Atualmente vive-se uma nova era de dinamismo no ambiente organizacional e presencia-se uma revolução impulsionada pela transformação tecnológica. O estudo da aprendizagem organizacional é uma resposta para as organizações que procuram melhorar seu desempenho e tornar-se cada vez mais competitivas. A aprendizagem organizacional aliada aos meios tecnológicos influenciaram os estudos na teoria de comunidades de prática (CoP), dando início a interação, troca de informações e conhecimentos através dos processos de aprendizagem formal e informal. Nesta linha desenvolve-se este estudo no campo da aprendizagem, em que comunidades distribuídas remotamente usufruem do meio tecnológico, dando início as Comunidades de Práticas Virtuais (CoPV). O objetivo desse trabalho foi compreender como os processos de aprendizagem acontecem dentro de uma CoPV. Os objetivos específicos foram: i) evidenciar características de CoPV, ii) analisar os processos de interação entre os integrantes da comunidade, do seu surgimento ao seu desenvolvimento, iii) descrever os processos formais e informais de aprendizagem, iv) identificar interações dos níveis organizacionais e interorganizacionais advindas da comunidade de prática virtual, e por fim, v) analisar a contribuição, dos resultados provenientes da participação na CoPV nas atividades profissionais dos envolvidos. A construção do referencial teórico abordou a aprendizagem organizacional e interorganizacional, processos formais e informais de aprendizagem, CoP e por fim estudos recentes sobre CoPV. Como metodologia de pesquisa, o estudo é caracterizado como sendo de natureza qualitativa e teve cunho exploratório, o desenvolvimento do estudo foi efetivado por meio da estratégia de pesquisa estudo de caso, sendo um caso único. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de triangulação de informações, com questões semiestruturadas, análise de documentos e através de uma observação participante natural. Os participantes do estudo foram os integrantes do Grupo de Usuários do Rio Grande do Sul (GU-RS) no qual discute-se assuntos referentes a softwares da linha de produtos da Totvs. Como resultados identificou-se aprendizagem nos processos formais e informais, sendo que ambos complementam-se. Evidenciou-se que esta aprendizagem ocorre tanto no fórum on-line como nas reuniões presenciais que reforça o grupo. A coordenação do grupo é essencial para conduzir e organizar o grupo, e os integrantes resolvem problemas e compartilham experiências e informações aprendendo diariamente e continuamente, criando valor para a empresa que constituem e adquirindo experiência com essa interação espontânea. Recomenda-se estudos futuros com outras CoPV, e estudos quantitativos para complementar e agregar em novas pesquisas. / Nowadays a new era is becoming reflected in the dynamics of the organizational environment and it undergoes a revolution driven by technological change. The study of organizational learning emerges as a response to organizations seeking to improve their performance and become increasingly competitive. Organizational learning allied to technology influenced studies in the theory of Communities of Practice (CoP) initiating interaction, exchange of information and knowledge through the processes of formal and informal learning. By the way this study is based in the field of learning in distributed communities that remotely enjoy the technological environment, initiating the Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP). The aim of this work was to understand how learning the formal and informal learning happen within a VCoP. processes take place within a VCoP . The specific objectives were: i) identify characteristics of VCoP, ii) analyze the processes of interaction between members and the context of the emergence and development of the group, iii ) describe the formal and informal learning processes that generate learning , iv) identify interactions of organizational and interorganizational levels arising from the online community and finally , v) analyze the contribution of the results from the participation in VCoP by the professionals activities of the members. The construction of the theoretical framework approached the organizational and interorganizational learning , formal and informal learning processes, CoP, and in the end, it is going to approach some recent studies on VCoP. As a research methodology , the study is characterized as qualitative and the nature exploratory. The development of the study was carried out through the case study research, about one single case. Data collection was carried out through triangulation of information , with semi-structured questions , analysis of documents and through a natural participant observation . The study participants were members of the user group of Rio Grande do Sul Totvs ( RS - GU ) in which we discuss issues relating to Totvs’ line of software products. As a result it was identified learning in formal and informal processes, both of which complement each other. Became evident that learning occurs both in the online forum and physical meetings that doing the group stronger. The coordination is essential to organize and lead the group, and members solve problems and share experiences and information and learning daily, continuously creating value for the company and gaining experience with this spontaneous interaction. Future studies with other VCoP, and quantitative studies are recommended to complement new researches.

