Social networks and coordination performance of distributed software development teams

In this study, we explore the coordination performance of the geographically distributed software development teams by exploring OSS (Open Source Software) development dataset available through SourceForge.com. OSS team structures have traditionally been geographically dispersed and therefore, the coordination of post release activities such as testing efforts have been carried out by means of communication via electronic forms, such as email or message boards and forums. In our current communication-enriched environment, best practices for coordination are adopted by all software projects yet some still fail to achieve their target performance. Does team structure have any bearing on the performance outcome of the project? How does the communication between teams and their external parties affect ultimate success or failure of projects? We seek to answer above questions by applying existing theories and analytical methods from social networks for exploring the coordination performance of defect management activities found in OSS projects. We propose social networks based theoretical model for exploring distributed coordination structure and apply that for the case of OSS defect management process for exploring the structural properties, which induce the greatest coordination performance. The outcome of our suggest that there is correlation between certain network measures such as density, centrality and betweenness and coordination performance measures of defect management systems such as quality and timeliness.     

研究型大学高水平科研助理队伍建设研究及建议

总结分析当前研究型大学高水平科研助理队伍建设的重要性,指出其在建设中存在的管理模式不合理和保障体系不健全等相关问题,并对其今后的发展和管理提出相应的对策建议。     

Enhancing team creative performance through social media and transactive memory system

Effective teamwork, knowledge coordination, and knowledge creation are recognized as essential sources of team effectiveness and creativity in modern organizations. Nowadays, social media is significantly modifying the patterns in the use of technology to support knowledge management practices in teams. At the same time, the literature shows that transactive memory system (TMS), which refers to how team members share their distributed knowledge and expertise, is an important factor affecting team performance. However, minimal effort has been made to elaborate on the precise role of social media in supporting TMS for enhancing absorptive capacity (ACAP) and knowledge creation capability (KCC) of the team, which in turn might influence team creative performance (TCP). Therefore, to address this gap in the literature, a theoretical model is developed and validated. Survey data collected from 334 members of 68 knowledge work teams indicated that social media use at work has a positive relationship with TMS and both social media use at work and TMS are positively related to ACAP and KCC of the team. Results further indicated that ACAP positively influenced KCC, and both have a direct relationship with TCP. This study shows that careful investment in social media by an organization can enhance meta-knowledge of “who knows what” within teams. Finally, exploring external knowledge alone is not enough. Instead, organizations must ensure external knowledge is utilized to create new knowledge to improve TCP.     

Gamification in innovation teams

The paper examines the relationship between gamification – the use of game elements in non-gaming contexts – and innovation teams’ outcomes. It builds on psychological and teamwork theories, arguing that gamification overcomes collaboration issues and generates multiple positive outcomes, particularly in coordination, alignment, engagement, and teams’ motivation. The research follows a qualitative theory-driven using a case study of an innovation project. The conceptual model built through the findings offers valuable insights about applying gamification in innovation teams, namely: i) surprising teams with such a new and playful approach reduces stress among team members; ii) rules and time constraints play a crucial role in teams’ coordination by avoiding dispersion and enhancing focused efforts. The paper provides a set of testable theoretical propositions derived from the conceptualization of gamification in the context of innovation teams. It supports innovation managers interested in measuring gamification outcomes in teams.     

移动互联网环境下大学生数据素养能力实证评价研究

[目的/意义]结合国内外文献研究与初步研究,基于移动互联网环境下大学生数据素养能力表现,构建大学生数据素养能力评价指标体系并进行实证分析,从而提供数据素养能力综合评价标准与工具。[方法/过程]首先基于提纲式专家访谈与小样本问卷测试,运用探索性因子分析构建移动互联网环境下大学生数据素养能力评价指标体系,并进行科学性检验与优化;在此基础上结合半结构化问卷调研,运用主成分分析从互联网环境下的数据意识、数据知识与技能、数据组织与管理、数据表达与解释四个一级指标进行实证评价。[结果/结论]实证分析结果表明移动互联网环境下大学生数据素养能力存在年级与专业差异,其中数据意识、数据表达与解释的群体均衡收敛,个体异质性在数据知识与技能、数据组织与管理能力表现显著。最后,从国家层面的数据标准化管理与教育个性化发展协同、移动互联网数据资源管理云环境、高校"四位一体"渐进式智慧培养体系三个视角提出互联网环境下大学生数据素养能力提升的对策建议。     

