Input control and its signalling effects for complementors' intention to join digital platforms

2023 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 2

Authors: Adam, Martin; Croitor, Evgheni; Werner, Dominick; Benlian, Alexander; Wiener, Martin

Abstract: Existing information systems (IS) research on platform control has largely focus ... Expand

Abstract: Existing information systems (IS) research on platform control has largely focused on examining how input control (i.e., the mechanisms used to control platform access) affects complementors' intentions and behaviours after their decision to join a digital platform. Yet, our understanding of how input control is perceived before this decision and how such perceptions influence prospective complementors' intention to join a platform is still nascent. In this regard, our study views input control as a salient signal that shapes prospective complementors' expected benefits and costs (i.e., their performance and effort expectancy), and ultimately their decision to join a digital platform. Drawing on signalling theory and the antecedent-benefit-cost (ABC) framework, we conducted a randomized online experiment in the context of donation-based crowdfunding. The experiment results offer empirical support for this view by showing that input control has distinct and complex signalling effects for prospective complementors. In particular, our findings reveal curvilinear and competing signalling effects, with perceived input control increasing both performance expectancy (at a decreasing rate) and effort expectancy (at an increasing rate). Also, we find that performance expectancy linearly increases prospective complementors' intention to join a platform, whereas effort expectancy linearly decreases their intention to do so. These findings imply that the overall relationship between perceived input control and intention to join follows an inverted U-shape curve, which means that neither a low nor a high, but a moderate degree of perceived input control maximizes prospective complementors' intention to join. In sum, the results of our study provide novel and important insights into the signalling role that perceived input control plays in shaping prospective complementors' decision to join a digital platform. Collapse

Topics: digital platform crowdsourcing crowdfunding behavioral intention digital ecosystem

Methods: experiment mediation analysis survey survey design theory development

Theories: signaling theory

The Threatening Effect of Invoked Help from Highly Competent Intelligent Agents

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Adam, Martin; Diebel, Christopher; Goutier, Marc

Abstract: Empowered with artificial intelligence, intelligent agents (IAs) increasingly o ... Expand

Abstract: Empowered with artificial intelligence, intelligent agents (IAs) increasingly offer help not only in response to user prompts (i.e., user-invoked help) but also without user prompts (i.e., IA-invoked help). Additionally, IAs are becoming more competent and even surpassing users in performing many computational and repetitive tasks. Drawing on self-affirmation theory, we investigate users' acceptance of IA-versus user-invoked help for identity-defining tasks from IAs with different levels of relative competence. We conducted an experiment with 199 software developers and found that IA-invoked (vs. user-invoked) help increases self-threat and thus reduces users' willingness to accept help from IAs. Moreover, relative competence moderates this effect, in that only IAs having relatively higher (vs. lower or equal) competence cause self-threat. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the self-threatening effects of IA-invoked (vs. user-invoked) help from IAs and the related role of relative competence that crucially shapes effective user-IA collaborations. Collapse

Topics: software developer user acceptance accounting artificial intelligence systems development

Methods: experiment business process modeling experimental task survey linear regression analysis

Generational differences in handling technology interruptions: a qualitative study

2023 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Baham, Corey; Kalgotra, Pankush; Nasirpouri Shadbad, Forough; Sharda, Ramesh

Abstract: Digital native and digital immigrant user types characterise the differences bet ... Expand

Abstract: Digital native and digital immigrant user types characterise the differences between those who grew up in a world of ubiquitous information systems and those who pre-date it. The rise in computer-mediated communication (CMC) technologies such as emails, text messages, and social media creates more opportunities for interruptions. Researchers have explored the impact of growing up in a world of technology. However, little research has explored the potential differences between digital natives and digital immigrants handling technology interruptions. This paper uses a qualitative approach to examine the extent to which individuals handle CMC interruptions differently based on the role of technology and its level of pervasiveness in the environment in which they grew up. Thirty-three interviews were conducted with individuals from different population groups based on age and gender to understand how technology interruptions are handled in work and social life. The findings support existing pre- and post-technology interruption frameworks and explain how and why generational differences exist in the process of CMC interruption handling. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Collapse

Topics: technostress task productivity task characteristic electronic mail information system use

Methods: qualitative interview personal interview qualitative coding literature study business process modeling

Theories: activity theory

Network Centralization and Collective Adaptability to a Shifting Environment

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 1

Authors: Bernstein, Ethan S.; Shore, Jesse C.; Jang, Alice J.