Orientadores: Ricardo Ribeiro Gudwin, Leandro Nunes de Castro Silva / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T06:40:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pereira_AndreLuizVizine_M.pdf: 1817378 bytes, checksum: 1d28283d8d2855800dd0f406eb97e5e0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: A Internet tornou-se um dos principais meios de comunicação da atualidade, reduzindo custos, disponibilizando recursos e informação para pessoas das mais diversas áreas e interesses. Esta dissertação desenvolve e aplica duas abordagens de computação inspirada na biologia aos problemas de otimização do processo de busca e recuperação de informação na web e agrupamento de textos. Os algoritmos investigados e modificados são o algoritmo genético e o algoritmo de agrupamento por colônia de formigas. O objetivo final do trabalho é desenvolver parte do conjunto de ferramentas que será usado para compor o núcleo de uma comunidade virtual acadêmica adaptativa. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o algoritmo genético é uma ferramenta adequada para otimizar a busca de informação na web, mas o algoritmo de agrupamento por colônia de formigas ainda apresenta limitações quanto a sua aplicabilidade para agrupamento de textos. / Abstract: The Internet became one of the main sources of information and means of communication, reducing costs and providing resources and information to the people all over the world. This dissertation develops and applies two biologically-inspired computing approaches, namely a genetic algorithm and the ant-clustering algorithm, to the problems of optimizing the information search and retrieval over the web, and to perform text clustering. The final goal of this project is to design and develop some of the tools to be used to construct an adaptive academic virtual community. The results obtained showed that the genetic algorithm can be feasibly applied to the optimizing information search and retrieval, whilest the ant-clustering algorithm needs further investigation in order to be efficiently applied to text clustering. / Mestrado / Engenharia de Computação / Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

Estudo de caso exploratório que se baseia no Nudi Núcleo de Desenvolvimento de Relações Institucionais e de Inovação e visa identificar os estímulos à inovação nas pesquisas tecnológicas no âmbito das necessidades informacionais dos professores da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo e as mudanças sucedidas, produzidas pela publicação dos boletins On-line, oriundo das ciências exatas engenharias. Foram analisados os conteúdos de onze boletins nacionais e internacionais e investigadas quais as fontes de informação utilizadas pelos pesquisadores para participação em editais de fomento à pesquisa. A metodologia etnográfica utilizada comportou o envolvimento do pesquisador no ambiente explorado como observador participante pelo foco do grupo pesquisado. As informações de campo foram coletadas por meio de entrevistas roteirizadas, realizadas com 48 pesquisadores entre os 473 membros da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo. Os dados coletados revelaram uma série de sugestões oferecidas pelos entrevistados durante a pesquisa, que abrem possibilidades de pesquisas futuras e o aprofundamento nas questões que surgem deste estudo de caso no sentido de aperfeiçoar as redes de conhecimento por meio da utilização das tecnologias da informação e comunicação no incentivo à inovação. / An exploratory case study is presented, based on Nudi Núcleo de Desenvolvimento de Relações Intitucionais e de Inovação viewing to identify the stimulus to innovation in technologic researches in sphere of action of professors information necessities from Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo and the succeeded changes, produced by publication of Bulletins online, derived of science exact engineerings. Was analyzed eleven bulletins content national and international and investigated the online information sources used by researches. The ethnographic methodology utilized make the investigator to be involved with the explored ambient like participant observer by inquired group focus. The information collected by interview route from the group, realized with 48 researches among 473 members from Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo. The data collected revealed series of suggestions gave by researchers during the interviews that open future possibilities to make a profound study with the questions that emerge from this case study to improve the Knowledge net by utilization of Information and Communication Technologies to encourage innovation.

