While technology can magnify existing inequalities by excluding marginalized groups in society, paradoxically, it can also serve as a means for them to move from isolation to inclusion. In this paper, we report a study illustrating how individuals belonging to one marginalized group-people with lifelong disabilities (PWLD)-used technology to navigate this path. Our study was part of an initiative by the Norwegian government exploring how PWLD can attain social inclusion (SI) through the use of virtual worlds (VW), specifically Second Life. Using a conceptualization of SI specific to PWLD, which consists of two interrelated domains-interpersonal relations and community participation-we trace how the actualization of affordances in VW enabled PWLD to achieve SI. This outcome was built upon the realization of five interrelated affordances: communicability, mobility, personalizability, engageability, and self-actualizability. Based on these insights, we demonstrate the role of VW affordances in achieving SI and propose a model titled the affordance-based pathway model of social inclusion. We contribute to the discourse on the theory of affordances by extending the role of facilitating conditions. Specifically, the outcomes achieved by the actualization of certain affordances can serve as facilitating conditions that support the perception and eventual actualization of other affordances.

Rural information systems initiatives (RISIs) are ICT-based projects intended to drive institutional change and reduce inequalities in rural communities. However, the extant information systems literature shows that many such initiatives paradoxically aggravate inequalities in other domains, but the literature provides little theoretical explanation of the mechanisms involved. This study addresses this gap from an affordance-based institutional logics perspective. Specifically, it conceptualizes a RISI as an institution that embodies a dominant institutional logic, which shapes how technology affordances are perceived and enacted. This lens is applied to an interpretive case study of an e-governance initiative implemented in village municipalities (i.e., village councils) in Nepal aimed at reducing knowledge inequalities in the municipalities. The initiative introduced a self-assessment logic for evaluating local development work, which amplified existing knowledge and power inequalities over time. The case study surfaced two mechanisms through which RISIs may aggravate inequalities: (1) by impeding logic hybridization and (2) by activating discriminatory logics. These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of RISIs and provide critical insights into the design and governance of ICT-based initiatives in rural contexts.

This study examines how users experience presence in Extended Reality (XR) environments, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of presence. Existing frameworks often treat presence as a singular construct and do not fully account for the complexity of XR environments, particularly when AI entities are involved. We conducted an empirical study with 46 employees from six Swiss organizations who collaborated with AI assistants in a purpose-built virtual workspace. Using qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, we identified three dimensions of presence: spatial, social, and cognitive. These dimensions emerge through users' interactions with the environment and AI agents and may operate independently or interact in ways that influence the overall experience. Applying an affordance perspective, we identified five key affordances: customizability, embodyability, proximity, interactability, and viewability. These affordances shape how users perceive and engage with spatial, social, and cognitive aspects of presence. The findings contribute to theory by offering a multidimensional understanding of presence and introducing an affordance-presence lens for studying user experiences in XR workspaces. Practical implications are also outlined. Designers can align workspace features with specific presence dimensions, and organizations can strategically deploy XR workspaces to support collaboration, task engagement, and user well-being.

In crisis informatics, little attention is placed on how transitions occur between periods of crisis and non-crisis. The analysis of transition behaviors in public organizations could help in understanding the duality between the need for continuity of services provided to the community, and the cyclical nature of risk and crisis management. This study uniquely highlights the transitions occurring when organizations need to stop day-to-day activities to focus on responding to a crisis while continuing to provide services to their communities. We focus on the use of social media analytics as a support system to study transitions and, with the objective to gain an insight into how sociotechnical systems navigate through periods of crisis and non-crisis, we leverage individual experiences of use of social media as a source of information in public service organizations and developers of social media analytics support tools. In doing so, we employed a process study approach, conducted semi-structured interviews, and used thematic analysis to trace patterns of transitions between crisis and non-crisis states. Furthermore, we formulate five signals that public organizations exhibit to illustrate and guide organizational transition behaviors. The main contribution of this study is the explanation and conceptualization of how transitions happen by framing social media as a support information system. In addition, we highlight the return to a new steady state, an overlooked area of organizational transitions and continuity. Our study will help streamline processes of continuity in organizations and inspires the design and improvement of current and future support systems. Future research could apply and extend our propositions to other support systems such as geospatial technologies, robots, and even artificial intelligence.

