Web-based Communication Tools Research Articles

Drivers and Barriers of Using Web-Based Asynchronous Communication Tools for Monitoring Construction Projects

Drivers and Barriers of Using Web-Based Asynchronous Communication Tools for Monitoring Construction Projects

Social Media for Corporate Reporting and Performance

Social media are web-based communication tools that enable people to interact with each other by both sharing and consuming information. They refer to a group of Internet-based application which is used to create and exchange user-generated content. A recent definition of social media suggests that it is a channel that allows users to opportunistically interact and selectively self-present, either in real-time or asynchronously, with both broad and narrow audiences. Corporate reporting refers to the process of communicating both financial and non-financial information about the resources and performance of a company. Corporate reporting includes the integrated reporting, financial reporting, corporate governance, executive remuneration, corporate social responsibility and narrative reporting. This study is carried out to examine the adoption of social media among Malaysian companies by industry type; and the impact of social media adoption on company’s performance. This study used Top 100 companies in Malaysia as the sample selected based on their market capitalization. These companies are considered to be leading companies that drive the Malaysian economy. It is expected that companies may use multiple forms of social media since users utilize different types of social media platform for different purposes. Therefore, this study considered various types of social media that are commonly used by companies. By using content analysis, the uses of social media were classified into 11 categories including investor relations, corporate social responsibility and financial reporting. The companies are categorized into four quartiles in order to determine whether there are differences in social media adoption by company size or growth opportunity. Statistical model is developed in examining the impact of social media adoption on company’s performance. The data of this study were collected within a period of 3 months and the social media platforms selected were Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, blogs, Google+ and LinkedIn since these platforms were regarded as common among users. The analyzed results suggest that companies from trading or services industry used social media more frequently as compared to the other industries. It is also reported that the highest group of companies that use social media platform comes from those companies that are having the total sales between RM589 million and RM1,245 million. However, there is no notable difference in the adoption of social media in terms of growth opportunities measured by market to book value among Malaysian companies. It is also discovered that the use of social media has positive and significant association with companies’ performance after controlling for size of the company and its leverage. The findings of this study contribute to the body of knowledge in relation to a new dimension of corporate reporting as well as to the management of the companies.

An Analysis of Web-based Document Management and Communication Tools Usage Among Project Managers

The article analyzes modern cloud document management systems and communication tools from the viewpoint of a EU project managers, who lead multidisciplinary, multilingual and international teams. It also explores the types of users who use these tools as well as the motivation factors guiding their choices. The research includes observation within the project group, interviews and semi-structured surveys among 40 EU project managers, who have managed 244 EU projects. The main finding is that a lot of project managers still don't use shared, cloud document system. The biggest obstacle to more efficient usage of existing systems is their un-friendliness, security concerns and lack of skills. Meetings are still perceived as the most efficient channel for distributing and receiving project tasks, but they are closely followed by communication software. Applying the authors' findings to the project management practice can lead to better communication and shared document storage management, which can influence overall effectiveness of project management.

Understanding Consumer Attitudes Toward Web-based Communication Tools

<p>Motivated by the growing role of online transactions and Web-related Word-Of-Mouth (WWOM) in the consumer behavior domain, we propose a theoretical model that relates two antecedents (consumers’ community and content ownership) to attitudes toward four WWOM tools (Viral Marketing, Consumer-Produced Ads, Consumer Web Logs, and Collaborative Filters). The model and related hypotheses are empirically tested with the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, using data from a large-scale survey. Results validated most of the proposed hypotheses and generated new insights. For example, we found that the direct relation between consumers’ community and their attitude toward blogs was completely mediated by their sense of content ownership. Finally, we delineate the limitations of the study and outline directions for future research.</p>

