Martin Böhringer

Modeling use continuance behavior in microblogging services:The case of Twitter

The most popular microblogging service, Twitter, has established a large user base, in spite of numerous criticisms. This study aims to examine why this is the case. In particular, the study develops a model of microblogging use continuance based on theories of continuance, habit and critical mass. The model is then tested via a Web survey of Twitter users and PLS path modeling. The results suggest that continued use intention is strongly determined by perceived usefulness, satisfaction and habit (R2=0.454). The paper rounds off with conclusions and implications for future research and practice in this very new area of inquiry.

Emergent Case Management for Ad-hoc Processes: A Solution Based on Microblogging and Activity Streams

Recent research has shown the need to include unstructured ad-hoc processes into business process management. A possible solution for this purpose is Case Management, where information related to a certain process instance is bundled into a case file. In addition to existing top-down approaches, this paper suggests a bottom-up view on Case Management that leverages emergent user-driven case handling. We theoretically derive characteristics of such a system and demonstrate the approach based on a toolset of current Social Software techniques including microblogging, activity streams and tagging.

Towards an Ontology of Multidimensional Data Structures for Analytical Purposes

Multidimensional data are the foundation for OLAP applications. They can be provided in several ways: relational OLAP, multidimensional OLAP, or hybrid OLAP. The usage of the underlying technology, which is well understood and in most cases formally defined, does not resolve the issue of a missing vocabulary for multidimensional data on a conceptual level. Some basic definitions are broadly used; for example cube, dimension, and the operations like slice, dice, roll-up, and drill-down. When it comes to more sophisticated constructs like irregular hierarchies, different vocabulary exists.For the integration of different OLAP applications as well as for an easier development (each stakeholder has to use the same vocabulary in order to reduce misunderstandings and projects failures), we provide an approach for a comprehensive ontology of multidimensional data. It defines the vocabulary used during the design of OLAP and data warehouse applications. The ontology can be seen as a basis for (i) notation assessment by evaluating the notation against the BungeWandWeber model, (ii) the ontological engineering of new data warehouse and OLAP applications, and (iii) ontological model integration.

On the role of social software techniques for the design of self-organising enterprise reporting portals

Modern enterprise reporting portals commonly address the information needs of top management executives. With the advent of pervasive Business Intelligence systems other, larger, groups of users are moving into the focus of system designers. Along with them specific design requirements surface — transforming design considerations of prior efforts targeting management reporting needs. Owing to vast and heterogeneous target audiences, new breeds of enterprise reporting portals become necessary. As a core feature they need to provide effective and therefore usable means for bottom-up content personalisation, commonly referred to as Web 2.0 functionality. This paper provides a research agenda using insights from research in Social Software to improve effectiveness and efficiency of collaborative enterprise reporting. It offers a comprehensive view on recent developments fostering collaboration between report users and report designers. We present two preliminary artefacts: a proposal for a concept for self-organising enterprise reporting portals and a design prototype implementing the concept.

Ubiquitous Microblogging: A Flow-Based Front-End for Information Logistics

The success of information supply strongly depends on successful user adoption. This especially is the case for the integration of non-human information sources deriving from ubiquitous computing. To allow ordinary users to participate, there is a clear need for simple but yet powerful front-end technology. Therefore, we suggest leveraging existing and proven application patterns rather than building new concepts out of scratch. Especially Web 2.0 applications are designed for the management of millions of (human) networked information nodes and could be very useful in the context of Information Logistics. Beyond the Web 2.0 tool family, in particular microblogging could show a perfect match with Information Logistics scenarios due to its ad-hoc character and its simplicity. This paper discusses these possibilities and presents the vision of Ubiquitous Microblogging, which means a Twitter-like front-end for information from human and non-human information sources.

