Business Commons^™

The Impact Of Team Member Familiarity On Communication Media Use And Subsequent Project Performance, Priscilla Arling, Hongjiang Xu

Priscilla Arling

This study explores how team member familiarity is related to the communication media used in the completion of projects and how that use impacts project performance. We surveyed 148 university undergraduate students who were enrolled in information systems courses. The students worked on projects in teams of 3 to 4 students. The results suggest that prior collaboration with current te am members, as well as a stude nt’s class year, are related to what communication media are used. The influen ce of team member familiarity and class year varies by the type of media used. We also find that higher …

Toward More Effective Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practice: Relational And Contextual Considerations, Priscilla Arling, Rebekah Fox, Bradley Doebbeling

Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling's contribution to Handbook of Healthcare Delivery Systems. London: Taylor & Francis, 2010.

Leveraging Social Networks And Team Configuration To Enhance Knowledge Access In Distributed Teams, Priscilla Arling, Mani Subramani

Priscilla Arling

Increasingly organizations are utilizing geographically distributed teams to accomplish their goals. To a great extent this new way of working has been made possible by electronic communication technology. Yet even while managers are leveraging electronic communication technology to gain access to new knowledge and to enable new team configurations, they are concerned about the knowledge acquisition of distributed team members who interact primarily via electronic communication. The objective of this study is to deepen our understanding of the relationship of electronic communication technology use and team configuration with knowledge access in distributed teams. We do so by examining the communication …

Knowledge Management: Integrating Social Networking Technologies And A Generative Learning Environment, Priscilla Arling, Mark Chun, B. Mcquaid

Priscilla Arling

Social networking technologies have commanded a lot of recent attention because they have changed the manner in which individuals have traditionally and historically accessed and shared knowledge. Although these technologies provide individuals with the opportunity to access and to utilize a plethora of knowledge created by others, the knowledge still needs to be organized, interpreted, and incorporated by the user in order for it to be useful. This research sought to better understand how social networking technologies can aid a firm's efforts to establish a knowledge management and a generative learning environment. The study closely followed one of the United …

A State-Sponsored Approach To Quality Improvement In Nursing Homes: Insights From Providers, Kathleen Abrahamson, Priscilla Arling, Greg Arling

Priscilla Arling

In 2006, the Minnesota Performance-based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) was launched to fund provider-initiated quality improvement (QI) projects addressing a wide range of persistent quality issues in nursing homes (eg, falls, pain, mobility, psychotropic medication reduction, care transitions). In this article, the authors describe the perceptions of nursing home providers who participated in a PIPP-funded QI project and completed a survey addressing a variety of QI-related concerns. Respondents noted the importance of support from top leadership, reported being challenged by resource constraints, and generally thought that their project positively impacted quality within their facility. These findings highlight the importance of …

An Application Of The Socio-Technical Systems Approach To Implementation Of Electronic Evidence Into Practice: The Clinical Practice Model Framework, Kathleen Abrahamson, Priscilla Arling, Bonnie Wesorick, James Anderson

Priscilla Arling

Implementation of electronic evidence into the practice environments of clinical staff is an ongoing challenge in health care organizations. Despite localized efforts to integrate point-of-care technology with clinical practice, system-wide transformation across multiple clinical settings has not commonly occurred. This paper examines a framework designed to guide the implementation of evidence-based practice using technology in health care settings from the theoretical lens of the Socio-Technical Systems (STS) approach. The framework under study is called the CPM Framework™, developed by the Clinical Practice Model Resource Center (CPMRC). The CPMRC is a collaborative consortium of health care providers representing over 300 rural, …

Comparing Electronic And Face-To-Face Communication In The Success Of A Long-Term Care Quality Improvement Collaborative, Priscilla Arling, Edward Miech, Greg Arling

Priscilla Arling

Researchers have long debated the effectiveness of electronic communication for getting work done in organizations, with many arguing that face-to-face interaction is key to high quality work and desired outcomes. Yet in healthcare quality improvement (QI) collaboratives, membership is frequently comprised of individuals from different, geographically dispersed organizations. This study examines the relationship between electronic and face-to-face interaction and the outcomes of a specific QI collaborative, the Empira Fall Prevention project in Minnesota. Outside of regularly scheduled meetings, the level of electronic communication reported by participants was associated with better outcomes in terms of reducing the percentage of new falls …

Communication And Effectiveness In A Us Nursing Home Quality-Improvement Collaborative, Priscilla Arling, Kathleen Abrahamson, Edward J. Miech, Thomas S. Inui, Greg Arling