Abstract: We study the connection between communication network structure and an organizat ... Expand

Abstract: We study the connection between communication network structure and an organization’s collective adaptability to a shifting environment. Research has shown that network centralization—the degree to which communication flows disproportionately through one or more members of the organization rather than being more equally distributed—interferes with collective problem-solving by obstructing the integration of existing ideas, information, and solutions in the network. We hypothesize that the mechanisms responsible for that poor integration of ideas, information, and solutions would nevertheless prove beneficial for problems requiring adaptation to a shifting environment. We conducted a 1,620-subject randomized online laboratory experiment, testing the effect of seven network structures on problem-solving success. To simulate a shifting environment, we designed a murder mystery task and manipulated when each piece of information could be found: early information encouraged an inferior consensus, requiring a collective shift of solution after more information emerged. We find that when the communication network within an organization is more centralized, it achieves the benefits of connectivity (spread of novel better solutions) without the costs (getting stuck on an existing inferior solution). We also find, however, that these benefits of centralization only materialize in networks with two-way flow of information and not when information only flows from the center of the network outward (as can occur in hierarchical structures or digitally mediated communication). We draw on these findings to reconceptualize theory on the impact of centralization—and how it affects conformity pressure (lock-in) and awareness of diverse ideas (learning)—on collective problem-solving that demands adaptation.History: This paper has been accepted for the Organization Science Special Issue on Experiments in Organizational Theory.Funding: The authors acknowledge financial support from the Division of Research at the Harvard Business School for making this research possible. Collapse

Topics: social influence problem solving internet technology social network debugging

Methods: experiment machine learning simulation Poisson regression logistic regression

Theories: organizational theory

Valuing Flexibility in Low Carbon Electricity Portfolios

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Blumsack, S.

Abstract: With the increased focus on responding to climate change by accelerating a tran ... Expand

Abstract: With the increased focus on responding to climate change by accelerating a transition to a low carbon energy system, differing views remain on the combination of energy technologies that will best achieve this goal. Identifying technological pathways is complicated by wide uncertainties in economic and technological factors. Analyses that neglect these uncertainties can produce pathways for a low carbon energy future that are highly granular and specific, but which are based on a particular assumption about future conditions and imply a need to make specific technology commitments over a long period of time. We frame the energy transition problem as the identification of one near-term investment strategy that is flexible across a wide range of possible future costs, followed by many alternative subsequent investment plans, each of which responds to realized future costs to achieve an aggressive emissions reduction target. Using an example of planning a low carbon power system under uncertainty, we demonstrate the option value of not ruling out some energy technologies in the near-term. Collapse

Topics: energy information system IT investment technological change

Methods: support vector machine case study machine learning stochastic model descriptive statistic

Organizing Entrepreneurial Teams: A Field Experiment on Autonomy over Choosing Teams and Ideas

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 1

Authors: Boss, Viktoria; Dahlander, Linus; Ihl, Christoph; Jayaraman, Rajshri

Abstract: Scholars have suggested that autonomy can lead to better entrepreneurial team pe ... Expand

