Abstract
This paper discusses a study of the group dynamics of a virtual community, determined through its members' communication on e-mail. The basis is an extensive case study that describes the struggle of academic staff members at all universities in Israel to gain salary increases and improved status. During the long strike, e-mail was used as a major means of communication between the strikers and their leaders. Data for the case were derived from in-depth content analysis of the e-mail messages that were found in the strikers' mail. The analysis of the e-mail messages demonstrates that during the strike this virtual community went through a series of phases that marked its evolution from a large disorganized group of dispersed individuals, into a united virtual community.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 245-254 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Information and Management |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jan 1997 |
Keywords
- Evolution of a virtual community
- Group development model
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Management Information Systems
- Information Systems
- Information Systems and Management