A broader, dynamic ecosystem perspective is crucial for researchers and managers to better understand and innovate business models in an increasingly complex environment. However, the persistent lack of “construct clarity” in business models significantly hampers both their theoretical and empirical development. This study employs theory-driven integrative literature review to clarify the business model construct through the combined lens of ecosystems and open systems, grounded in Bertalanffy’s general systems theory (GST), rooted in biology. By critically analyzing 255 representative sources, the study synthesizes a systemic definition of business models as open systems representing a set of interrelated value-based activities at the ecosystems level, to meet evolving needs of stakeholders, thereby enhancing construct clarity across four key factors: definition, scope, relationships with related concepts, and theoretical coherence. Additionally, the study introduces the ecosystem-based business model framework, illustrating how a business model's interconnected structure and dynamic nature align with GST’s open systems logic. This leads to a detailed discussion of research themes for further theoretical and empirical development. This work addresses the longstanding bottleneck of construct clarity in theorizing business models, contributes to the theory-driven review methodology, and expands the boundaries of business model research and practice in strategic management and organization through GST.

Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) research has largely been framed within ontological perspectives that emphasize systemic, structural, and institutional factors in technology adoption and societal transformation. Grounded in realist and idealist ontologies, these approaches primarily examine technology's functional roles in economic and social development. However, they often overlook how technology shapes human identity, agency, and ethical responsibility as intrinsic aspects of existence. This paper argues for expanding ICT4D research by incorporating an ethics-based ontology, combining Martin Heidegger's concept of Being-in-the-World and Hans Jonas's ethics of responsibility. Together, they reveal that ethics is not an afterthought but arises from our fundamental way of being. Shifting focus from instrumental perspectives to lived experiences, this approach offers a broader understanding of technology's influence on human existence, emphasizing the moral implications of technological interventions, especially regarding sustainability and intergenerational justice.

Abstract Understanding the business model phenomenon in complex business environments necessitates a dynamic ecosystem perspective. However, the lack of "construct clarity" significantly impedes this understanding, persistently challenging the theoretical and empirical development of business models. Through a theory-driven integrative literature review, this study aims to overcome this obstacle by leveraging Bertalanffy’s general systems theory (GST) and its core "open system" logic to clarify the business model construct within an ecosystem context. Reviewing 246 sources, the study identifies key issues within the research gaps and applies GST to critically analyse existing research on conceptualizing business models. It thereby defines a business model as an open system modelling iterative activities at the ecosystem level and enhances construct clarity across four basic elements: definition, scope condition, relationship with related concepts, and theoretical coherence. Additionally, the study introduces the "EBM" framework, illustrating how a business model's interconnected structure and dynamic nature align with open system logic, leading to the proposal of six research themes for future theoretical development. By bridging the research gap, this study clarifies a fundamental strategic and organizational concept, fostering a mindset-shifting understanding of business models from a broader, dynamic open system perspective while promoting interdisciplinary communication through the "unity in diversity" capability of GST.

Extended reality (XR) has been applied as an umbrella term encompassing virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality. While XR's applications have been widely explored in various domains, its integration in work environments, particularly in virtual teams, remains underexplored. This study is a systematic literature review on XR's deployment in virtual teams across digital workspaces, examining relevant publications from five major scientific databases over the past decade. The review primarily focuses on the current state and emerging trends in XR-mediated virtual team collaboration. Our findings highlight team types, application areas, collaboration modes, and key actions associated with XR utilization. Through co-occurrence network analysis, four key trends have been identified: AR/MR-based assistance, VR-based design and review, VR-based decision-making, and VR-based meetings and social events. A knowledge gap is revealed, as prior research has mainly concentrated on the technological aspects of XR or its outcomes, leaving the collaboration processes in XR-mediated teams insufficiently examined. Furthermore, this study summarized a model to illustrate how XR technologies empower virtual teams, providing valuable insight for organizations regarding its emerging trends.

In crisis informatics, little attention is placed on how transitions occur between periods of crisis and non-crisis. The analysis of transition behaviors in organizations could respond to both the cyclicality of risk and crisis management, and the need for continuity of services provided to the community. In studying transitions, we focus on social media use as a support system. Thus, with the objective to gain an insight into how sociotechnical systems navigate through periods of crisis and non-crisis, we leverage individual experiences that rely on social media as a source of information in public service organizations and developers of social media analytics support tools. The main contribution of this study is the explanation and conceptualization on how transitions happen by framing social media as a support system of information for crisis management. In addition, we highlight the return to a new steady-state, an overlooked area of organizational transitions and continuity.

Extended reality (XR) has been widely applied as an umbrella term encompassing virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality. Despite extensive research on XR applications in various contexts, little attention has been drawn to its utilization in work scenarios, particularly in virtual teams. This study is a systematic literature review of virtual teams utilizing XR in the digital workspace, incorporating related articles from four scientific databases over the past decade. The review focuses on two aspects: the current state of XR implementation in virtual teams and how technology addresses the digital collaborative process. Findings highlight team types, application areas, collaboration modes, and key actions associated with XR usage. A theoretical gap is revealed, as previous studies focus on either the technological aspects of XR or its outcomes. Additionally, this study proposes a model to illustrate how XR technologies empower virtual teams, providing valuable insight for organizations regarding its potential usage.