精确到点的创新型科研管理模式

科研管理需要不断进行创新才能满足飞速发展的科学研究的需求。常规的科研管理模式主要是从面上对科研项目、团队、经费、成果等进行管理。这种模式将不同资源进行了分类,从而不利于科研的创新发展。本文论述了一种精细的新型科研管理模式,重点阐述了它的优点和实施思想。这种科研管理模式能够很好地对科研资源进行优化组合以提高科研的效率和产出。     

Exploring computer supported collaborative coordination through social networks

The performance of work groups and in particular geographically distributed ones is negatively affected by communication issues and task dependencies.Contemporary science suggests social link optimization apart from improving the technical aspects to address these issues. In our study, we focus on distributed coordination and project performance. Social network structure and coordination performance variables are described by our framework with regards to distributed coordination during bug fixing process. Based on the model and the literature reviewed, we propose two propositions—(i) the level of interconnectedness has a negative relation with coordination performance; and (ii) centrality social network measures have positive relation with coordination performance variables. We use a sample of 415 Open Source Projects hosted on SourceForge.net. The results suggest that both propositions are correct. Furthermore, in the methods section implementation of an automated process is introduced to build graph definitions in adjacency matrix or NCOL format from thousands of forum threads. We describe the implementation of a novel method to plot sociograms in batch from hundreds of graph definitions automatically and calculate network centrality and density measures for all of them at the same time. Finally, we suggest the implications of this study to software development project management research.     

如何加强高校科研团队例会的管理

科研团队例会是强化科研团队管理的重要手段。通过分析例会效果不如人意的原因,探讨提高高校科研团队例会效果的方法和对策,说明在组建和管理高校科研团队的过程中应当充分认识开好有效例会的重要性,并以清华大学燃料电池城市客车科研团队的实例说明有效例会制度对高校科研团队所起的作用。     

Enterprise Information Portals in support of business process, design teams and collaborative commerce performance

Enterprise Information Portals (EIPs) have been widely adopted as platforms for the integration of knowledge management and information technology (IT). This study has been conducted from the knowledge management perspective in order to examine the influence of EIPs on collaborative commerce in the automobile industry. This study explores the integration of internal and external business processes and the coordination of collaborative design teams. An initial qualitative investigation explores the practical applications of an EIP in an automobile company. A research model is then formulated and tested using a questionnaire survey of the R&D department of a motor company in Taiwan. The results of the data analysis reveal that presence of EIPs can help a company realize the benefits of c-commerce. EIPs also can improve collaborative commerce performance by promoting the degree of integration of the enterprise process and by strengthening the process innovation and communication of collaborative design teams. The results suggest that managers should reinforce important factors, including knowledge management tools, process integration, and the quality of design teams, in order to achieve success in collaborative commerce.     

个体—组织匹配、内隐协调对跨功能团队创造力的影响:内部人身份感知的调节效应

在经济转型与技术创新改革发展新阶段,构建跨功能团队成为组织获得持续竞争优势的关键路径,开发与培养跨功能团队创造力也因此受到学术界与企业界的广泛关注。通过对西安高新技术开发区软件园内27家中小科技型企业的75个跨功能团队的深入调研,将内隐协调引入个体—组织匹配与跨功能团队创造力关系中,探讨个体—组织匹配对跨功能团队创造力的影响机制,并将内部人身份感知作为调节变量进行实证分析。结果表明:个体—组织匹配度越好、内隐协调水平越高,越容易激发跨功能团队创造力;个体—组织匹配通过内隐协调对跨功能团队创造力的影响效果显著;成员内部人身份感知程度越高,内隐协调在个体—组织匹配与跨功能团队创造力之间的中介作用越强。据此,提出了跨功能团队创造力提升的针对性建议。     