Priscilla Arling

In this study, we explored the relationship between changes in resident health outcomes, practitioner communication patterns, and practitioner perceptions of group effectiveness within a quality-improvement collaborative of nursing home clinicians. Survey and interview data were collected from nursing home clinicians participating in a quality-improvement collaborative. Quality-improvement outcomes were evaluated using US Federal and State minimum dataset measures. Models were specified evaluating the relationships between resident outcomes, staff perceptions of communication patterns, and staff perceptions of collaborative effectiveness. Interview data provided deeper understanding of the quantitative findings. Reductions in fall rates were highest in facilities where respondents experienced the highest levels …

Knowledge Sharing And Knowledge Management System Avoidance: The Role Of Knowledge Type And The Social Network In Bypassing An Organizational Knowledge Management System, Susan A. Brown, Alan R. Dennis, Diana Burley, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

Knowledge sharing is a difficult task for most organizations, and there are many reasons for this. In this article, we propose that the nature of the knowledge shared and an individual's social network influence employees to find more value in person-to-person knowledge sharing, which could lead them to bypass the codified knowledge provided by a knowledge management system (KMS). We surveyed employees of a workman's compensation board in Canada and used social network analysis and hierarchical linear modeling to analyze the data. The results show that knowledge complexity and knowledge teachability increased the likelihood of finding value in person-to-person knowledge …

Redefining And Measuring Virtual Work In Teams: An Application Of Social Network Analysis, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

For several decades organizational researchers have explored the practice of using electronic technology to communicate when team members work physically apart from each other. Yet despite a growing body of research in the areas of telework and virtual teams, findings regarding the antecedents and outcomes of virtual work have often been inconsistent and many questions remain [1, 2]. One possible reason for the equivocality of findings regarding this practice is the lack of a common definition and method of measuring virtual work. The purpose of this paper is to present a definition and measure of virtual work that can capture …

The Impact Of Telework On Performance: A Social Network Approach, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

Despite almost thirty years of research in the area of telework, the findings regarding outcomes remain equivocal (Bailey and Kurland, 2002). This research in progress hopes to advance understanding by identifying a key mechanism by which telework affects performance, specifically its influence on the social network properties of cohesion, power and structural holes. With knowledge of how the number, frequency and diversity of relationships influences performance, practitioners and academics can develop processes to improve teleworker social networks. This in turn will enhance the use of social capital and also facilitate shared attitudes and behaviors, which will lead to higher organizational …

Systems Theory And Knowledge Management Systems: The Case Of Pratt-Whitney Rocketdyne, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

Despite a growing body of research on knowledge management (KM) systems, many managers are still unsure how they can implement a KM system that will effectively contribute to the firm’s competitive advantage. A common framework is one that breaks down KM into four main activities: knowledge creation, storage, transfer, and application. This paper describes one company’s use of an alternative perspective–a systems thinking approach–to define and improve KM within the firm. Pratt-Whitney Rocketdyne moved away from viewing KM as separate processes, to view the organization holistically as a system of people, processes, and technology. Based on this perspective, the company …

The Effect Of Telework , Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Social Network Analysis To Improve The Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices And Systems In Healthcare, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

In healthcare, evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates clinical expertise with the best available external evidence from systematic research. Yet even with the aid of technology, implementation of EBP in many settings remains a challenge. This paper combines research from the fields of healthcare implementation science and social networks to present an integrated framework for the study of EBP-related information systems. We explore the application of the framework to a complex healthcare collaborative, the MRSA infection control project, a project intended to foster the implementation of EBP's to reduce the spread of MRSA infections. We also consider how the framework can be …

Facilitating New Knowledge Creation And Obtaining Km Maturity, Priscilla Arling, Mark Chun

Priscilla Arling

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a framework designed to assess the capacity of a knowledge management (KM) system to facilitate new knowledge creation.

Design/methodology/approach – A longitudinal case study methodology, in a single company, Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR), was used to test the framework.

Findings – New knowledge creation is best supported through mature KM systems that include all four modes of knowledge creation: combination, externalization, socialization, and internalization. KM systems and environments as a whole reach maturity by progressing through stages, which is presented as a KM maturity model.

Research limitations/implications – By combining …

Improving The Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices And Information Systems In Healthcare: A Social Network Approach

Priscilla Arling

No abstract provided.

Facilitating New Knowledge Creation, Priscilla Arling, M. Chun

Priscilla Arling

No abstract provided.

A Systems Analysis Experiential Case Study: Repeatable Real World Problem Solving, Priscilla Arling, C. Deeter, H. Eggers

Priscilla Arling

Many business schools today are emphasizing experiential education, particularly in undergraduate instruction, where students often have had limited exposure to business settings. While a business problem can be presented in the form of a written case study, real world projects for external clients are increasingly being incorporated into the classroom. However finding suitable clients and projects for multiple student teams each semester can be difficult.

