Zhenjiao Chen

Antecedents of Coordination Effectiveness of Software Developer Dyads From Interacting Teams: An Empirical Investigation

Among the numerous reasons for software project failure, coordination problems are especially salient. Prior studies on coordination in software development are confined to team internal coordination and do not explicitly differentiate team internal and external coordination processes. This study presents a research model to explain the antecedents of coordination effectiveness of software developer dyads from interacting teams. Dyads in this study refer to software developer pairs where each member comes from a different team. We explore the antecedents by integrating interpersonal and technology-based coordination. We test this model using data collected from 59 software developer Dyads from interacting teams as well as from software developer leaders. The results reveal that the implicit knowledge sharing has a significant positive impact on coordination effectiveness. The use of explicit knowledge sharing and coordination technology have no statistically significant impact on coordination effectiveness although the teams studied were working predominantly in a collocated mode. Mutual trust and project commitment have a significant impact on knowledge sharing with mutual trust directly affecting both implicit and explicit knowledge sharing. Project commitment also has a direct impact on explicit knowledge sharing and mutual trust, but it does not directly affect implicit knowledge sharing. Theoretical and practical contributions are discussed. Limitations of this study are identified. Future research directions are also presented.

Exploring the Interactive Effect of Time Control and Justice Perception on Job Attitudes

ABSTRACT We investigated the associations between supervisor-related time control and two-job attitudes, and the moderating effects of distributive justice on these associations. A total of 505 full-time employees in Hong Kong responded to a structured telephone survey. The results showed that time control and perceived distributive justice were positively related to both job satisfaction and organizational commitment. More importantly, the positive relationships between time control and the two job attitudes were stronger when perceived distributive justice was high rather than low. These findings contrast with the typical buffering effects of organizational justice, in which perceived justice attenuates the beneficial effects of positive stimuli. Theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed.

Understanding Social Commerce Intention: A Relational View

With the growing popularity of social media, consumers often rely on the recommendations obtained from online sources when making the purchase decision. Social commerce in this regard represents a shift in consumers thinking from inefficient individual consumption to collaborative sharing and shopping. In this study, we investigate social commerce intention from two different but interrelated angles, i.e., social shopping and social sharing. Built on commitment-trust theory and trust transfer theory, a research model was developed and empirically examined. The results demonstrated that community commitment and trust towards community exerted significant impacts on both social shopping and social sharing intention. Trust towards members can be transferred to trust towards community, which in turn leads to community commitment. In addition, trust towards members posits a direct effect on social shopping, and an indirect effect on social sharing via trust towards community. Limitations and implications for both research and practice are discussed.

Exploring 3D Virtual World Strategies in the Chinese Environment: An Institutional-Based View

Although some strategies of virtual worlds (e.g. Second Life) have been proven to be successful for attracting user acceptance in the western world, the effects of these strategies are questionable in the Chinese environment. When western model based virtual worlds plan business operations in China, they may face challenges such as government policy, law and cultural barriers. From the institutional-based view, this study provides a theoretical framework to explain 3D virtual world strategies in Mainland China, and employs the case study method to explore how the four strategies of virtual worlds (i.e. technology solution, business model, game model and virtual world culture) impact on determinants of user acceptance behavior in the Chinese environment. Two 3D virtual worlds, Second Life (western model based virtual world) and HiPiHi (Chinese local virtual world), are chosen as the cases in this study.

The effect of team conflict and task type on team knowledge sharing through transactive memory system

Previous research indicated that task conflict benefits knowledge sharing (KS), whereas relationship conflict damages it. However, little is known about the underlying process by which the two types of conflicts affect KS. By integrating conflict theory and transactive memory system (TMS) theory, this paper presented a mediational model to test whether two types of conflict have different effects on team KS through TMS. Besides, this study also examined whether task type moderates the proposed mediational processes. Results of a study of 386 employees in 76 teams show that task conflict has positive effects on team KS through TMS. More interestingly, it is found that the task conflict-TMS-KS sequence only significant when task type is nonroutine rather than it is routine. Relationship conflict has a negative effect on team KS through TMS. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

How to encourage knowledge sharing in global virtual teams: Aspects of structuration theory

As global virtual teams (GVT) are more prevalent in organizations, it becomes increasing imperative to understand knowledge sharing dynamics within GVT. This paper uses adaptive structuration theory and proactive structuration theory as a foundation to explore how the IT structure and social structures impact on knowledge sharing within GVTs, and investigate how organizational interventions can be applied to support more effective knowledge sharing. The data was collected in a project involving 13 GVTs from 4 different regions. Discussion focuses on managing conflict and maximizing contribution. Conclusions will be presented in the end.

How to Increase Users' Social Commerce Engagement? A Technology Attractiveness Model

With the proliferation of social networking and electronic commerce, social commerce helps people engage in various forms of online social commercial activities through sharing their product or service knowledge and experiences. A better understanding of users’ engagement in social commerce websites thus become increasingly important. Based on the attractiveness theory, this study proposes a research model that highlights the unique role of technology attractiveness, including task, social, and physical attractiveness, in promoting user involvement, which in turn affects social commerce engagement. Results demonstrate that users’ perceptions of technology attractiveness are positively associated with their involvement with social commerce websites, and further stimulate engagement. In addition, website involvement partially and fully mediates the effects of social and physical attractiveness, respectively, on social commerce engagement. The limitations and implications of this study for research and practice are further discussed.

How Mentorship Improves Reverse Transfer of Tacit Knowledge in Chinese Multinational Companies (MNCs)

Knowledge transfer has long been a major focus of research in the literature on MNCs in developed countries. However, reverse knowledge transfer in MNCs in developing countries (e.g., China) has received limited attention. By integrating mentorship, social capital and international adjustment theories, this study develop a theoretical model to demonstrate when and how mentoring improves reverse transfer of tacit knowledge in Chinese MNCs. In particular, we propose that (1) mentoring functions (i.e., vocational support, psychological support and role modelling) should have positive effects on three dimensions of social capital (i.e., ties strength; trust; shared language and vision), which in turn, should improve reverse transfer of tacit knowledge from foreign mentors to Chinese mentees. (2) International adjustment of mentors (i.e., work adjustment, interaction adjustment and general adjustment) is expected to moderate the relationships of mentoring with ties strength, trust, shared language and vision. This is a research-in-progress paper and a survey should be conducted to test the theoretical model. This research should provide theoretical and practical implications.

Understanding the 3D virtual world market in China: A comparative case study of HiPiHi, Uworld and Novoking

The Chinese burgeoning Internet population will soon have an array of 3D virtual worlds in which to work and play. HiPiHi, Uworld and Novoking are considered as being the “Big3” local companies in this emerging market. Although some strategies of virtual worlds have been proven to be successful for attracting user acceptance in the western world, the effects of these strategies are questionable in the Chinese environment. For surviving in the Chinese environment, these three local companies have developed innovative strategies to attract Chinese users. Based on customer relationship management (CRM) and uses-and-gratifications (U&G) theories, this study compares the different strategies of these three virtual worlds, and explores which strategies can attract user acceptance in the Chinese environment.