Facts and fads in academic research management: The effect of management practices on research productivity in Australia

As a response to competitive market forces and governmental steering policies, Australian universities have strengthened considerably their internal research management in the last two decades. This paper examines empirically the effect of management on academic research productivity. The results suggest that management practices indeed seem to have some positive effect on research productivity, and the effect is consistent in the earlier (1995–2000) and later (2001–2007) time period. Universities with a more intensive management approach not only have higher absolute level of research productivity but they demonstrate also faster growth in productivity. An omitted variable bias and robustness of the results to the choice of the output measure are under a particular attention and call for some caution in interpreting the results.     

Professional networks, scientific collaboration, and publication productivity in resource-constrained research institutions in a developing country

We test the hypothesis that scientific collaboration is associated with increased publication productivity. We differentiate our approach from other studies by (a) incorporating professional networks in the productivity model, (b) casting productivity and collaboration as distinct phenomena, and (c) examining these phenomena in the context of resource-constrained research institutions in a developing country. We use survey data and employ negative binomial regression models. Results indicate that publication productivity is significantly linked to professional network factors, but there is no evidence of any association with scientific collaboration. We observe that most scientists collaborate in research projects despite coordination difficulties, and without any measurable impact on their productivity. Our interviews reveal that a possible answer to this puzzle appears to be rooted in a practice that views collaborative research projects not mainly as a means to producing knowledge and gaining recognition, but for acquiring professional opportunities and extrinsic rewards. Our findings suggest a new way of modeling publication productivity, with implications for science and innovation policy in both the developed and the developing world.     

Business teams in an information age

Abstract

A critical success factor for businesses in the twenty‐first century will be their ability to meet the environmental demands for complex coordination of action and rapid adjustments to volatile markets and global competition. Business teams are effective mechanisms for addressing the need for dynamic, flexible organizations that can effectively cope with complexity and turbulence.

Business teams are not a new phenomenon, but there is a new element in the equation: the use of information technologies (IT) to leverage team effort. Information technologies can enhance team performance through support of interaction processes by providing two types of functionality: coordination support and task execution support.

An agenda for action for moving forward a team‐based organization and use of information technologies for support of business teams is provided.     

基于共词聚类的能源互联网研究热点及发展脉络分析

能源互联网是传统能源向智慧能源转型的新的突破口。对该主题相关研究文献的共词分析、聚类分析及引文编年分析,有利于加强能源互联网的高效利用,把握该研究领域的研究动态,探索新的研究方向,为打造绿色网络提供理论支撑。论文研究发现:能源网络职能演进研究、能源互联网技术体系研究、能源的生产调度及传输控制研究、能源互联网信息获取和处理4个方面构成了能源互联网研究主要研究脉络。并且涵盖材料学、生物学、电子控制学、信息科学、经济管理学等学科领域,是典型的学科交叉性问题。通过对相关研究文献的进一步文献计量分析,论文进一步发现:新时代能源互联网发展需要具备以下条件:政策引导、行业分工协作、互联网技术进步、金融媒体支持与倡导。     