Web-2.0-inspirierte Business-Intelligence-Lösungen für die Anwender der Zukunft

ZusammenfassungenBusiness Intelligence (BI) verschreibt sich dem Ziel einer datengetriebenen Entscheidungsunterstützung durch die Bereitstellung anforderungsgerechter Inhalte mit zielgruppenadäquater Präsentation. Eine neue Generation von Anwendern und vor allem auch Managern bezieht moderne internetbasierte Informationstechnologie in die eigenen Arbeitsabläufe und Entscheidungsprozesse ein. Entscheidungsunterstützungssysteme müssen diesen Trend berücksichtigen. Ebenso werden umgekehrt Internetanwendungen von neuen BI-Ansätzen profitieren können.

Microblogging in Project Management: Improving Project Communication and Documentation with Status Information

Microblogging represents a significant change in enterprise communication, shifting from a push to a pull model where information consumers subscribe to relevant information sources. Especially scenarios with high degrees in information quantity and complexity may benefit from this approach. This is the case for project management, which can well be supported by microblogging tools. This paper introduces the technology’s concept, motivates use cases and discusses two examples as well as available software tools. Microblogging in Project Management: Improving Project Communication and Documentation with Status Information

Meinungen und Prognosen in Twitter — das Ohr an der Masse

ZusammenfassungDer Microblogging-Dienst Twitter ermöglicht Zugang zu und Informationsgewinnung aus einer riesigen Menge von aktuellen Meinungs- und Gefühlsäußerungen seiner Nutzer. Der Beitrag beschreibt das Projekt »Ballgezwitscher«, mit dem während der Fußballweltmeisterschaft 2010 die Twittersphäre nach Spielvorhersagen durchsucht wurde, um die Eignung von Twitter als Informationsquelle für solche Szenarien zu überprüfen. Problemstellungen in der Weiterverarbeitung von Twitter-Beiträgen werden identifiziert, praktische Anwendungsfälle diskutiert und Perspektiven für künftige Forschungsarbeiten aufgezeigt.

Das Phänomen des Status-Sharings aus tätigkeitstheoretischer Perspektive

Zusammenfassung Statusinformationen sind die große Innovation im Bereich der Social Software jüngerer Zeit. Werkzeuge wie Microblogging und Activity Streams legen die aktuellen Tätigkeiten der Nutzer offen und ermöglichen eine bisher unbekannte Dimension digitaler Awareness. Während Status-Updates in hohem Tempo weitere Verbreitung auch in Unternehmen fi nden, stellen sich aus Forschungssicht Verständnisfragen: Warum und wie kommunizieren Anwender ihren Status? Was ist der subjektiv und objektiv erfahrbare Nutzen? Und vor allem: welche Einfl ussfaktoren bestimmen die Anwendungsszenarien im organisatorischen Kontext? In diesem Beitrag schlagen wir dazu einen tätigkeitsorientierten Zugang zum Phänomen Status-Sharing vor und zeigen mögliche Operationalisierungen des von der Theorie bereitgestellten Analyseframeworks auf. Abstract Status information is a great innovation in recent social software systems. Tools like microblogging and activity streams externalize current activities of users and enable a new kind of digital awareness. While status updates will be a commodity in most web 2.0 and business tools soon, from a research point of view many questions are unsolved: Why and how do users communicate their status? Why do they do it? And most importantly: what are success factors for the application of these scenarios in business contexts? In this paper we suggest a view on these problems based on activity theory. We show possible applications of activity theory concepts and discuss its implications.

Microblogging zur flexiblen Unterstützung von Ad-hoc-Prozessen

ZusammenfassungenAd-hoc-Prozesse stellen einen wichtigen Teil der Wertschöpfung in Unternehmen dar. Im Gegensatz zu standardisierten Abläufen existiert hierfür jedoch kaum eine effiziente Anwendungsunterstützung. Der vorliegende Beitrag evaluiert Microblogging, eine neue Anwendungskategorie der Social Software, als möglichen Lösungsansatz, um prozessbezogene Informationen und Abläufe flexibel abzubilden. Anhand des konkreten Anwendungsfelds der Logistik führt er in das Funktionsprinzip von Microblogging ein, demonstriert Einsatzpotenziale und diskutiert vorhandene Beispiele.