Algorithmic Processes of Social Alertness and Social Transmission: How Bots Disseminate Information on Twitter

2022 | Management Information Systems Quarterly | Citations: 0

Authors: Alves de Lima Salge, Carolina; Karahanna, Elena; Thatcher, Jason

Abstract: Despite increased empirical attention, theory on bots and how they act to dissem ... Expand

Abstract: Despite increased empirical attention, theory on bots and how they act to disseminate information on social media remains poorly understood. Our study leverages the conduit brokerage perspective and the findings of a multiple case study to develop a novel framework of algorithmic conduit brokerage for understanding information dissemination by bots and the design choices that may influence their actions. Algorithmic conduit brokerage encompasses two intertwined processes. The first process, algorithmic social alertness, relies on bot activity to curate and reconfigure information. Algorithmic social alertness is significant because it involves action triggers that dictate the kinds of information being searched, discovered, and retrieved by bots. The second process, algorithmic social transmission, relies on bot activity to embellish and distribute the information curated. Algorithmic social transmission is important because it can broaden the reach of information disseminated by bots through increased discoverability and directed targeting. The two algorithmic conduit brokerage processes we offer are unique to bots and distinct from the original conceptualization of conduit brokerage, which is rooted in human activity. First, since bots lack the human ability of sensemaking and are instead fueled by automation and action triggers rather than by emotions, algorithmic conduit brokerage is more invariant and reliable than human conduit brokerage. Second, automation increases the speed and scale of information curation and transfer, making algorithmic conduit brokerage not only more consistent but also faster and more extensive. Third, algorithmic conduit brokerage includes a set of new concepts (e.g., action triggers and rapid scaling) that are specific to bots and therefore not applicable to human conduit brokerage. Collapse

Topics: Twitter boundary spanning social media website social network

Methods: multiple case study computational algorithm case study theory development machine learning

Tech Giants and New Entry Threats

2021 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Song, Weiling; Pan, Yang

Abstract: The prominence and perceived power of tech giants-Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and ... Expand

Abstract: The prominence and perceived power of tech giants-Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google-have raised antitrust concerns in stifling new startup entries, particularly the so-called kill zone effect. We provide evidence showing that such an allegation is real as the entrants of tech giants' product spaces have a significantly lower (higher) likelihood of receiving second round VC financing (being inactive or defunct) relative to benchmark entrants in recent years. However, when examine the source of kill-zone effect, we rule out network effect as a factor explaining such a kill-zone effect. It implies that the anticompetitive activities engaged by tech giants are the likely culprits. Collapse

Topics: network effect database system Facebook Google+ mergers and acquisition

Methods: natural language processing SDC Platinum longitudinal research descriptive statistic difference in differences

Platform Pricing and Investment to Drive Third-Party Value Creation in Two-Sided Networks

2020 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Tan, Burcu; Anderson, Edward G.; Parker, Geoffrey G.

Abstract: Many two-sided platforms (for example, eBay, Google, iOS, Android, Twitter, and ... Expand

Abstract: Many two-sided platforms (for example, eBay, Google, iOS, Android, Twitter, and Amazon) provide integration tools, such as modular interfaces, interactive development environments, application programming interfaces, and help desks, to reduce the costs and improve the functionality of third-party content developed for the platform. The need for such investment is increasing with the rise of major new markets as the result of technologies, such as the “Internet of Things.” Although crucial to platform success, platform integration tools are costly to create. We develop an analytic model to explore the key tradeoffs behind investment in integration tools and how that investment interacts with pricing decisions in a two-sided market. We model these decisions for hardware/software platforms as well as hybrid retail platforms and analyze them under various scenarios, including monopoly and competition. Our results suggest that considering integration investment can create market regimes in which the standard pricing results from the extant platform literature no longer hold. For example, the tendency to reduce prices to one side of a market in response to increasing the benefit of the network to the other side may be suboptimal in the presence of integration investment. Therefore, integration investments must be well coordinated with pricing decisions made for both sides of the market. In general, higher levels of investment by hardware/software platforms into integration become desirable when the platform (1) has access to a large pool of content providers and consumers, (2) is able to develop integration tools that are highly effective in reducing third-party development costs, and (3) operates in a market in which content providers earn a high-enough profit margin creating content that is highly valued by the consumer market. Hybrid retail platforms often show similar behavior. However, there are some nuances. For example, business to business platforms can make investments in integration to facilitate participation by both sides of the market. We find that these investments are complements, not—as one might expect—substitutes. We conclude by discussing this work’s implications for theory and practice. Collapse

Topics: price management computer hardware business-to-business network effect value creation

Methods: optimization model design methodology

The Role of Venture Capital in the Formation of a New Technological Ecosystem: Evidence from the Cloud