湖南省耕地经营协调度时空演变

揭示区域耕地经营格局特征有助于从区域层面解读耕地经营模式特点,切实有效提出区域耕地利用转型的重点和发展方向。本研究基于“集约-规模-产能”三要素提出耕地经营协调度评价模型,并借助协调度函数和探索性空间数据分析方法揭示湖南省县域耕地经营格局演变特征。结果表明：①1990—2014年间,湖南省县域耕地经营协调水平整体较高,且空间格局差异明显：“长株潭”丘陵区集约指数较高,洞庭湖平原区规模指数较高,主要市辖区及其周边县域产能指数较高;②受不同地理区位和社会经济影响,湖南省县域耕地经营要素时空集聚特征存在明显差异:空间维度上,耕地经营协调度由“大集聚”向“小集聚”分布转变;时间维度上,规模指数自相关性较强且分布较集中,产能指数自相关性较弱且分布较分散;③从“投入-规模-产出”过程看,平原区呈现“高-高-高”特征,丘陵区表现“高-低-低”特征,山地区则为“低-低-低”特征。结合耕地经营格局时空演化特征成因,建议湖南各县域因地制宜地采用以粮食作物为主的集约经营模式,以经济作物为主的复合经营模式和特色作物经营模式。     

物联网/传感网发展之路初探

回顾了物联网/传感网研究工作和概念的演进与变化,指出物联网/传感网即是带有传感/识别器的信息网络系统,用以实现智能感知和管理,同时论述了物联网的战略需求和作用、需解决的关键科学技术问题,并就发展物联网提出了若干建议。     

Managing large-scale IS/IT projects in the public sector: Problems and causes leading to poor performance

With a large scope and high degree of complexity, managing large-scale projects is a challenge to project managers. The challenge is even greater when it comes to public sector projects due to the involvement of many stakeholders and the need to manage various relationships. For these reasons, many projects ended up with poor performance. Research has shown that success in managing large-scale projects requires a great deal of coordination and collaboration which can be done through established processes, strong teams, and involvement of stakeholders. Even though these processes and approaches are known, effectively implementing them is very difficult. The objective of this study is to investigate the management of selected large-scale IS/IT projects in the public sector in order to identify common problems and causes leading to poor performance. Fourteen projects from the US, UK, and Australia were studied, making this research among the few studies to investigate large-scale IS/IT projects in the public sector from different countries. The research results indicate common problems related to system design and implementation, project management and governance, and contract management. Theoretical contributions and implications for practitioners are also discussed.     

科技创新团队基于冲突比例变化的创新管理研究构思与展望

简单回顾冲突机理和冲突比例变化及其创新管理的文献,分析科技创新团队基于冲突机理的创新管理,探讨科技创新团队冲突比例变化对创新管理影响研究的必要性,提出科技创新团队中任务冲突、过程冲突和关系冲突的比例变化对创新管理的研究重点和进一步的研究方向,最后基于冲突比例组合理论构思了科技创新团队创新管理的研究思路及其研究展望。     

高校科研团队合作程度影响因素研究

科研团队是大科学时代最基本的科研组织形式,但现实中科研团队缺乏有效合作却成为中国科技发展痼疾。论文从科研团队合作网络角度分析对科研团队合作紧密程度的影响因素,并以华南地区部分高校92个团队为样本进行实证检验。结果表明:(1)小规模团队(10人以下)在合作网络密度与合作强度上均优于大规模团队(25人以上),且成立时间短的团队合作程度最高;(2)样本团队成员中不同学科背景对学术合作没有显著影响,也反映现实中团队成员跨学科合作并没有有效实现;(3)团队角色的完整性与均衡性对合作网络密度、合作强度有显著正向作用,表明团队角色完整性与均衡性对团队有效合作至关重要;(4)团队冲突对科研合作有负向作用。为此,在推动高校科研团队发展中应尽可能控制团队规模;尤其要注重团队中角色的完整性与均衡性,团队成员需要有明确的角色与功能分工;建立规则化解冲突机制,减少合作冲突。     

高校海洋领域科研团队建设研究

科研团队是科技创新和科研攻关的重要载体,是获取和整合资源的有效组织形式。高校科研团队具有其特点与复杂性。该文通过调研,聚焦海洋领域的科研团队建设,并根据组织模式的不同,将调研高校的海洋领域科研团队分为“传统型”与“新型”两种类型,分析它们的优势与存在的问题,并从团队、带头人与成员、管理机制等层面提出了高校涉海科研团队建设思路。