Book Review: Social Movements and Their Technologies, by Stefania Milan

Social Movements and Their Technologies. Stefania Milan. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. 248 pp. $85 hbk.The use of electronic media by social movements has garnered considerable attention in recent years, with some commentators labeling recent upheavals in Arab world and elsewhere as Twitter- or Facebook-driven revolutions. But labels such as these offer slim insight into complex role that media communication technologies play in lives of social movements. For those who seek to more deeply understand this subject, Stefania Milan's Social Movements and Their Technologies is a good place to begin.A professor at Tilburg University in Netherlands and Citizen Lab at University of Toronto, Milan delivers two important innovations with regard to study of media and social movements. First, she uses sociology-based social movement theory as a framework with which to examine media organizing and activism she discusses, thereby breaking with tendency within media studies to study political media without studying social movement from which this media has emerged, and tendency within sociology-based social movement research of paying too little attention to media making that goes on within social movements. Second, she positions media making organizations, groups, and individuals she studies as constituents within a transnational media justice-driven social movement. Here, she argues, [f]ar from being considered only as tools, media and communication technologies have become a site of struggle in their own right.At center of Milan's research is a comparative examination of emancipatory communication practices (ECPs)-which she defines as ways of social organizing seeking to create alternatives to existing media and communication infrastructure- of two media constituencies, these being community radio practitioners and Internetbased activists. Using language of social movement theory, Milan states that goal of her research is to examine the emergence of media and technology activism, its features, mobilizing frames, identity building, and action repertories.To conduct her study, she interviewed and observed work of community radio practitioners in twenty-four countries and interviewed Internet activists from sixteen countries over a six-year period. From this work, Milan has delivered an insightful study regarding ideologies and organizational efforts that underwrite these alternative and oppositional media-making projects, with her study of Internet projects (which she bundles under term radical techies) being particularly compelling.Describing philosophies that underpin work of techies, Milan observes that these activists share a set of sources of inspiration-namely, DIY culture, cyberlibertarianism, hacker culture, anarchism, anarcho-syndicalism, Zapatista discourse, and autonomist thought. On a practical level, Internet activist groups typically aim to provide non-commercial web-based communication tools, such as website hosting and blogging platforms, e-mail accounts, list services, and chat rooms, to citizenry and activist community. In contrast to services provided by commercial systems, they seek to do this while preserving anonymity and privacy of users through encryption techniques. …

Disciplinary difference in students' use of technology, experience in using eLearning strategies and perceptions towards eLearning

This paper focuses on interdisciplinary differences in three main issues related to eLearning: namely, use of technology, use of technology for teaching and learning, and perceptions about eLearning strategies. Data were survey results for 1438 students at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Disciplines were classified into Soft/Hard and Pure/Applied based on the Biglan model. Results revealed that while students of different disciplines did not vary a great deal in their daily usage of technology, there were differences in their level of confidence in using technology. The use of technology for teaching and learning also differed across disciplines. For example, students in Applied disciplines, compared with students in Pure disciplines, had more experience in employing web-based communication tools to learn. However, there were no significant differences in terms of students' perceptions of the usefulness of eLearning strategies. The findings suggested that while there may be disciplinary differences in the adoption of eLearning, all students have a similar (and positive) view about the need for the use of technology for teaching and learning.

Postnational technollaboration within the postbiotanical village (an Apophenoetic Prophecy)

Abstract Postnational, or after or more than national, is a world that connects the international with the local. Technollaboration, is how creative digital communities use technology to improve methods and environments for collaboration. Postbiotanical, after or more than biotanical, represents the future of human-centric collectives around farming and urban living and sustainability. Village, is ambiguous and raises the question how large is local, and how does a village-centric view impact the way we treat each other? Art traditionally functions as an environment for philosophical and creative activity that works to secure its borders from intruding dictatorial ethics, ideology, politics or dogma that might sully its aim to maintain its open arduous exploration of the clash between image and meaning, icon and significance, or perception and identity in reference to culture and history. Integrating technology into this discourse introduces a milieu of associations, expectations and conclusions about how technological innovation, practices and products should be steered, which can also influence what we both make and teach. The web has since evolved into a pervasively instantaneous space for more involved forms of communication (Google hangout), content sharing (SVN), publishing (blogs), community building (messageboards, Facebook), creative performance (Isadora) and more. Now creative interactive initiatives are not limited to merely making a statement or triggering a semiotic synapse, but rather can have a social impact, enacting, mobilizing and serving as a resource for the public. Telematic Art that includes the activities surrounding Digital Communities and their behaviour, does not merely provide an environment to discuss social issues, but embodies social interaction in ways in which new forms of collective expression can be realized. The development of telematics tools is empowering for the public while serving as a medium that influences how individuals interact. Between DIY/DIWO models, open source hardware, software, and creation initiatives, practivist initiatives, creative hacking ideologies, immersion, and web-based communication tools to localize the international collaborative workshop, I believe our formats for education and exchange are becoming more collective and empowering, and with the inclusion of digital social collaboration initiatives seen in myriad examples of Telematic Art, there exists the potential to motivate a mindset desiring new shifts in perception and making with the goals of serving the global community in significant and direct ways.

The Impact of Social Media on the Political Interests of the Youth in Lebanon at the Wake of the Arab Spring

Across the world, youth are embracing the concepts of freedom of speech, right to opinion, and modern information technology in all its aspects and are trying to find use for it. The Arab Spring revolutions that began in 2011 and which are still ablaze reflect this fact. Lebanon is the most democratic country in the Middle East and North Africa region. The youth of Lebanon are adept users of web-based communication tools but are they eager to use this technology to connect with their political leaders? The results of this study show significant interest of youth in electronic-based communication with politicians. However, this interest may not be translated into material voting at the polls.