The contribution of Bruno Latour to IS research is discussed and the organization of papers in these proceedings is explained. Key issues addressed in each of the papers are described.

In this paper we propose a framework to explain the possibilities of ICT in ICT4D. The PAR (Possibility, Action, Result) framework is based on the theoretical concepts of IS artifacts, affordances, and the capability approach, and is further refined by findings from an eGovernment project in Indonesia aiming to develop a digital platform to facilitate inclusive public debate for the citizens. The framework describes the process by which IS artifacts enable various action possibilities and choices. Furthermore, the framework shows how actors may realize their possibilities and choices, which in turn enhances their functioning. Our analysis also revealed the role of conversion factors, such as personal commitment and digital literacy, that hindered the actors' ability to actualize the possibilities of ICT. We make three main contributions. First, the PAR framework explains the process by which ICT can enhance individual and collective capabilities. Second, the concept of IS artifacts describes the perception of ICT possibilities and choices in the ICT4D context. Third, the process of feedback explains how an outcome of an action can lead to perception of new affordances.

Affordance theory provides one of the most prominent lenses through which the socio-technical aspects of a system’s use can be investigated and understood. In this context, the literature has proposed that perceived and actualized affordances may be adjusted over time. Yet, how the adjustment of affordances occurs has not been explained in detail. Thus, in this article, we develop a conceptual model of feedback mechanisms that includes a more explicit description of how affordances are perceived by users, whether actualized and adjusted. With the model, we introduce the central concept of a generative base, out of which affordance perceptions emerge and which can be updated through affordance actualizations. With this base, we integrate mental model (MM) theory to explain better the differing perceptions before and after actor–artifact interactions. Our conceptual model is illustrated and specified using an empirical case of the mental mobile health (mHealth) app “Between The Lines” in Germany. In this study, we conducted 40 interviews in two rounds with 20 teenage app users. Our results show that the users’ perceptions of mHealth affordances become adjusted and hence change over time due to experiencing the actualization process, which may lead to an update of the generative base, including the user’s MM.

The IFIPJWC 2023 proceedings present research on the future of digital work with a focus on climate change and digital sustainability.

This paper takes stock of how ‘smart’ is conceptualized in smart cities literature and how the concept is getting re-appropriated in different smart village initiatives across Europe and the Global South. Emerging discourses on smart village espouse the concept of ‘smart’ to strategically leverage ICTs to bring inclusive and sustainable rural development, however these visions are ambiguous about the nature of ICT artifacts and its interactions with rural community and people’s goals and abilities and how they can shape actions and outcomes of sustainable development. Finally, future research directions for ICT4D researchers are proposed to address the current shortcomings and to expand the knowledge and practice of smart village interventions.

Social media listening is used to support the need for information throughout the crisis management life-cycle with emphasis on the phases of response and recovery. The academic literature illustrates that the adoption and implementation of social media listening in crisis management happens through improvisation using trial and error. Moreover, previous studies argue that to integrate social media as a source of information, implementation strategies need to look beyond the acquisition of sophisticated technologies. Additional resources, capabilities, and the fundamental characteristics of the environment where social media listening takes place play a role in the arrangement of social media listening practices. Therefore, by performing an analysis of existing knowledge that address this phenomenon, we propose preliminary guiding principles that support the arrangement of practices of social media listening as a vehicle to fulfill information needs. This study contributes to the systematization of social media practices in crisis management.

The concept of affordances has become central in information systems literature. However, existing perspectives fall short in providing details on the relational aspect of affordances, which can influence actors' perception of them. To increase granularity and specificity in this regard, researchers have suggested that it be supplemented with other concepts or theories. In this article, we argue that the Heideggerian concepts of ‘familiarity’ and ‘referential totality’ are well suited for increasing our understanding of the relational aspects of affordances in information systems research. To explore this idea, we conducted a case study of a project concerning the development of a digital twin (i.e., digital representation of a physical asset) in the Norwegian grid sector. We found that users' familiarity with the digital twin totality enabled them to perceive digital twin affordances, and that without this familiarity, affordances remained latent for the users. Through our study, we offer a nuanced perspective on the relational aspect of affordance perception, contributing to affordance theory in that regard. Further, we contribute to practice and information systems research by providing valuable insights into how digital twins are understood and applied in practice.