2018 | Management Information Systems Quarterly | Citations: 6

Authors: Breznitz, Dan; Forman, Chris; Wen, Wen

Abstract: The diffusion of new information technology (IT) requires the development of an ... Expand

Abstract: The diffusion of new information technology (IT) requires the development of an ecosystem of hardware and software producers, users, and other firms. It is widely believed that venture capitalists (VCs) can play a role in the development of such ecosystems. However, empirical research to elaborate on these points is lacking. Focusing on the recent rapid rise of one platform, cloud computing, we assemble a unique dataset to look at the period just before wide acceptance of the cloud. We find evidence of complementarity between VC financing and the introduction of new products offered over the cloud. Moreover, the complementarity effects are significantly stronger for firms backed by VCs that had rich experience in the IT industry and are significantly weaker for firms that had prior experience developing traditional client/server products. These results provide evidence that supports a role for VC financing in the creation of new technological ecosystems. Collapse

Topics: cloud computing enterprise information system database system software as a service website

Methods: longitudinal research robustness check cross sectional research qualitative interview descriptive statistic

Differential Innovativeness Outcomes of User and Employee Participation in an Online User Innovation Community

2018 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 19

Authors: Yan, Jie (Kevin); Leidner, Dorothy E.; Benbya, Hind

Abstract: Firm-hosted online user innovation communities (OUICs) have emerged as a vital s ... Expand

Abstract: Firm-hosted online user innovation communities (OUICs) have emerged as a vital source of knowledge and expertise for innovation and new product development. Prior research on OUICs has primarily focused on participation of external product users and benefits obtained from their contributions. However, the role of internal employees of the host firm, albeit essential for the community’s long-term success, has not yet received much attention. This study attempts to bridge this gap by investigating the innovation outcomes of employees participating in OUICs. By analyzing a longitudinal data set collected from Salesforce.com’s IdeaExchange community, we find that accessing product user ideas with diverse and well-codified content drives idea promotion and generation of participating employees. Moreover, ideas contributed and promoted by employees are more likely to be implemented than those contributed and only promoted by product users. We discuss important implications of our study for the online innovation community literature and for the development of overall employee engagement in OUICs. Collapse

Topics: innovation management idea generation logistics management Salesforce.com knowledge sharing

Methods: qualitative coding longitudinal research design methodology qualitative interview literature study

Theories: cognitive attention theory SECI model of knowledge dimensions organizational knowledge creation

From CRM-System-Effectiveness to Profitability

2017 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Hein, Daniel

Abstract: The ability to manage customer relationships has become a key differentiating fa ... Expand

Abstract: The ability to manage customer relationships has become a key differentiating factor for companies that compete in a hypercompetitive environment. The purpose of this research is to investigate the mechanisms by which CRM-systems in their distinct architecture contribute to firm profitability. Drawing from prior work in the information systems and accounting literature, we examine the effect of CRM system effectiveness on profitability, considering the mediating roles of firms’ customer knowledge and customer strategy proactiveness. The results of serial mediation analysis based on data from a sample of 138 executives offer novel insights into the mechanism through which CRM systems contribute to performance gains. Our research contributes to the IS and the strategic management literatures by developing a conceptualization for CRM-system effectiveness and by delineating the causal process between CRM-system effectiveness and profitability. Collapse

Topics: customer relationship management system system quality marketing management strategic management financial performance

Methods: survey data transformation mediation analysis confirmatory factor analysis field study

Theories: organizational information processing theory resource based view of the firm

A Study of Enterprise Software Licensing Models

2017 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 9

Authors: Li, Shengli; Cheng, Hsing Kenneth; Duan, Yang; Yang, Yu-Chen

Abstract: We study an enterprise software vendor’s decision on three prominent licensing m ... Expand

Abstract: We study an enterprise software vendor’s decision on three prominent licensing models– on-premises, software as a service (SaaS), and hybrid. Our findings indicate that both the customers’ estimation of the future software quality improvement and network effects play critical roles in the software vendor’s choice of optimal licensing models. If the network effects are weak, the enterprise software vendor should choose the on-premises model when customers have a low estimation of the software quality improvement in the upgrade version. The hybrid model should be implemented if this estimation is in the mid-range, while the SaaS model generates the highest profit when customers believe that the upgrade version will have a significant improvement in software quality. As the network effects become stronger, the on-premises model will be dominated by the other two licensing models and is never optimal. In the event of a high upgrade cost and strong network effects, SaaS becomes the best licensing model due to its multitenancy nature. Collapse

Topics: software as a service on-premises software network effect enterprise information system system quality

Methods: optimization model experiment

The role of context in IT assimilation: A multi-method study of a SaaS platform in the US nonprofit sector

2017 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Wright, R.T.; Roberts, N.; Wilson, D.

