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Purpose: The paper posits that the enforced work from home (WFH) arrangement due to COVID-19 provides a unique setting for the study of trust in changing contexts. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to examine to what extent COVID-19 WFH changed trust relationships among remote employees, their managers and organisations and how this has taken place. Design/methodology/approach: The study used semi-structured interviews with employees and managers from different organisations across different sectors. Interviews were supported with image prompts as suggested by the storyboarding method, and took place between November 2020 and February 2021. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings: The findings identified factors that contribute to trust disruption and factors that led to trust preservation within the changing workspace landscape enforced by WFH environment. Employees reported trust in their organisations, feeling as though their organisations proven resilient at the time of the crisis caused by the pandemic. Interestingly, managers reported trust in employees to remain productive but also anxieties due to the possible presence of others in the household. Originality/value: The study identified factors that affect intra-organisational trust that have not been previously recognised, exposing tensions and challenges that may disrupt trust relations between managers and employees whilst also identifying evidence of trust preservation in the COVID-19 WFH context. The study has implications for workplace learning within the remote, WFH context, which are discussed.

This study explores how digital platforms generate economic and non‐economic value for a specific group of users: mumpreneurs. We collected qualitative data from 26 mumpreneurs in the United Kingdom who have caring responsibilities for young children and are running a business on the community‐based platform Instagram. We found that through using Instagram and its algorithms, mumpreneurs can create various types of value in this context. Drawing on previous research into value creation, we make several contributions to the information systems literature. First, we unpack and explain alternative forms of value generated by digital platforms. Our findings show that through community‐based platforms such as Instagram, mumpreneurs can create various types of economic and non‐economic value—engagement, cognitive, economic, and self‐preservation value—that is consistent with their business, social, and personal needs. Second, we propose a process model of value creation; and we identify two mechanisms that lead to value creation through Instagram's algorithms: recommended connectivity and adaptability. Third, we identify a temporal dimension of value creation through Instagram. This article contributes to the theory in the growing body of literature on value creation linked to digital platforms and explains several implications for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the ethical concerns surrounding the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) for qualitative data analysis. The authors raise issues related to data ownership, privacy, biases, and the responsibilities of researchers. They argue that relying solely on automated systems for data analysis can lead to biased and incomplete results, and stress the importance of human insight and understanding in research, particularly in areas of marginalization and oppression. The article calls for the development of ethical guidelines to address these concerns and ensure the integrity of qualitative data analysis using GAI. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, we discuss the importance of relevance in the provision of eLearning for the pursuit of higher education (HE). In particular, we argue how the extant literature focuses on quality and security in the design of eLearning platforms, but pays scant attention to how relevant the platform and the programme contents are to the needs of contemporary adult learners. We studied this topic from a gender perspective and identified the different imperatives and constraints pertaining to men and women seeking personal and career development through HE. Recommendations are made for HE institutions to pay particular attention to the role that relevance plays in eLearning.

Despite the economic and societal significance of microbusinesses (MBs), digital transformation (DT) efforts in the MB sector have been rather sporadic. Further, prior DT studies have primarily examined large- and mid-sized organisations, leaving a perceptible void in the literature. In this paper, we leverage the unique context of MBs and recognise the key role of microbusiness owner-managers (MBOMs) for the management and sustenance of DT initiatives. Specifically, we theorise the influence of MBOMs' DT readiness in terms of their growth and technology mindsets contributing to their DT learning resources and processes. Drawing on qualitative data from a series of structured interviews and focus groups with MBOMs and other key stakeholders in the Irish MB digital ecosystem, we identity three MBOM digital transformer archetypes comprising unique configurations of MBOMs' growth and technology mindsets, namely: champion digital transformers, emerging digital transformers, and aspiring digital transformers. For each of these archetypes, we explore the different learning capabilities and mechanisms through which MBOMs manage and sustain their digital transformation efforts. Our findings offer theoretical contributions to the fields of digital transformation in microbusinesses, digital leadership, and digital capabilities. Our study also has significant implications for policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interviews with employees after videoconferencing facilities were introduced in a multinational corporation revealed that only 10% of 60 trainees felt they needed more training in their use; however, only 9 actually used the facilities for meetings. Concerns about the quality of communication in unstructured meetings and newly established relationships were expressed. Suggestions for appropriate use of the medium were developed. (SK)