Orientador: Dirceu da Silva / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T04:25:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_MarianadaRochaCorrea_D.pdf: 5613028 bytes, checksum: fd1a6a6b2f02edd2819a15dc288284ab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Este trabalho descreve uma pesquisa quantitativa e qualitativa que investiga a percepção de alunos sobre possíveis influências de "Conjunções de Comunidades Virtuais de Prática" sobre seu processo de formação e sua prática. Essas conjunções visam o compartilhamento de conhecimento, o suporte à prática e a interação entre os membros de comunidades virtuais de prática. O levantamento bibliográfico sobre as características e aspectos do funcionamento de comunidades virtuais de prática e constelações de comunidades de prática possibilitou o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia voltada ao estabelecimento de Conjunções de Comunidades Virtuais de Prática e a elaboração de um instrumento que foi aplicado com os alunos do Curso de Especialização em Gestão Pública e Sociedade, um curso semipresencial que utilizou o ambiente TelEduc como suporte às aulas presenciais. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à Análise Fatorial Confirmatória (Modelagem de Equações Estruturais), possibilitando a criação de um modelo que mostra como as variáveis ou indicadores se compõem e a correlação entre eles. Com isso, foi possível perceber uma forte relação entre os constructos ASP PEDAGÓGICOS e ASP TECNOLÓGICOS que se relacionaram para possibilitar o desenvolvimento do constructo ASP SOCIAIS no curso, cujas características são essenciais para o estabelecimento de Conjunções de Comunidades Virtuais de Prática, ou seja, a metodologia desenvolvida para o curso se baseou fortemente no aparato tecnológico disponível (ferramentas do TelEduc), além das restrições e implicações impostas pelo tipo de curso (curso de pós-graduação), para tentar criar um ambiente favorável ao desenvolvimento e manutenção de Comunidades Virtuais de Prática e para o posterior estabelecimento de Conjunções de Comunidades Virtuais de Prática na etapa do TCC (colaboração e interação). Isso pôde ser confirmado a partir da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória realizada, uma vez que os valores dos coeficientes de caminho indicaram que há uma forte relação entre os constructos ASP PEDAGÓGICOS e ASP TECNÓLOGICOS (0,902) e moderadas para os as outras duas relações causais (ASP TECNÓLOGICOS e ASP SOCIAIS = 0,417 e ASP PEDAGÓGICOS e ASP SOCIAIS = 0,504). / Abstract: This paper describes a quantitative and qualitative research investigating the perception of students about possible influences of "Conjunctions of Virtual Communities of Practice" on their formation process and their practice. These conjunctions are aimed at sharing knowledge, practical support and interaction among members of virtual communities of practice. The literature on the features and aspects of the functioning of virtual communities of practice and constellations of communities of practice enabled the development of a methodology aimed at the establishment of Conjunctions of Virtual Communities of Practice and the development of an instrument that was applied to the students of Specialization in Public Administration and Society, a course that used blended environment TelEduc as supporting classroom. The data obtained were subjected to Confirmatory Factor Analysis (Structural Equation Modeling), enabling the creation of a model that shows how the variables or indicators are composed and the correlation between them. Thus, it was possible to see a strong relationship between the constructs ASP and ASP TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL that related to possible deployment of ASP SOCIAL construct in the course, whose characteristics are essential for the establishment of Conjunctions of Virtual Communities of Practice, i.e. the methodology developed for the course relied heavily on technological apparatus available (TelEduc tools), as well as the constraints and implications imposed by the type of course (graduate course), to try to create an environment conducive to the development and maintenance of Virtual Communities of Practice and the subsequent establishment of Conjunctions of Virtual Communities of Practice in TCC phase (collaboration and interaction). This could be confirmed from the conducted Confirmatory Factor Analysis, since the values of the path coefficients indicate that there is a strong relationship between the constructs ASP and ASP TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL (0.902) and moderate for the other two causal relationships (ASP TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIAL = 0.417 and ASP and ASP and ASP SOCIAL TEACHING = 0.504). / Doutorado / Ensino e Práticas Culturais / Doutora em Educação

