The thesis is focused on describing the procedures through which organizations can acquire and retain high-quality long-term workers in the ICT sector. Most of the described procedures can be easily transfered to other industries. Brand new approaches that can be applied in the process of recruitment, are discussed as well, specifically, the possibility of using online social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. Outsourcing is another, fairly new option of acquiring employees. An example of such a service is oDesk. The following part of the work describes the processes that are used in recruitment and retaining the skilled employees in the Unicorn company, which is the major producer of software in the Czech Republic. Despite Unicorn`s long-term achievements and experience in implementing the various human resources management and other related activities in order to acquire and maintain high-quality employees, the author was able to formulate specific proposals and recommendations that may contribute to their further improvement and streamlining. These recommendations are subject to the final part of the thesis.

Social media and its underlying technologies have created an advanced and sophisticated platform for digital activism. As a result, companies and organizations are undergoing a pivotal transition in how they reach and engage with users in a fast and efficient manner. Specifically, nonprofit organizations have taken advantage of using social media platforms to not only amplify their brand and image, but also spread awareness of their mission to larger audiences. The aim of this study is to delve into the use of social media in the activism measures of nonprofit organizations and determine its effectiveness across the organizations. First, an in depth literature analysis will explore social media and its impact on digital activism as well as how social media has been utilized by renown nonprofits in the case studies of Greta Thunberg, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Second, the study will depict both qualitative and quantitative data taken from local nonprofit organizations that explore the impact of social media towards their activism measures. The case companies used in this study are Dolgin Digital Media and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. After a thorough analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data, it was determined that social media is an effective tool for nonprofits to not only communicate their mission efficiently and quickly to a mass audience, but also as a mechanism for brand amplification. / Sociala medier och dess underliggande tekniker har skapat en avancerad och sofistikerad plattform för digital aktivism. Som ett resultat genomgår företag och organisationer en avgörande övergång i hur de når och samarbetar med användare på ett snabbt och effektivt sätt. Specifikt har ideella organisationer utnyttjat att använda sociala medieplattformar för att inte bara förstärka sitt varumärke och sin image, utan också sprida medvetenheten om deras uppdrag till större publik. Syftet med denna studie är att fördjupa användningen av sociala medier i ideella organisationers aktivismåtgärder och bestämmadess effektivitet i organisationerna. Först, en djupgående litteraturanalys kommer att utforska sociala medier och dess inverkan på digital aktivism samt hur sociala medier har använts av kända ideella organisationer i fallstudierna av Greta Thunberg, och Black Lives Matter-rörelsen. För det andra kommer studien att skildra både kvalitativa och kvantitativa data som tas från lokala ideella organisationer som undersöker effekterna av sociala medier på deras aktivismåtgärder. De fallföretag som används i denna studie är Dolgin Digital Media och Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Efter en grundlig analys av kvalitativa och kvantitativa data, det fastställdes att sociala medier är ett effektivt verktyg för ideella organisationer för att inte bara kommunicera sitt uppdrag effektivt och snabbt till en masspublik, utan också som en mekanism för varumärkesförstärkning.

This study examined how online social networking (OSN) leads to increased communication and collaboration across inter-firm boundaries. This online social networking behaviour represents significant opportunities to firms in the form of improved problem-solving, increased collaborative innovation and enhanced engagement with stakeholders. There are also risks inherent in the widespread use of OSNs, such as the loss of control over information flows to individuals outside the organization, potential damage to the reputation of brands and organizations, and loss of productivity due to excessive usage of OSNs during work hours. In particular, this study sought to test four research propositions, specifically, that usage of one particular OSN, LinkedIn (LI), results in: 1) an increased number of inter-firm connections; 2) an improved ability to communicate across inter-firm boundaries; 3) greater access to problem solving or innovation collaborators; 4) increased organizational problem solving or innovation ability. The study methodology involved both quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative portion of the study involved survey research among over 500 LinkedIn (LI) users to determine changes they reported in various dimensions related to inter-firm relationship-forming, information-sharing and collaborative problem solving since using LI. The sampling approach was purposive and the sample frame consisted of the researcher’s own extended LI network, and an effort was also made to make the survey link available to all LI members through public posting in the site’s Q&A section. Though no individual or group was systematically excluded from the opportunity to take the survey, some limitations are inherent in the approach taken. The survey respondents were self-selecting, which makes it difficult to confirm that the sample is reflective of all LI users. Also, the use of the researcher’s own LI network as a key source of survey respondents may have biased the study toward more open networkers, since the researcher’s network was built up over time by practicing open networking behaviours. As a result, the sample may tend to under-represent more closed or restrictive networkers. Notwithstanding these limitations, no one particular group of respondents was excluded from the opportunity to take the survey, and the resulting data suggests that there were significant numbers of respondents who considered themselves closed networkers. Also, the spread of respondents by geographic area, occupation and age was found to resemble published statistics from LI on its user base, so it appears that the data is reasonably reflective of the LI user base, though this would be difficult to verify or measure. Qualitative research was also undertaken among senior managers at companies that have embraced the use of OSNs by staff to determine their experiences along similar dimensions. The findings from the quantitative survey showed that users of LI have experienced an increased number of social connections with individuals as a result of using LI, and that these connections are often with people in other organizations, including competitors and customers. Survey respondents also reported that they have been able to draw upon their LI networks in order to solve problems and be more innovative in their work. Analysis of the qualitative research yielded a list of suggested best practices that could be adopted by firms wishing to harness the collaborative power of OSNs. These suggested best practices have been grouped under the areas of strategy, listening, communication, guidelines, training, diffusion and measurement. Some suggested areas for future research included: the role of performance measurement and reward systems in managing OSN usage behaviour; the organizational risks of centralized versus decentralized control of messaging via OSNs; the role of training in the effective deployment of OSNs in an organizational context; and the organizational risk of increased connectedness with competitors resulting from OSN relationships. / Business Management / D.B.L.

