IADIS International Workshop in Understanding Social Aspects of Internet Computing 2006 (USAIC 2006)

* Workshop Theme

Empirical research studies and practical experience provide us with many reasons why ICTs, especially internet computing applications, fail or perform poorly within organizations - both large and small. A common theme emerges however, which indicates that there is a lack of emphasis given to social and organizational factors – as opposed to technical, business and strategic factors (Wainwright and Waring, 2004). This can be traced back over 40 years from early studies of technology adoption in the workplace (Mumford and Weir, 1979) as well as more specifically to ICT adoption studies in computer systems design, development and adoption.

Typically, most of the analytical planning and resource emphasis is directed towards the technical and strategic aspects of the information systems design, development (or procurement), implementation and use. This is even more prevalent in the design, development, adoption and daily use of systems and applications that are based on internet computing applications, such as: advanced groupware technologies, intranets such as Microsoft Sharepoint Portal, e-learning platforms, mobile applications, application service provision and hosted web services.

This workshop will explore the social and organizational issues involved in the design, development and adoption of internet computing applications. Positions are sought which will highlight our concerns and enable an informed debate. The question is: do we need to take a more balanced approach? taking into account organizational structure, social and historical context, power, politics and culture – as opposed to blindly surfing a relentless wave of technological development, hype and artificially fabricated industry led demand.

Research, primarily originating from the organizational and social studies field, may offer the potential to understand and address complex organizational problems associated with technically dominated approaches to internet computing and ICT adoption. Such theories might include: Actor Network Theory (ANT); Socio-technical Theories and Approaches; Social Construction of Technology (SCOT); Diffusion of Innovation (DOI); Structuration Theory (ST); Critical Social Theory (CST) and Postmodernism (amongst many others).

There may be a need for a hybrid approach to internet computing whereby design, development and implementation teams adopt a multi-disciplinary approach. This would attempt to balance technical and engineering knowledge, skills and expertise with social, human and organizational competencies.

* Workshop Aims

This workshop will aim to explore the social and organizational issues related to the design, development and adoption of internet computing systems. It will provide a discussion of some of the emerging and more innovative approaches that may be applicable to both research and practice within the field of internet computing. Particular topics might explore (these are suggestions only):
• Should the internet computing development community have any social responsibility for their products?
• How do internet computing applications change management theory, practice and performance? How do they change human behaviour?
• What are the social, organizational, power and political consequences resulting from particular internet computing design and development decisions?
• What new competencies, knowledge and skills are required by researchers and practitioners for a more socially informed approach to the design and use of internet computing applications? How should we teach the next generation of students?

* Call for Contributions
Invited Position Statements and Speakers

We invite contributions in the form of either short or full papers (short papers up to 2500 words and full papers up to 5000 words) which aim to take a particular or perhaps controversial perspective on the topics outlined above or with respect to the internet computing topics of interest for the conference. Contributors may also wish to submit a short position statement (this is optional) to outline their views (maximum 500 words).

Selected contributors will then be invited to present their views in a short presentation of maximum 20 minutes. Up to four contributors will then be invited (based on a representative selection of views) to form a discussion panel with the Workshop and Programme Chairs. The workshop will aim to be fully participative to engender debate and lively discussion based around the issues raised by contributors and also invited speakers. It is hoped to record the discussion and debate and make the full transcription and invited contributions available after the event in the workshop proceedings.

Contributions should follow the guidelines for the conference and be submitted according to the instructions provided (for the attention of Dr David Wainwright).

* Recommended References for the Workshop

Jones, M. (1999) Structuration Theory, in Rethinking management information systems: An interdisciplinary perspective. Wendy Currie and Bob Galliers (eds). Oxford: Oxford University Press
Mumford, E. and Weir, M. (1979) Computer Systems in work design - The ETHICS Method, Associated Business Press
Munir, K.A., Jones, M. (2004) Discontinuity and After: The Social Dynamics of Technology Evolution and Dominance, Organization Studies, 25(4), pp. 561-581.
Orlikowski, W.J., Barley, S.R. (2001) Technology and Institutions: What can Research on Information Technology and Research on Organizations Learn from each other?, MIS Quarterly, Vol. 25(2), pp. 145-166.
Wainwright, D. and Waring, T. (2004) Three Domains for Implementing Integrated Information Systems: Redressing the Balance Between Technology, Strategic and Organisational Analysis, International Journal of Information Management, Vol 24, No 4., August, pp. 329-346.
Walsham, G., (2002) Cross Cultural Software Production and Use: A structurational analysis, MIS Quarterly, Vol 26(4), pp. 359-380.

* Important Dates:
- Submission Deadline (last call) - 4 September 2006
- Notification to Authors (last call) - 14 September 2006
- Final Camera-Ready Submission and Early Registration (last call) - Until 21 September 2006
- Late Registration (last call) - After 21 September 2006

* Workshop Location
The workshop will be held in Murcia, Spain.

* Secretariat
IADIS Secretariat - IADIS USAIC 2006 Workshop,
Rua Sao Sebastiao da Pedreira, 100, 3
1050-209 Lisbon, Portugal
E-mail: icwi_sec@iadis.org
Web site: http://www.iadis.org/icwi2006/USAIC2006