WhatsApp’s growing presence in the developing world has led to a grassroots movement of messaging groups designed to serve relevant needs for small scale farmers in Kenya. These groups provide the means for as many as 256 members to ask questions, share experiences and solutions, gain access to information, and access markets for their products. This research project examines the use of these WhatsApp groups for agriculture in Kenya. The project seeks to understand the existing barriers to participation, and the use, benefits, and shortcomings of these groups for their members. Research findings indicated that farmers’ overall access to smart phones is a substantial barrier to their participation in groups for agriculture, and these barriers are expectedly more difficult for the poorest and most vulnerable (in which intersectional poverty creates additional barriers). However, while each group can vary significantly, members report that WhatsApp groups as a whole overwhelmingly benefit their livelihoods and practice. Systemic and societal change occurs when the experiences and successes of one individual are shared with a larger group – leading to rapid and shared prosperity. As each individual learns a new skill, technique, or input, the group must also learn and benefit from that knowledge. WhatsApp provides the means and the platform for this type of information exchange to occur at scale, and with individuals who would otherwise be unlikely to communicate. This research project examines the emerging use of grassroots WhatsApp groups as a potential example of this positive and inclusive approach to extension and development in agricultural communities.

Das kommerzielle Potential von virtuellen Gemeinschaften wurde Ende der 1990er Jahre entdeckt. Mit dem Einbruch des Werbemarktes endete die Euphorie. Vermeintlich erfolgreiche virtuelle Gemeinschaften wurden eingestellt. Nur wenige virtuelle Gemeinschaften konnten bislang beweisen, dass sie strategischen und langfristigen Erfolg haben. Kennzahlensysteme zur Messung und Steuerung des Erfolgs einer virtuellen Gemeinschaft können einen wesentlichen Beitrag sowohl zu einer kurzfristigen Erfolgsüberwachung sowie zu einer langfristig orientierten Erfolgsplanung und -sicherung leisten. Der vorliegende Beitrag präsentiert einen Vorschlag für ein solches Kennzahlensystem. Der Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf der Messung der Attraktivität einer virtuellen Gemeinschaft und der Aktivität ihrer Nutzer. Der Beitrag gliedert sich wie folgt. Abschnitt 2 führt zunächst kurz in die Grundlagen virtueller Gemeinschaften ein. Abschnitt 3 referiert wichtige Ansätze in der Literatur zur Erfolgsmessung in virtuellen Gemeinschaften. In Abschnitt 4 wird das entwickelte Kennzahlensystem vorgestellt und erläutert. Die Anwendung der Kennzahlen und ihre Interpretation werden in Abschnitt 5 am Beispiel der virtuellen Gemeinschaft GamesFinder.com demonstriert. Abschnitt 6 beschließt den Beitrag mit einem kurzen Ausblick.

Prior research has examined entrepreneurial businesses spatially located in the physical or offline context; however, recent radical information and technological breakthroughs allow entrepreneurs to launch their businesses completely online. The growth of the online business industry has been phenomenal. Predictions for worldwide online sales estimate it to reach $2 trillion in 2016. Virtual entrepreneurship refers to the pursuit and exploitation of opportunities via virtual platforms. Web 2.0 cybermediaries offer web-based platforms that function similarly to traditional intermediaries in a virtual setting and minimize barriers to entry for virtual entrepreneurial firms. The use of such cybermediaries with increasing success suggests an implicit shift in the dominant logic that typically underpins the functioning of entrepreneurial firms operating in the physical world. In this relatively uncharted territory, marked by a focus on profit, cooperation, collaboration and community, three ideal-type institutional logics i.e. Market, Corporation and Community, blend together. It is posited that a Virtual Entrepreneurial Logic guides the norms, behaviors, and practices of entrepreneurial firms operating via these virtual platforms. This raises the question whether the blending of three ideal-type logics leads to the existence of different antecedents of performance. A business model antecedent addressing the economic dimension, a community antecedent addressing the community dimension and a co-creation antecedent addressing the collaborative dimension of the Virtual Entrepreneurial Logic were therefore empirically examined in this study. Thus, three research questions were investigated to explicate the antecedents. Primary data from 1396 virtual entrepreneurial firms was collected (business model antecedent n=366, community antecedent n=732 and co-creation antecedent n= 298) to test the proposed hypotheses. Results provided support for the three antecedents. This study makes important theoretical and practical contributions to understanding the domain of virtual entrepreneurship from a blended logics perspective. Using the theoretical lens provided by institutional logics helps shed light on the pivotal role played by cybermediary platforms in the Web 2.0 context. The primary role of synergistic effects, cooperative behavior, and collaboration have important implications for virtual entrepreneurship. Findings also contribute to other related streams in entrepreneurship such as microenterprises. The study offers theoretical extensions of prior work on co-creation to virtual small entrepreneurial ventures. From a practical standpoint, insights can help entrepreneurs to better understand and leverage performance drivers in virtual contexts in general and on cybermediary platforms in particular.

