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This study explores how ICTs and the Internet are influencing, and being influenced by, the evolution of institutions, organizations and workflows that play a role in scholarly work. Based on a literature review and a structured analysis of 8 carefully selected web sites, this study explores: (i) the evolving business models of scientific journals; (ii) the new competitive dynamics triggered by open access and article-level metrics; (iii) the traditional and emerging forms of peer review; and (iv) the emerging ICT-enabled changes in research workflows. The findings depict a highly complex and dynamic scenario, in which different scholarly communities, with their respective institutional and organizational environments, are experimenting different ICT-based arrangements and solutions, which are dramatically widening the range of possible activity systems through which scientific knowledge is created, exchanged, evaluated and leveraged. JEL classification: M10, M15, Keywords: Research workflow, Scholarly commons, Academic publishers, Publish or perish, Open scientific data, Academic libraries, Academic incentives, Digital publishing

There is widespread belief that crowdfunding can successfully support charity operation by accelerating and simplifying the process of finding large pools of funders. Analysing a unique dataset of donations collected in Italy through crowdfunding in 2016, we identify contextual factors that hamper online donations. Specifically, looking at the role of digital divide, digital literacy, and social network interactions, our study extends the existing literature on charity crowdfunding. Implications are discussed in both theoretical and practical terms on the modes of engagement of online communities and on possible tactics to overcome donations barriers.

Introducing IT-enabled transformational change in the public sector can be complex and challenging. Documentary analysis and in-depth interviews were used to study the introduction of a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) in one Italian regional healthcare organisation (RHO). Drawing on existing HRIS benefit models, we examined the types of benefit envisaged by different stakeholders and how these were realised in practice, along with unintended outcomes. Analysis revealed that the RHO had derived value from the implementation project, whilst demonstrating variations in expected and realised benefits between different categories of employee and co-dependencies between different types of benefit. We propose an extended and empirically-informed model of expected and realized benefits from HRIS in health organizations, which takes account of these interdependencies and differences.

The present study builds on diffusion of innovation (DOI) and institutional theories to address the current lack of cross-national studies on e-HRM adoption and usage. The core research question asks about the factors influencing e-HRM adoption and usage for HRM. We analysed direct effects related to country, organizational and HRM factors among 3815 organizations in 21 countries in a multilevel approach. The results largely supported the hypotheses. Specifically, national systems supporting innovative behaviours determine the extent of e-HRM adoption. The economic sector of activity, size, global competition and educational level were associated with e-HRM adoption and usage at the organizational level. Moreover, a strategic orientation of the HR function seems to be a prerequisite for e-HRM adoption and usage. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Negli ultimi 10 anni l’interesse manageriale verso le piattaforme Social Media (SM) è cresciuto esponenzialmente, ma in molti casi all’interesse iniziale è seguita una certa disillusione rispetto all’utilità dei SM. Recentemente la ricerca accademica ha ipotizzato che i SM possano avere un ruolo importante nel supportare i processi di innovazione. Anche in questo caso le evidenze empiriche sono state contrastanti mostrando una relazione negativa tra il livello di utilizzo dei SM, per ottenere informazioni utili allo sviluppo di soluzioni tecnologiche, e il livello di innovazione dell’organizzazione. Questo studio va a investigare la relazione tra i processi di SM Analytics e la capacità organizzativa di percepire e rispondere al cambiamento tecnologico, adottando un modello di ricerca più esteso che consideri anche le variabili individuali e organizzative a supporto di questi processi. Le informazioni raccolte dai SM possono infatti supportare la reattività organizzativa al cambiamento, a condizione di: implementare i processi analitici necessari a raccogliere, filtrare, e analizzare le informazioni rilevanti; sviluppare le capacità individuali e le competenze organizzative necessarie a supportarli.

Changes in traditional sectors, such as cultural heritage, have stemmed from technological innovations, which brought new opportunities for the valorization of cultural heritage, as well as new competences requirements. With a specific focus on cultural organizations, the technology can provide greater efficiency in the coordination of processes and facilitate the development of new activities that can generate economic returns. Touristic guides have a prominent role in cultural heritage valorization as they contribute to deliver a full and comprehensive experience to the visitors. Therefore, the technology adoption and usage of the touristic guides should have a direct impact on the valorization of cultural heritage through ICTs. In this paper, we aim at identifying the sensemaking that each actor confers to the technological innovations, and its impact on cultural heritage valorization.

Recent technological innovations and applications have impacted traditional sectors, such as the cultural heritage. They have brought about not only new opportunities for the valorization of cultural heritage, but also unprecedented challenges for the human resources working in the sector. With a specific focus on cultural organizations, the technology can provide greater efficiency in the coordination of processes and facilitate the development of new activities that can generate economic returns. Touristic guides have a prominent role in cultural heritage valorization as they contribute to deliver a full and comprehensive experience to the visitors. Therefore, the technology adoption and usage of the touristic guides should have a direct impact on the valorization of cultural heritage through ICTs. In this paper, we aim at identifying the sensemaking that each actor confers to the technological innovations, and its impact on cultural heritage valorization.

The main goal of the paper is to explore the importance of the complementarities between ICT and organizational change in order to plan new organizational forms. In particular, the paper analyzes whether and how technology can be an important instrument of coordination for healthcare organizations. Results from our empirical research indicate that ICT solutions and initiatives play a significant role in improved information management and therefore re-engineering of business processes. We show how traditional organizational models and coordination are no longer consistent and sufficient in turbulent environments such as that of the Italian health. ICT provides new ways of coordination and control. So the traditional coordination mechanisms are scaled or enhanced with the use of ICT.

This chapter focuses on the reciprocal relationship between information systems and organizational control. It introduces the volume, describing both the theoretical frameworks and the topics analyzed and discussed. In particular, the volume is divided into three sections, each one focusing on a specific topic: organizational control, accounting and information systems; organizational change, innovation and ICT; and information, knowledge and project management practices.

The literature on distributed work has recognized the importance of enhancing our understanding of how leadership processes change in globally distributed teams (GDTs), and of the interplay between leadership processes and the use of collaborative technologies. However, we still find limited, and some- times contradictory, empirical evidence on the topic. Following the theoretical framework of e-leadership, the aim of this paper is to explore how emergent and formal leadership processes co-evolve with the use of collaborative technologies in GDTs and their influence on team performance. We conducted a multiple case study in five GDTs engaged in scientific collaborations. Our analysis suggests that the attainment of consistency between leadership processes and technology use is related to better knowledge integration, which is an important antecedent of overall team performance.

Cooperation among firms is universally seen as a catalyst of competitive advantages. However, 50 % of alliances fails, often due to the lack of tools and methods to quantitatively track the effects of alliances on firms and to link goals and KPIs outside of traditional organizational boundaries. Nonetheless, performance management and performance measurement have a key role in the assessment of alliance’s goals achievements and of the impact of alliances on firms. This concept has been included in DsNA, a tool for the analysis of strategic partnerships, that we developed with the aim of providing firms, networks’ managers, researchers and policy makers with a more structured and complete information. In particular, the innovative aspect consists of the creation of an online service which enables KPIs monitoring and benchmarking, thus simplifying a possible reconfiguration of network dynamics.