Abstract: Scholars have suggested that autonomy can lead to better entrepreneurial team performance. Yet, there are different types of autonomy, and they come at a cost. We shed light on whether two fundamental organizational design choices—granting teams autonomy to (1) choose project ideas to work on and (2) choose team members to work with—affect performance. We run a field experiment involving 939 students in a lean startup entrepreneurship course over 11 weeks. The aim is to disentangle the separate and joint effects of granting autonomy over choosing teams and choosing ideas compared with a baseline treatment with preassigned ideas and team members. We find that teams with autonomy over choosing either ideas or team members outperform teams in the baseline treatment as measured by pitch deck performance. The effect of choosing ideas is significantly stronger than the effect of choosing teams. However, the performance gains vanish for teams that are granted full autonomy over choosing both ideas and teams. This suggests the two forms of autonomy are substitutes. Causal mediation analysis reveals that the main effects of choosing ideas or teams can be partly explained by a better match of ideas with team members’ interests and prior network contacts among team members, respectively. Although homophily and lack of team diversity cannot explain the performance drop among teams with full autonomy, our results suggest that self-selected teams fall prey to overconfidence and complacency too early to fully exploit the potential of their chosen idea. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on organizational design, autonomy, and innovation.History: This paper has been accepted for the Organization Science Special Issue on Experiments in Organizational Theory.Funding: The authors are grateful for funding from the Innovation Growth Laboratory, the Peter Curtius Foundation, and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant CRC TRR 190].Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2021.1520. Collapse

Topics: team productivity entrepreneurship missing data intrinsic motivation evaluation criteria

Methods: experiment experimental group survey causal mediation analysis field experiment

Nudging Towards Sustainable Delivery Options: First Insights From an Experimental Study

2023 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Brylla, Daniel; Walsh, Gianfranco

Abstract: As the e-commerce sector continues to grow, customers are increasingly concerne ... Expand

Abstract: As the e-commerce sector continues to grow, customers are increasingly concerned about the impact of their online orders on working conditions and the environment. In many cases though, online retailers emphasize delivery speed over sustainability and offer delivery options that put a strain on logistics workers and the environment. To promote the choice of more sustainable but slower delivery options, we present a model concerning how message frames affect delivery choice and customer outcomes (order completion, loyalty, word of mouth). An experimental study shows that simple message frames, regarding job conditions, the environment, and customer convenience, increase the choice of more sustainable, slower delivery options and customer outcomes indirectly via delivery choice, and warm glow feelings. Delivery fees dilute the impact of environmental message frames on delivery choice though. Overall, our findings suggest that nudging customers towards sustainable delivery options is possible, yielding positive effects for customers and retailers. Collapse

Topics: electronic commerce logistics management word of mouth website missing data

Methods: experiment theory development experimental design parametric test theoretical contribution

Bystanders Join in Cyberbullying on Social Networking Sites: The Deindividuation and Moral Disengagement Perspectives

2023 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Chan, Tommy K. H.; Cheung, Christy M. K.; Benbasat, Izak; Xiao, Bo; Lee, Zach W. Y.

Abstract: Cyberbullying on social networking sites (SNSs) escalates when bystanders join i ... Expand

Abstract: Cyberbullying on social networking sites (SNSs) escalates when bystanders join in the bullying. Although researchers have recognized the harmful consequences of joining in cyberbullying behaviors, little is known about the role of information technology (IT) and its underlying mechanisms in fueling such negative group behavior on SNSs. To address this research gap, we develop and test an integrative model that explains bystanders’ joining-in cyberbullying behaviors on SNSs. Based on the theoretical premises of the social identity model of deindividuation effects (the SIDE model), we derive two deindividuation experiences enabled by SNSs, namely experienced anonymity and experienced social identity. We further use the social network research framework to gain insights into how IT features (i.e., digital profile, search and privacy, relational ties, and network transparency) enable these two deindividuation experiences. Considering the socially undesirable nature of joining-in behaviors, we integrate the SIDE model with moral disengagement theory to explain how deindividuation experiences allow bystanders to bypass their psychological discomfort when engaging in such behaviors through the practice of moral disengagement mechanisms. Our research model is tested using a scenario survey, with two samples recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and Facebook. Our results support the influences of IT-enabled deindividuation experiences on bystanders joining in cyberbullying and demonstrate the mediating effects of moral disengagement mechanisms in bridging the effects of deindividuation experiences on joining-in behaviors. For researchers, the integrative view offers a conceptual bridge connecting IT features, deindividuation, moral disengagement, and negative online group behaviors on SNSs. For practitioners, our findings provide platform owners and governmental agencies with directions on how to mitigate cyberbullying on SNSs and other forms of deviant and undesirable online group behaviors.History: Yulin Fang, Senior Editor; J.J. Po-An Hsieh, Associate Editor.Funding: This work was substantially supported by a Senior Research Fellow Scheme Award, Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China [Grant HKBU SRFS2021-2H03]; and partially supported by grants from the General Research Fund, Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China [Grants HKBU12511016 and HKBU12500020].Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2022.1161. Collapse