P5.053 Challenges in Developing Social Media and Web-Based Communication Tools For HIV-AIDS and STI Intervention For MSM and Transgender Communities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Timor Leste

BackgroundThe ISEAN-Hivos Program is a Global Fund HIV-Community Systems Strengthening Program focused on MSMs and Transgenders (TG). It aims to provide information and capacity building to local MSM and TG...

The ‘Facebook' Effect: College Students' Perceptions of Online Discussions in the Age of Social Networking

Despite the growing prominence of Facebook in the lives of college students, few studies have investigated the potential of these innovative web-based communication tools for engaging students in academic discussions. This study used a pre-test, post-test design in two introductory-level courses at a large public university to compare students’ (n = 107) perceptions of, attitudes toward, and perceived learning associated with two different online discussion tools: the Facebook group forum and a university-sponsored online tool. Although pre-course surveys indicated that few students enjoyed online discussions, postcourse analysis revealed significant changes in students’ opinions regarding the value and functionality of web-based discussion forums, with Facebook as their clear preference. Students who participated in Facebook discussions enjoyed the site’s familiarity, navigability, and aesthetically appealing interface. Facebook users also reported that they were able to become better acquainted with classmates, felt like valued participants in the course, and learned more course material. This study suggests that, if used appropriately, Facebook may help to increase college student engagement in certain learning contexts by cultivating classroom community and stimulating intellectual discourse.

Communication Tools

In this bimonthly series, the author examines how nurse educators can use Internet and Web-based computer technologies such as search, communication, and collaborative writing tools; social networking and social bookmarking sites; virtual worlds; and Web-based teaching and learning programs. This article describes Web-based communication tools and techniques to increase their effectiveness.

Implementing a Web-Based Case Reporting and Communication System Among Hospitals Reporting to the Birth Defects Registry in New York State

The ability to use the Internet as a reporting tool has created important and timely changes in the way registries all over the world can collect data. This article provides a detailed description of the implementation that converted reporting hospitals in New York State from a manual, paper-based reporting system to an electronic, Web-based case reporting and communication system. The system usage was analyzed and the results are presented. The implementation process of the Web-based reporting and communication system included several steps: system introduction and orientation, system pilot testing, statewide campaign for implementation on a voluntary basis, statewide campaign for implementation on a mandatory basis, and system support and training. The highly secure, user-friendly Web-based system was well perceived and accepted by the majority of the reporting hospitals and thus implemented for all reporting hospitals within a reasonable time frame. Currently, three fourths (115) of the reporting hospitals are using the on-line data entry method to submit reports, and one fourth (38) of hospitals are using the file upload method. Between July 2006 and June 2007, Congenital Malformations Registry staff had sent queries to 94 hospitals using the Web-based communication tools to request further information on the reported cases and more than half of these hospitals responded within 1 month. Successful implementation of the Web-based reporting and communication system required an effective implementation plan (including adequate training of users) and active interaction and cooperation between the Congenital Malformations Registry and the medical records personnel of the reporting hospitals.

From Web 2.0 to Teacher 2.0

ABSTRACT The World Wide Web is evolving in response to users who demand faster and more efficient access to information, portability, and reusability of digital objects between Web-based and computer-based applications and powerful communication, publication, collaboration, and teaching and learning tools. This article reviews current uses of Web-based technologies in distance learning mathematics and mathematics education courses and discusses the pedagogical implications of Web 2.0 for students and teachers of mathematics.

Utilizing Web Tools for Computer-Mediated Communication to Enhance Team-Based Learning

Team-based learning is an active learning instructional strategy used in the traditional face-to-face classroom. Web-based computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools complement the face-to-face classroom and enable active learning between face-to-face class times. This arti-cle presents the results from pilot assessments of computer-supported team-based learning. The authors utilized pedagogical approaches grounded in collaborative learning techniques, such as team-based learning, and extended these techniques to a Web-based environment through the use of computer-mediated communications tools (discussion Web-boards). This approach was examined through field studies in the course of two semesters at a US public technological university. The findings indicate that the perceptions of team learning experience such as per-ceived motivation, enjoyment, and learning in such a Web-based CMC environment are higher than in traditional face-to-face courses. In addition, our results show that perceived team mem-bers’ contributions impact individual learning experiences. Overall, Web-based CMC tools are found to effectively facilitate team interactions and achieve higher-level learning.

