Symbols: The Offline Connection For Online Communities
Share People use symbols to help make mental connections more tangible, and the memories of them more easily accessed and brought into the conscious mind. Durkheim (1965 [1912]: 251 – 52) writes of how members of groups tend to become fixed on totems as tangible representations of groups, keeping the images of the totem in their minds and attaching real sentiments to them, because the social reality of a group (even a dyad) is too complex to be... Read More
Uncertainty Avoidance to Avoidance Accommodation
ShareOn of the first frameworks developed for understanding innovation and technology and its relation to the economy has been the linear model of innovation. The model proposes that innovation starts with basic research, then adds applied research and development, ending with production and diffusions: Basic research Applied research Development Production and Diffusion The model has been very influential. Academic organizations, economist,... Read More
MNC Typologies and Social Computing
ShareMulti National Companies (MNC) use a vast array of typologies to distribute their products, services, and ideas throughout the world. There are seven main typologies that MNCs use to conduct business around the world which include ethnocentric, polycentric, geocentric, multidomestic, global, international and transnational. Each typology has unique characteristics that help leverage a company’s business model overseas. What’s even more interesting... Read More
Why Relationships?
Share The business world has change substantially through the ages. The twenty-first century heralds ever-increasing chaos in world relationships, economies, and geopolitical events. “Some researchers believe the significance of this period in humankind’s history has not been seen since the Industrial Age some 500 years ago” (Daft, R.L.). Today’s modern world of globalization, advancing technologies, outsourcing, shifting... Read More
Relationship vs. Task Oriented Leadership
Share After reviewing the article Six Personality Traits of a Leader by Ram Charan I found that the article reflected a task-oriented leadership action. “A task-oriented leader is primarily motivated by task accomplishment” (Daft, R.L.), while “A relationship-oriented leader is concerned with people” (Daft, R.L.). The article covered some great trairs that leaders should focus on however many of the traits listed where task dependent. Ram... Read More
Social Computing & Emotional Intelligence
Share Within social computing and the internet in general intelligence is highly regarded but little research has been done investigating the value of emotional intelligence (EI). Reviewing contemporary leadership theories emotional intelligence is breaking new ground on how self cognition plays into leading others. This new wave of thought is highly applicable to the evolving social computing industry. Emotional... Read More
Virtual Servant Leadership
Share Servant-Leadership in virtual teams can be tough since little to no face-to-face interaction occurs. However in leading virtual teams an immense amount of trust must be created between the team members and the leader. “Virtual team leaders have to trust people to do their jobs without constant supervision, and they learn to focus more on the results than on the process of accomplishing them” (Daft, R.L.). This is where... Read More



