CMN 410 final exam

Implementation definition?

The process by which organizations develop, introduce, & appropriate technology.

Why do organizations implement technology?

To enact change and to fix something 

Why do organizations fail at implementation?

-Different problems
-Features are used for multiple purposes
-The people who design the technology often are not the ones using it
-Tech is adopted in an environment full of existing technologies and work practices
-People’s perceptions vary and are hard to influence

What is the S-curve?

Shows how many people are using the thing and when

What is the tipping point?

When slow growth becomes rapid growth

What is the planned approach?

Knowing current state of org, knowing the end we want to reach, tech will help us reach the end in specific and predictable ways

Why does the planned approach fail?

• Managers try to dictate specific changes 

• Implementation as a discrete event 

• Unexpected changes= failures 

What is the improvisational approach?

Start by doing homework then be ready for the unexpected 

How should you implement the improvisational approach?

• Devote time and money  

• Actively monitor usage and react to unanticipated challenges 

• Look out for opportunities to support change

Adoption vs change in practice

If you care about how people use tech, then adoption is not the same as change  

Anticipated change?

Planned ahead of time and occur as planned  

Emergent change?

Arises spontaneously and is not originally anticipated or intended 

Opportunistic change?

Not anticipated, but introduced purposefully in response to emergent opportunities or breakdowns 

Technology genres?

Shapes audiences interpretations for what it is, what its for, how/ when you should use it

Where do Technology genres come from?

Drawn from rhetorical theory

How do technology genres influence adoption and appropriation? 

Adoption= Whether you not you use the technology 

Appropriation=How you use the technology 

What are technological frames?

The underlying, assumptions, expectations, and knowledge that people have about a specific technology 

What do technological frames do?

Come from talk and experience  

Shapes perception and actions/behaviors 

Shape evaluation of success 

What is data?

raw observations of the environment (this thing is red)

What is information?

Data that is processed to be useful (who, what, when, where) (this red, leafy, object is an apple)

What is knowledge?

Application of information to a particular end (why, how, for what) (an apple a day keeps the doctor away)

What is explicit knowledge?

Easily shared, explained, written down (directions)

What is Tacit knowledge?

Difficult to explain with words, learnable through experience (chess, implementation)

What is sticky knowledge?

Hard to share when it matters most, but if you have common knowledge its easier 

What is leaky information?

Easier to share with people from another organization

social media affordances?

Editability (crafting and recrafting acts before views), Visibility (make behaviors visible to others), persistence (communication remains accessible), Association (connections) 

Impression management?

People gauge expertise through indirect signals (performances) 

Individuals know that people do this, and construct signals to shape others’ perceptions 

What is cybervetting?

Employers’ use of online sources to inform personnel selection decisions 

Why do employers cybervet?

Distrust traditional applicant information 

To know the “real” applicant 

Low risk, high reward 

Algorithmic management?

The use of algorithms and predictive modeling to semi-or fully-automate the management, coordination, and administration of a workforce 

Systems are trained to emphasize speed, cost, and efficiency 

What is signaling?

People rely upon indirect signals to make inferences about others skills attributes or behavior 

Humans are aware that people use signals and construct them strategically  

In a world of analytic assessments, workers manage power inequities in algroithmic management via strategic signaling 

In a world of measurement, people preform to the measurement because we are gamed by the gamers  

What is distributed work?

Work across distances, facilitated using communication technology

Reasons for distributed work?

• Its easy 

• Were more spread  

• Potential for reduced redundance  

• Potential for creativity  

What is physical distance?

How close are workers across space

What is temporal distance?

How synchronous are our activites?

What is social distance?

How much context, knowledge, culture do we share

Challenges with physical distance?

• Out of sight out of mind 

• No eaves dropping  

• No watercooler effect  

• Social facilitation 

Challenges with temporal?

No overlap in jobs

Challenges with social?

• Less opportunity to gain familiarity with values  

• Less chance to observe other people’s skills  

• Increased likelihood that differences will be present  

Help with physical?

Immediate communication

making sure communication is accessible

Conveying messages

Help with temporal?

Conveying messages

immediate communication

making sure communication is accessible

Help with social?

Meaningful and engaged social interaction 

In-person bonding opportunities 

Onboarding focused on task focused teams