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Spring 2004
Course Description
This course explores online organizations, social relationships
and communication networks by using theories and methods from social
science, information science and humanities, including organizational
theory, the diffusion of innovation, social networks and network
organizations, etc. Key components of the course include:
- Methods. The course will introduce some of the key
social science methods for understanding the dynamics of online
ecologies, including participant observation, interviewing,
focus groups, etc.
- Practice. The course will look at the way software
environments give structure to communication and social
relations -- and vice versa -- and introduce concepts from
social science and humanities that help to frame the broader
theoretical issues. For example: New software ecologies such
as Tribe or Friendster can be analyzed by using social
network theory ('six degrees of separation') and information
theories, such as the 'strength of weak ties.' E-mail has been
analyzed using the theory of small group behavior.
Organizational change after new information systems are
introduced has been analyzed using the diffusion of innovation
and structuration theories. The idea of 'network organizations'
has been developing to describe new kinds of social
organization that are neither markets nor firms.
- Theory. Key social theories about IT and organization
will be covered, for example: Ev Rodgers' theory of the
Diffusion of Innovation, small group behavior; Walter Powell's
on networks, markets and network organizations; social network
theory; the idea of structuration as a model of how IT changes
organizations, etc.
- Design. The idea of "experience design" has evolved to
connect social science to software and hardware design.
Course evaluation will include both exams and a research paper analyzing the social dynamics of an online ecology.
Prerequisites
IS 202 and 204
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