Data on information technology employment in Britain and interviews in four companies depicted experiences of women in computing. Gender disparities in numbers and distribution, salaries, division of labor, and career progression were found. Masculine values in computing culture, gender differences in working style, and attitudes toward computers influenced women's experience. (Contains 52 references.) (SK)

The emergence of subgroups in global virtual is explored by considering the impact that subgroups have on the communication patterns and interactions of these teams. The findings reveal that subgroups exert different degrees of impact on the team as a whole.

Whilst the role of online communities (OCs) in knowledge exchange and generation has been widely discussed, limited research exists on the distance and direction of OC knowledge flows. In this paper, we examine this issue by taking the case of an industry-founded OC that rendered around the use of a specific Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) module used by public sector organisations. Through a grounded analysis approach, we extend literature on OCs by identifying user-generated practices that enable knowledge flows in the online space as well as by examining the travels of these knowledge flows, taking particular account of the distance they cover and the direction they take. Findings point to within, outwards and inwards travels of OC-related knowledge flows showing a widely spread OC knowledge impact. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the job crafting experiences of women who left permanent employment for contracting positions in Information Technology (IT), a sector widely considered male‐dominated with limited career opportunities for women. This qualitative study is based on interviews with 24 female IT contractors. Findings show that through the flexibility and autonomy that come with contracting, numerous crafting practices are adopted by female IT contractors enabling them to gain empowerment in a male‐dominated environment. The study contributes to in‐depth understanding of job crafting theory by showing a reflexive relationship between role and resource crafting for women in alternative forms of employment, especially those with a high degree of autonomy. By engaging directly with the experiences of these female IT contractors, we provide unique insights into what might drive women into IT contracting, and why they often stay with this option owing to the freedom and autonomy offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With digital transformation attracting increasing attention, our study is motivated by a need to understand the impact on the transformation of the Information Technology (IT) function in pre-digital organisations. In particular, we present in this paper a qualitative study that aims to examine how digital transformation influences the IT organisational structure and leadership in pre-digital organisations. The empirical study is based on a series of semi-structured interviews with digital leaders across a range of organisations and sectors in the UK and Scandinavia. We find four different categories of both IT organisational structure and leadership following digital transformation initiatives: managing digital as projects within the IT function; managing the IT and digital functions separately with separate leaders; managing IT and digital within one function with dual leadership; and managing the IT and digital functions together with a single leader. The study has both theoretical and practical implications for the management of digital transformation and the IT function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores how online health communities produce social value by uniting individuals under a common purpose, to advance healthcare in post‐conflict states. We selected MedicineAfrica – a digital platform known for creating social value by providing medical education in regions with under‐resourced healthcare systems – and drew on multiple data collection methods. We found that it is through a unique form of digital health activism that social value is created in this context. Drawing on a sociological understanding of digital health activism, we make the following contributions: First, we identify three types of non‐economic, social value: cognitive, professional and epistemic. Second, we indicate that social value creation is enabled by three emergent forms of digital health activism (ie, philanthropic, moral and reciprocal activity). Third, we elicit three enabling mechanisms explaining how these forms of activism are technically and socially afforded through the platform's connective capacity and emerging collective practices in tandem with its members' growing commitment. Our article contributes to the growing IS literature on digital activism by offering a framework that elucidates how digital health activism relates to social value creation. The article provides practical implications as to how platforms can enable sustainable online (health) communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we argue that, despite the increasing opportunities for transparency and visibility that come with the digitalisation of workplaces, invisible work remains a highly relevant concept, as it represents practices that are vital to the effective functioning of business operations. Drawing on a longitudinal qualitative case study, we examine invisible work practices before and after the digitalisation of a regional health authority in Norway following the implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The study extends the literature in this field by showing both the changing status of invisible work and the emergence of new invisible work in digitalised workplaces. The theoretical and practical implications are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper explores the context of email‐based communication in an established but fragile, inter‐organisational partnership, which was often overlain with conflict. Drawing upon adaptation theory, this study explores how participants adapt to the use of email to handle conflict. Extensive data were obtained during a 6‐month field study of a case of cross‐border inter‐organisational collaboration in East Asia. We observed that the individuals involved in the cross‐border partnership used email as a lean form of communication to stop covert conflict from explicitly emerging. In contrast to prior research on the leanness of email in managing conflict, we found that under the described conflict situation the very leanness of email was appreciated and thus, exploited by those concerned to manage the conflict situation. Specifically, we identified 4 key conflict‐triggered adaptation strategies, namely, interaction avoidance, disempowering, blame‐protection, and image‐sheltering that drove the ways in which email was adapted to maintain organisational partnerships under conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research problem: In the educational arena, virtual teams made up of students who are located in more than one country are becoming increasingly commonplace. However, studies of the technological, social, and organizational factors that contribute to the success of these global virtual student teams (GVSTs) have yet to be systematically identified and discussed. In this paper, we seek to address this gap in our knowledge, drawing on several years of experience with GVSTs and addressing the following research question: How can university instructors establish effective GVST projects? Situating the case: The cases that we explore in this paper involve GVSTs with team members located variously in Hong Kong (all four cases), the USA (two cases), the UK (one case), and Singapore (one case). Students are a mix of undergraduate and graduate. How the case was studied: Our pedagogical purpose for running the GVST projects was to expose students to international communication and negotiation practices. The case designs involved situations where the student team members had to work collaboratively on a variety of tasks. We collected observational data and survey data, and required the team members to submit individual reflective reports about their learning experiences. About the case: We examine cultural differences among teams. We also note how issues of time and space vary across these teams, and consider how sufficient trust may be developed between team members to ensure productive work. Conclusion: From the four cases, we elicit 10 pertinent operational factors that should be of value to educators planning GVST projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by an acknowledged need to study creativity in the context of virtual project teams ( VPTs), in this article, we contribute to theory by analysing the role that leadership plays for creativity in the different phases of the creative process in VPTs. We draw on a qualitative case study with 49 members who worked in six VPTs as part of an Industry-Academia collaboration. Using the longitudinal approach, we study each phase of the virtual product design process using interviews, observations and other materials (e.g. project documentation). We find that, in the virtual design context, creativity is best understood as a process and comes in different shapes as this process evolves. We also pinpoint that different, though complementary, leadership skills are necessary in order for VPTs' creative potential to be unleashed. These findings highlight the heterogeneous character of leadership at the different phases of the creative process in VPTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By conceptualising presence as a behavioural construct, this study explores how online leaders' presence exerts an influence on online communities and their members. Drawing on qualitative research where five online communities were examined, the findings show that online leaders' presence is identified in different forms which ultimately may have different impacts on the community and its members. Articulations of leaders' presence online included interactive, instructive, stimulating and silent and for each the leader was found to exert a different influence on online community members. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed and areas for further research are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A participatory action approach was used to design and evaluate the acceptability of the Realshare online community. Pre and post-intervention focus groups were conducted and participants were asked to test out Realshare during two intervention periods: when a facilitator was present and when one was not. Focus group data and forum messages were thematically analysed. The themes identified related to participants’ website design requirements, how they used the community and the evaluation of Realshare after having used it. Amendments were made to Realshare throughout the project. Realshare is available to young oncology patients in the South West of England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]