A Systems Analysis Experiential Case Study: Repeatable Real World Problem Solving, Priscilla Arling, C. Deeter, H. Eggers

Priscilla Arling

Many business schools today are emphasizing experiential education, particularly in undergraduate instruction, where students often have had limited exposure to business settings. While a business problem can be presented in the form of a written case study, real world projects for external clients are increasingly being incorporated into the classroom. However finding suitable clients and projects for multiple student teams each semester can be difficult.

A Network Implementation Class Exercise: Businessquest Business Incubator, Llc, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

One way to bring concepts to life in an introductory data networks course is for students to physically build a network that addresses a real business problem. However it can be challenging to find a suitable business problem, particularly if the network can exist only during the class period. This case presents a realistic business scenario and network implementation exercise that can be completed in one or two class periods in any classroom with Internet access. The objective of the exercise is for students to solve a business problem by applying concepts related to basic network configuration, local area networks …

Being There Versus Being Wired: The Effect Of Colocation On Social Capital In Distributed Teams, Priscilla Arling, Mani Subramani

Priscilla Arling

Advancement in communication technologies continues to fuel the growth of geographically distributed teams. Managers and team members have expressed concerns about negative impacts when individuals work at a distance from each other since such changes in work structure can affect social interactions among individuals in teams. The social relationships, shared experiences, and ongoing interpersonal interactions that often arise from colocation are recognized as contributing to the social capital of individuals. In this paper, we examine how working in a distributed team, a feature that influences the extent to which team members are colocated, affects the level of individual social capital. …

The Role Of Technology, Communication And Social Capital In Distributed Teams, Priscilla A. Arling

Priscilla Arling

Advancements in communication technologies continue to support the development of geographically-distributed teams. Yet as this practice grows, managers and staff remain concerned about the impact of working physically away from each other. This study theorizes social capital as the primary mechanism by which the level of distribution of individuals in teams and the use of communication technologies influence the work-related outcomes of job performance, job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Three components of social capital are examined: structural, relational and cognitive. I use social network methodology to capture differences in face-to-face versus technology-mediated communication networks in a survey of over 250 …

The Impact Of Telework On Performance: A Social Network Approach, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

No abstract provided.

Utilizing Social Networking Technologies To Facilitate A Knowledge Management And A Generative Learning Environment, M. Chun, Priscilla Arling, B. Mcquaid

Priscilla Arling

Note: full-text not available due to publisher restrictions. Link takes you to an external site where you can purchase the symposium paper.

Do Consumers With Green Lifestyles Appreciate Green Attitudes Of Low Involvement Products?, B. Florenthal, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

Toward More Effective Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practice: Relational And Contextual Considerations, Priscilla Arling, R. Fox, B. Doebbling

Priscilla Arling

Note: full-text not available due to publisher restrictions. Link takes you to an external site where you can purchase the book or borrow it from a local library.

Applying Systems Thinking To Knowledge Management Systems: The Case Of Pratt-Whitney Rocketdyne, M. Chun, K. Sohn, Priscilla Arling, N. Granados

Priscilla Arling

Note: full-text not available due to publisher restrictions. Link takes you to an external site where you can locate the article at your local library.

Systems Theory And Knowledge Management Systems: The Case Of Pratt-Whitney Rocketdyne, Mark Chun, Kiho Sohn, Priscilla Arling, Nelson Granados

Priscilla Arling

Despite a growing body of research on knowledge management (KM) systems, many managers are still unsure how they can implement a KM system that will effectively contribute to the firm’s competitive advantage. A common framework is one that breaks down KM into four main activities: knowledge creation, storage, transfer, and application. This paper describes one company’s use of an alternative perspective–a systems thinking approach–to define and improve KM within the firm. Pratt-Whitney Rocketdyne moved away from viewing KM as separate processes, to view the organization holistically as a system of people, processes, and technology. Based on this perspective, the company …

Redefining And Measuring Virtual Work In Teams: An Application Of Social Network Analysis, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

For several decades organizational researchers have explored the practice of using electronic technology to communicate when team members work physically apart from each other. Yet despite a growing body of research in the areas of telework and virtual teams, findings regarding the antecedents and outcomes of virtual work have often been inconsistent and many questions remain [1, 2]. One possible reason for the equivocality of findings regarding this practice is the lack of a common definition and method of measuring virtual work. The purpose of this paper is to present a definition and measure of virtual work that can capture …

Virtual Work, Priscilla Arling

Priscilla Arling

Note: full-text not available due to publisher restrictions. Link takes you to an external site where you can purchase the book or borrow it from a local library.