Abstract: Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) operate in environments characterized by growing ... Expand

Abstract: Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) operate in environments characterized by growing competition for resources and greater stakeholder demands for accountability, which makes deploying and maintaining information systems a struggle. In this competitive, resource-constrained environment, enterprise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms offer NPOs a cost-effective way access reliable, low-maintenance information technology services. Thus, the extent to which NPOs assimilate SaaS is an important area of inquiry. Yet despite the wealth of research on organizational IT assimilation, we know little regarding whether, when, and how NPOs assimilate IT innovations. We further our understanding of NPO assimilation of SaaS by conducting a context-based study. To do so, we employ multiple methods with data collected from US-based NPOs executives. Our first study showed that organizational factors (e.g., readiness, top management participation) and environmental factors (e.g., social gains, industry) affect the degree to which NPOs assimilate SaaS. However, we also found that technological factors do not appear to play a significant role in NPO SaaS assimilation. We conducted a phenomenological analysis to shed further light on this unexpected finding. Our analysis found that readiness to adopt SaaS, perceptions about SaaS complexity, and the use of outside consultants all played a key role in NPOs' assimilation process. © 2017 The OR Society. Collapse

Topics: software as a service Salesforce.com cloud computing digital innovation database system

Methods: phenomenological method survey mixed method personal interview experiment

Theories: theory of everything technology organization environment framework diffusion of innovations theory

Using Expectation Disconfirmation Theory and Polynomial Modeling to Understand Trust in Technology

2016 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 26

Authors: Lankton, Nancy K.; McKnight, D. Harrison; Wright, Ryan T.; Thatcher, Jason Bennett

Abstract: Trust in technology is an emerging research domain that examines trust in the te ... Expand

Abstract: Trust in technology is an emerging research domain that examines trust in the technology artifact instead of trust in people. Although previous research finds that trust in technology can predict important outcomes, little research has examined the effect of unmet trust in technology expectations on trusting intentions. Furthermore, both trust and expectation disconfirmation theories suggest that trust disconfirmation effects may be more complex than the linear expectation disconfirmation model depicts. However, this complexity may only exist under certain contextual conditions. The current study contributes to this literature by introducing a nonlinear expectation disconfirmation theory model that extends understanding of trust-in-technology expectations and disconfirmation. Not only does the model include both technology trust expectations and technology trusting intention, it also introduces the concept of expectation maturity as a contextual factor. We collected data from three technology usage contexts that differ in expectation maturity, which we operationalize as length of the introductory period. We find that the situation, in terms of expectation maturity, consistently matters. Using polynomial regression and response surface analyses, we find that in contexts with a longer introductory period (i.e., higher expectation maturity), disconfirmation has a nonlinear relationship with trusting intention. When the introductory period is shorter (i.e., expectation maturity is lower), disconfirmation has a linear relationship with trusting intention. This unique set of empirical findings shows when it is valuable to use nonlinear modeling for understanding technology trust disconfirmation. We conclude with implications for future research. Collapse

Topics: perceived ease of use information system use presentation software Salesforce.com

Methods: theory development statistical hypothesis test structural equation modeling linear regression analysis theoretical contribution

Theories: trust theory prospect theory cognitive dissonance theory expectation disconfirmation theory contrast theory

Which ideas are more likely to be implemented in online user innovation communities? An empirical analysis

2016 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 69

Authors: Li, Mingguo; Kankanhalli, Atreyi; Kim, Seung Hyun

Abstract: Online user innovation communities are increasingly being deployed by firms to g ... Expand

Abstract: Online user innovation communities are increasingly being deployed by firms to garner innovation ideas from customers or users. However, very few ideas from such communities are successful in getting selected for implementation by the host firm. Given the limited understanding of the phenomenon, this study examines the determinants of firms' implementation of customers' ideas from user innovation communities. Drawing on theories of message persuasion and cognitive overload, we develop a conceptual model to explain how the likelihood of idea implementation is affected by the characteristics of its contributor as well as the characteristics of a submitted idea and its presentation. Specifically, we study the effects of the contributor's prior participation and prior implementation rate, as well as the idea's popularity, length, and supporting evidence on the idea's implementation likelihood. Our model is validated through logistic regression on a secondary dataset of 19,964 user ideas collected from two large user innovation websites, Salesforce.com IdeaExchange and Dell IdeaStorm. The results show significant impacts of these characteristics on idea implementation likelihood and also reveal important differences in their effects for hybrid (i.e., Dell IdeaStorm) versus professional (i.e., Salesforce.com IdeaExchange) user innovation communities. Collapse

Topics: innovation management Salesforce.com website accounting online community

Methods: descriptive statistic post-hoc analysis logistic regression theoretical contribution conceptual modelling

Theories: theory of bounded rationality cognitive dissonance theory