase. The conclusion indicates that strategic practices carried out by project managers have brought social value to micro-entrepreneurs and contributed significantly to the achievement of the organization`s goals.

The California Wellness Foundation's Health Improvement Initiative: Evaluation Findings and Lessons Learned

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen Cheadle ◽  
Sandra Senter ◽  
Alicia Procello ◽  
David Pearson ◽  
Gary D. Nelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Health ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Systems Change ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Health Partnerships ◽  
Health Partnership

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of the Health Improvement Initiative (HII), a 5-year grantmaking initiative funded by The California Wellness Foundation designed to identify the critical factors needed to bring about population health improvements through community-level systems change. Design. The evaluation of the HII used a case-study, logic-model approach to make inferences about the effect of each community coalition (Health Partnership) on its target community. The primary outcome measure was the creation of significant and sustainable community-level systems change. Setting. The HII included nine communities in California that received funding to create broad-based Health Partnerships. Subjects. Primary data were collected from a variety of Initiative stakeholders by key informant interviews, closed-ended surveys, and participant observation. Intervention. The HII provided funding over 5 years to nine Health Partnerships that were intended to be a driving force in implementing community-level systems change. The ultimate objective of the systems change process was to improve “population health,” broadly defined to include social, economic, and cultural determinants of health, in addition to traditional health status indicators. Measures. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to assess the effect of the HII on key community systems. The primary outcomes were qualitative descriptions of community-level changes. Results. At the end of the 5 years of HII funding, six of the nine Partnerships had played a critical role in implementing sustainable systems changes that would likely have a significant effect in their target communities. Conclusion. The HII was successful in promoting community-level systems change in the majority of funded communities, although the evidence was mixed regarding the role of the Partnerships in bringing about these changes.

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