COLT a Discussion Document

The products of advanced information and communication networked technologies permeate our lives. These products extend from the personal computer in homes, offices and schools to the centrally-connected systems in businesses, banking and governments. Increasingly the perceived benefits of information stored in digital media are being exploited. Publishers, lecturers, tutors and content developers are producing e-books, course handouts, assignments, course references and resources with imbedded hypertext links, electronically generated and marked activities and cross references to other digitally stored information. It has become apparent the sophistication and ease of supporting web browsers, internet search engines and the advanced computer skills of learners means the classroom educational activity, both for the student and the teacher, is no longer constricted to, or confined by, text, print-based materials, time or space. Educational institutions at all levels have encouraged the development of digital environments with the networking of computers. However, the increased use of computers in education, the creation of virtual learning environments based on web services, and the increased investments by educational institutions (both fiscal, physical and human) in the development of networked environments does not necessarily lead a improvement in the learning experiences of students. There is a need to ensure online learning environments created are beneficial to the institution’s learners, educationalists and the institution itself. Staff involved in facilitating online learning need to be aware of the importance of digital material design, the structuring learning sequences, the use or a range of web-based communication tools, assessment in distributed locations and evaluation of the online environment created.

Acquisition steps of a Remotely Accessible Rapid Prototyping laboratory

Remotely accessible laboratories are becoming increasingly popular across a wide range of disciplines. The objective of this project is to develop and disseminate a Remotely Accessible Rapid Prototyping (RRP) Laboratory at Tennessee Technological University (TTU). This laboratory facility is physically located on the TTU Campus, but internet-based controls, interactive tutorials and scheduling allow this equipment to be used across TTU, Tennessee Board of Regent (TBR) technology centres and community colleges across the state of Tennessee and eventually nationwide. Since an RP laboratory facility has already been established through a previous National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, this new endeavour increases its accessibility via ubiquitous web-based communication tools. As such, this enables many more students and instructors to develop their skills set and knowledge base with cutting-edge RP technology. This project has many wide-ranging impacts. Foremost, the work helps to promote the awareness of RP technology and to improve related teaching and learning paradigms. In particular, adding a remote access capability allows many more users to benefit from state-of-the-art RP technology, thereby better justifying the cost of purchasing and maintaining the overall facility. Furthermore, the successful development of a remote RP lab provides new insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the remote access environments, and therefore provides vital insights for both the design/manufacturing technology and distance education communities alike.

MyPyramid Tracker Assesses Food Consumption, Physical Activity, and Energy Balance Status Interactively

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide science-based advice to promote health and reduce risks for major chronic diseases through specific recommendations for physical activity and healthful eating. Translating the Guidelines into practical and actionable advice requires an educational approach with personalized guidance. The Internet is a valuable resource for promoting regular physical activity and healthful eating, offering an efficient access to a large number of people. With increased Internet usage in the past decade, consumers are beginning to benefit from software programs and Web-based communication tools to guide their decisions about health. The Internet also offers nutrition educators the opportunity to provide targeted educational information on healthy lifestyles directed to Internet users in a nonthreatening way. DESCRIPTION

Knowledge Translation and Patient Safety: The Canadian Adverse Events Study

The Canadian Adverse Events Study was the first national study of adverse events in Canadian hospitals. Learning from the controversy surrounding similar studies in other countries, the team engaged in extensive knowledge translation activities throughout the life of the project. Using meetings, Web-based communication and other tools, the team successfully prepared most Canadian stakeholders for the study's release, allowing them to develop anticipatory patient safety initiatives. However, upon publication of the study, the policy spotlight quickly shifted to other issues, and the long-term commitment needed to create safer healthcare is still uncertain.

Integration of web-based procurement and fulfillment: A comparison of case studies

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and in particular the Internet, have played a fundamental role in helping companies reach the goals of “supply chain integration”. The Internet can change the role and type of relationships between the various players, creating new value networks and developing new business models. This work studies the impact of the Internet on company business, in particular on procurement and fulfilment processes. The analysis is carried out by considering and comparing four case studies regarding four large Italian companies. An evolutionary model for e-business strategy is proposed. This model shows how ICT can evolve from being merely a means of communication to being an instrument which coordinates company processes through five stages: traditional communication tools, internal integration, Web-based communication tools, XML Web-based platform, and integrated enterprise. Even if the companies studied are geared towards different markets, the strategies they have used are quite similar. In particular, they have adopted the XML Web-based platforms model.

Online mentoring and peer support: using learning technologies to facilitate entry into a community of practice

A vital aspect of any professional education is the opportunity for students to engage in meaningful practical experiences. In pre-service teacher education in Australia, this vital teaching practice component has undergone challenges in recent years due to increasing student numbers (linked to the increasing demand for new teachers) and limited resources in university and school sectors. As such, initiatives to enhance the practical component of this professional degree have been sought. This paper details the methodology and outcomes associated with a pilot project that utilized asynchronous Web-based communication tools to facilitate mentoring and peer support through the teaching practice experience. Analysis of the online discussions and interviews with participants provides an indication of the nature of the interactions and the perceived value of the intervention, and informs the potential for larger-scale implementation.DOI:10.1080/0968776020100105