To deliver a EUR/RSM Master’s Thesis

through an online platform

Research Topics

Research Sources

Practical Research (Nature: Design & Intervene1)

AssessTeam

Composition

Assess Platform for

Team Dependant

Functionality

DesiredFunctionality

InventoryDevelop

Applicable Collaboration

Platform

1Verschuren & Dooreward: Designing a Research Project

INNOVATION TEAM

INNOVATIONEXECUTION

Visualisation S.L.J. Twigge EUR/RSM Research Project 2005:Delivering a Research paper through an Online Collaboration Platform

Online Resources:- Third Party Knowledge- Online Facilitation Forum (Questionnaire Possibility)- Related Websites: i.e. Sourceforge.net

Other:- Scientific Literature- Articles- Context Cases

Virtual Team Dynamics:Decision Making Theory, Team Roles, Building & Maturity,

Online Collaboration:Adaptive Structuration Theory, Platform & Modularity Theory,Communication Theory

Project Management:Metrics, Reporting, Notification, Diagnosis, Analysis, Validation

High Level: Team Dynamics, Application Development, Project Management

SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGY

PreliminaryStudy to Develop Research

Perspective

Definition of concepts-Online Collaboration-Online Platform-Research Project-Team Dynamics-Virtual Team

MOVING FROM INFORMATION > COMMUNICATION > TRANSACTION

To gain insight into the dynamics of a research

team in a virtual environment

To develop an Online Collaboration Platform

for this research project

Hand-In Definite Version

ResearchProposal

< 1 April 2005

FinishedReadingTheory

By 15 Feb 2005

First Version & Functionality

Online Platform

15 Feb 2005: End Full Time Job RNLMC

01 February 2005

Research Module

Definitions

General Underlying Research Process and Task Distribution

In phasing the notification, * means they are considered to be ‘early adopters’ for testing any platform functionalities. Other research members will be more critical towards the ‘actual benefits received’ from working with the online platform in comparison to generally available communication platforms.

* Handleiding Afstudeertraject Faculteit Bedrijsfkunde, 25 September 2003, http://www.rsm.nl/pls/portal/docs/1/1277794.PDF

** early adopters, actual benefits received

RESEARCH TEAM

ONLINE COLLABORATION PLATFORM

The Research Process and Task Distribution–

Developing Team Dependant Functionality for an Online Collaboration Platform –

Applied to a Research Project

Objective

-Gain Experience & Insight into Online Collaboration and Virtual Research Team Dynamics- Develop an Online Collaboration Platform for a Research Project

-Deliver a Research Report according to EUR/FBK Master Thesis Standards

Product

DELIVER & NOTIFY PROCESS & FEEDBACK

RESEARCH

KNOWLEDGE & GUIDELINES2 University Coaches (+ 1)

+2 Private Co-Readers

Research Process Deliver Notify Process Feedback

Researcher Validation Team

Research Efforts Benefits from using an Online Collaboration Platform

To be further defined. Expected to state that the project is completed faster and more effective in comparison to other available communication technology platforms and functionalities. Will also include approx. SWOT Analysis (Strength, Weakness, Benefits and Risks)

The Online Collaboration Platform (OCP) provides a facilitating role in the process of working through a defined research structure. The structure for this project has been based on three sources:

- Verschuren & Doorewaard, 1999, Designing a Research Project- Institute Guidelines, December 2003, “Manual Master Thesis RSM”- Personal Document from Dr. P.C. van Fenema

Based upon these sources and results from the preliminary study, this research project is divided into two sub-projects:- Gaining insight into the working of a research team in a virtual environment- Developing an OCP for developing and delivering the Research Paper

The Team Assessment

Measure Skill Diversity, Profile, Background, Interests, Expertise, Level of Commitment

The Delivery Process

The research project is delivered to its stakeholders by the researcher through an online platform using an internet connection and a standard web browser. The researcher takes on the duty of processing the research and editing it to the web pages. For this research a customised online platform is built.