Topics: cyberbullying social identity anonymity Facebook social network

Methods: survey psychometrics partial least squares regression theory development post-hoc analysis

Theories: ethical theory moral disengagement theory

Trust and deception with high stakes: Evidence from the friend or foe dataset

2023 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Chen, Xunyu; Wang, Xinran; Spitzley, Lee; Nunamaker, Jay

Abstract: Many social interactions rely on the premise of mutual trust, but deception viol ... Expand

Abstract: Many social interactions rely on the premise of mutual trust, but deception violates trust and poses risk. Empirically examining trust and deception, particularly in high-stakes situations, is challenging but essential for improving the research realism and generalizability. To address this difficulty, we study trusting and deceptive behaviors in a high-stakes situation by using a novel dataset created from an American game show, Friend or Foe (FoF). In the show, a contestant's reward was determined through a trust game modified from the prisoner's dilemma. We explore how numerous human behaviors including facial expressions, gaze, head pose, body motion, language, and socio-demographic attributes, were related to a contestant's trusting or deceptive decision. Using a data-driven approach, we find that the deceivers' (contestants who chose Foe) behavior featured a neutralized face, negative facial emotions, enhanced upper body motion, and language with a lower sense of immediacy and agreeableness. The contestants who chose to trust (chose Friend) exhibited opposite behavioral patterns. Socio-demographic factors such as age, height, and facial attractiveness were also associated with a contestant's choice. Combining multimodal information, machine learning classifiers could predict the contes­ tant's choice with an accuracy about 25% greater than earlier reported human accuracy. We contribute to both trust and deception literature by examining the generalizability of trusting and deceptive behaviors to a new high-stakes scenario. We also add to the decision support literature by showing the superior predictive perfor­ mances of combining behavioral and socio-demographic features. Furthermore, we contribute to the academic community by introducing the FoF dataset. Collapse

Topics: decision support website YouTube Python decision making

Methods: meta analysis support vector machine correlation analysis descriptive statistic random forest classification

Significance of Visual Realism – Eeriness, Credibility, and Persuasiveness of Virtual Influencers

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Cornelius, Samia; Leidner, Dorothy; Bina, Saman

Abstract: Though human-like design can increase favorable social behaviors like familiarit ... Expand

Abstract: Though human-like design can increase favorable social behaviors like familiarity and acceptance, it can also question the technology’s effectiveness, rationality, and functionality. With capabilities that allow technology to become more and more human-like, researchers and practitioners continue to delve over the efficacy and deployment of humanness in design. In this research paper, we measure positive and negative perceptions towards different levels of humanness among an emerging form of digital character: the virtual influencer. In doing so, we assess the efficacy of human-like design among virtual influencers by manipulating their visual realism and measuring the effect of this manipulation on their credibility and persuasiveness. Our experimental design also allows us to explore the existence of the uncanny valley in a novel technological context. Collapse

Topics: Instagram social media digital media logistics management word of mouth

Methods: experiment Wald test parametric test logistic regression binomial logistic regression

Theories: uncanny valley theory