This project examines the relationship between gendered identities, virtual communities, and material bodies, with an emphasis on eating disorders and self-injury practices. The use of the internet to represent and foster particular categories of material bodies, such as the anorexic, the fitness buff, and the self-injurer, has gained substantial visibility due in part to the proliferation of visual imagery presented through social networks. I analyze written and visual texts within specific social networks to assess their function and potential impact on individuals and larger communities. Drawing from Donna Haraway's cyborg theory, N. Kathryn Hayles' posthuman, Judith Butler's performativity, feminist poststructural analysis, and the notion of augmented reality, this project explores how individuals rely on social networks, images, and technologies to provide supportive environments for, as well as modify and maintain, specific gendered bodies. Applying feminist interpretations of Foucault's concepts of discipline and "docile bodies," primarily the research and critiques of Susan Bordo, Anne Balsamo, and Armando Favazza (among others), I examine how image sharing and interactions via social networks and communities affect material bodies and function as forms of social control, normalizing and encouraging ultra-thin bodies and dangerous behaviors, including eating disorders, overexercise, and cutting. I also explore subversive strategies of resistance enacted both within and beyond pro-ana and self-injury communities to counter negative messages and promote positive body image in girls and women.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / SOF members must be fully capable (fluent and adept) at operating in, through and upon networks to maximize the leverage of information technologies. Military information operators must possess the components of network capital (access to technology, computer literacy, and social networking ability), a strong tendency to engage in trusting behavior, high cognitive ability and a formal education. Virtual communities offer a mosaic of social behaviors and practices that provide models for virtual organization(s) within the military. Computermediated communications technologies (CMCTs) provide an inherently neutral but polymorphic forum for human social interaction (cyberspace). Specific emergent social topology (real or virtual) depends on the local social needs of individuals and/or bounded groups (communities). Because differences in topology are emergent, topological models have little predictive value. Virtual communities are better understood and predicted through analysis of their metadata. Virtual communities can be characterized as open or clandestine, according to their purpose, accessibility, level of trust, and primary mode of connectedness (bonding or bridging ties). Both open and clandestine communities offer methods of ensuring high levels of efficiency, trust, and security within military computer-mediated communications networks, as well as providing models of organizational flexibility that can be adapted to SOF missions and roles. / Captain, United States Air Force

Mittelständische und große Unternehmen sehen sich durch die rasant fortschreitende Digitalisierung von Medien und Kommunikation mit dem Problem konfrontiert, ihre Daten konsistent und logisch strukturiert zu verwalten. Häufig wird dieses Problem durch verteilte Strukturen (Filialen, Zweigstellen, Zulieferer, mobile Mitarbeiter) noch verstärkt. Die häufig verwendeten zentralisierten Strukturen (Server, Datenbanken) sind zudem ein wesentlicher Angriffspunkt für die Systemsicherheit und erfordern großen Aufwand zu ihrer Wartung und Aktualisierung.