To guide the research effort to an effective working methodology the following research questions have been defined:

Research Questions

• Which benefits are feasible when applying the concepts of Virtual Teams and Online Collaboration to delivering an RSM Thesis through an online platform?

– Which underlying processes and types of Virtual Teams and Online Collaboration apply to this research project?

• Community, Portal, Knowledge Management, E-Learning (Training, Development and Distant Learning), Project Coordination, Document Mgt., Conferencing, Workflow Mgt., High Performance Teams, Heavyweight Development Teams, the Skunk Works

– Which group dynamics can be tracked and managed through an Online Collaboration Platform?

• Do the special communication needs require functional facilitation?• Interaction Incidents, Decision Processes, Moderation, Conflict Resolution & Arbitration

– Does the research project provide a base for developing team dependant online collaboration functionality?

Research Context http://www.twigge.com/thesis/Support/PRELIM/ResearchContext.php

Research Questions http://www.twigge.com/thesis/Support/PRELIM/ResearchQuestions.php

Definition of Concepts http://www.twigge.com/thesis/Support/PRELIM/ConceptDefinitions.php

Research FrameworkManagement Questions

Online Collaboration Strengths Weaknesses Benefits Risks Processes Productivity Metrics

-Checklist

-Support & Guidance

-Investment

- Technical Infrastructure

- Organisational Context & Conditions

Virtual Team Dynamics

Communication

Product: Research Project

Project Control

During the preliminary study the following Research Modules have been identified

1) Team Assessment

2) Online Platform

3) Theory Concepts / Empirical Notions1) Adaptive Structuration Theory

2) Virtual Teams

3) Online Collaboration

4) Models1) Project Management

2) Service Orientated Architecture

5) Online Resources1) Third Party: Forum (www.fullcirc.com

2) Specialists “University”

3) Google, JSTOR, ABI-INFORM, “Scriptie Databank”

6) Comparisons1) Social Software

2) Collaboration Products (see next page) RSS

7) Context Cases1) KM: Product Implementation

2) Hilti: Departmental Communication / Implementation

3) Ordina: Departmental Communication

• Sourceforge / www.VAsoftware.com• www.dotproject.net, www.tutos.org, www.wgroupware.org, www.Groove.net, Blackboard• www.markroseman.com, www.cornerways.com, www.sonexis.com, www.fullcirc.com• Idea that all firms are stuck on the road of conferencing solutions• GroupLab –University of Calgary• Need to focus up to eight team members – including leader – span of control issues• TeamWave• www.onlinecommunityreport.com• www.keystoneconsulting.com – optimizing workforce communication & E-Learning• docta Norway• Deaf People using TeamWave for online collaboration• www.courseforum.com/projectforum/details.html• GroupKit – http://www.groupkit.org/history.html• Document Management – Workflow Management – Online Learning • ProjectForum – www.courseforum.com – workgroups collaborate and coordinate their project work• Social Software – Calendars – Slot Management• WebCT• Netviewer – desktop sharing tool• OneSpace.net – design review process (CoCreate)• http://www.projectcoordinator.net/• InfoWorkSpace, HyperOffice, FuseTalk, Vignette, IBM Lotus Team Workplace, WebEx• www.virtueelsamenwerken.nl• Office Functionality / Microsoft Workspace

• As this is both a design and an intervene/change orientated research, aimed at producing XXX and XXX, the following data collection methods are most relevant:

Team Assessment

• Innovators, Early Adopters, etc.

Tik-oefening• To ensure realisation of the research objective• A formulation of the research issue to be useful and necessary 6

• Capture the research issue is a brief definition 12

• Capture the objective of the research in a brief definition 9

• Concern a confrontation of observations and for theories on the basis of which conclusions are drawn 22

• Descriptive knowledge often plays a valuable role in obtaining explanatory insights 18

• Jump through hoops to make things work 6

• In every work of genius, we recognise our own rejected thoughts .They come back to us with a certain alienated majesty,. Emerson 10