This study examined how online social networking (OSN) leads to increased communication and collaboration across inter-firm boundaries. This online social networking behaviour represents significant opportunities to firms in the form of improved problem-solving, increased collaborative innovation and enhanced engagement with stakeholders. There are also risks inherent in the widespread use of OSNs, such as the loss of control over information flows to individuals outside the organization, potential damage to the reputation of brands and organizations, and loss of productivity due to excessive usage of OSNs during work hours. In particular, this study sought to test four research propositions, specifically, that usage of one particular OSN, LinkedIn (LI), results in: 1) an increased number of inter-firm connections; 2) an improved ability to communicate across inter-firm boundaries; 3) greater access to problem solving or innovation collaborators; 4) increased organizational problem solving or innovation ability. The study methodology involved both quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative portion of the study involved survey research among over 500 LinkedIn (LI) users to determine changes they reported in various dimensions related to inter-firm relationship-forming, information-sharing and collaborative problem solving since using LI. The sampling approach was purposive and the sample frame consisted of the researcher’s own extended LI network, and an effort was also made to make the survey link available to all LI members through public posting in the site’s Q&A section. Though no individual or group was systematically excluded from the opportunity to take the survey, some limitations are inherent in the approach taken. The survey respondents were self-selecting, which makes it difficult to confirm that the sample is reflective of all LI users. Also, the use of the researcher’s own LI network as a key source of survey respondents may have biased the study toward more open networkers, since the researcher’s network was built up over time by practicing open networking behaviours. As a result, the sample may tend to under-represent more closed or restrictive networkers. Notwithstanding these limitations, no one particular group of respondents was excluded from the opportunity to take the survey, and the resulting data suggests that there were significant numbers of respondents who considered themselves closed networkers. Also, the spread of respondents by geographic area, occupation and age was found to resemble published statistics from LI on its user base, so it appears that the data is reasonably reflective of the LI user base, though this would be difficult to verify or measure. Qualitative research was also undertaken among senior managers at companies that have embraced the use of OSNs by staff to determine their experiences along similar dimensions. The findings from the quantitative survey showed that users of LI have experienced an increased number of social connections with individuals as a result of using LI, and that these connections are often with people in other organizations, including competitors and customers. Survey respondents also reported that they have been able to draw upon their LI networks in order to solve problems and be more innovative in their work. Analysis of the qualitative research yielded a list of suggested best practices that could be adopted by firms wishing to harness the collaborative power of OSNs. These suggested best practices have been grouped under the areas of strategy, listening, communication, guidelines, training, diffusion and measurement. Some suggested areas for future research included: the role of performance measurement and reward systems in managing OSN usage behaviour; the organizational risks of centralized versus decentralized control of messaging via OSNs; the role of training in the effective deployment of OSNs in an organizational context; and the organizational risk of increased connectedness with competitors resulting from OSN relationships. / Business Management / D.B.L.

Diploma thesis is focused on electronic social networks and implementation of these networks inside a work association from information technology industry. The thesis is divided into two main parts which systematically follow each other. In theoretical part the chosen online social networks are described with highlights of possible usage in professional association. Also the usage of these networks in Czech Republic is compared and analyzed. Next in line are shown current standards in business communication and these are then softly connected to an explanation, why some kind of electronic social networks should be used in a company, regarding the law. The applying part describes the researched professional association and analyses problematic situation which is solved in this writing. Using the Multiple-criteria decision-making method an electronic social network which suits best is picked for usage in researched association and then implemented in real life. Data collected after implementation from user feedback is used to cast a résumé, whether the process went well or not, and the lasting result on communication effectivity from both management and employee views. Based on the result mentioned above, a bonus set of advices and possible innovations which the association should obey when using implemented electronic social network is included.

Waking up in a world where everyone carries a miniature supercomputer, interaction designers find themselves in their forerunners dreams. Faced with the reality of planetary-scale we have to confront the task of articulating approaches responsive this accidental ubiquity of computation. This thesis attempts such a formulation by defining computation as a strange material, a plasticity shaped equally by its technical properties and the mode of production by which is its continuously re-produced. The definition is applied through a methodology of excursions — participatory explorations into two seemingly disparate sites of computation, connected in they ways they manifest a labor of care. First, we visit the social infrastructures that constitute the Linux kernel, examining strangle entanglements of programming and care in the world's largest design process. This is followed by a tour into the thorny lands of artificial intelligence, situated in the smart replies of LinkedIn. Here, we investigate the fluctuating border between the artificial and the human with participants performing AI, formulating new Turing tests in the process. These excursions afford an understanding of computation as fundamentally re-produced through interaction, a strange kind of affective work the understanding of which is crucial if we ambition to disarm the critical accidents of our present future.