Category Archives: Doctoral Symposium

Reducing Knowledge Loss in Open Source Software

Conference Contributions, Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2017, Proceedings

Title: Reducing Knowledge Loss in Open Source Software

Author: Mehvish Rashid: Lero, DCU

Abstract: Contributor turnover leads to knowledge loss in OSS projects. The structure of the OSS community is transient in nature, yet continual maintenance of OSS projects is required for their sustainability. Even though knowledge creation and sharing is abundant, knowledge is not evenly distributed among contributors. Only a small subset of contributors called core members make major code contributions in OSS projects. It is costly for a contributor to maintain code from other contributors on the project and to seek out assistance and information required, resulting in productivity loss. Knowledge retention mechanisms, we suggest, could be improved in OSS projects. The objective of our work is to integrate the concept of knowledge retention in OSS projects. The challenge is how to apply concepts of knowledge management in such a dynamic community with a transient workforce.

Download: This contribution is part of the OpenSym 2017 proceedings and is available as a PDF file.

A Crowdsourcing Practices Framework for Science Funding Calls / Processes

Conference Contributions, Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2017, Proceedings

Title: A Crowdsourcing Practices Framework for Science Funding Calls / Processes

Author: Eoin Cullina: Lero NUI Galway

Abstract: Public scientific research funding agencies (funding agencies) are charged with the task of implementing government science policy and identifying research projects worthy of funding. They play an important role in creating value for society through funding research and informing research policy. However, the work of funding agencies in recent years has been hampered by various challenges in call processes. This research proposes crowdsourcing as a potential solution for funding agencies. Information systems research has engaged with crowdsourcing and the open innovation phenomenon. Crowdsourcing has been utilised by both private organisations and governments in the seeking solutions to similar types of challenges. Despite this fact, no crowdsourcing frameworks have been adapted to address the types of challenges faced by funding agencies in call processes. This research seeks to identify challenges faced by funding agencies for the purposes adapting a crowdsourcing practices framework to address these challenges.

Download: This contribution is part of the OpenSym 2017 proceedings and is available as a PDF file.

It’s About Time: Applying Temporality to Software Development Teams

Conference Contributions, Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2017, Proceedings

Title: It’s About Time: Applying Temporality to Software Development Teams

Author: Mairead O’Connor:Lero NUI Galway

Abstract: Most existing software development research adopts a very simplistic, ‘clock-based’ mechanistic interpretation of time and ignores the highly complex, multi-faceted, subtle and socially embedded nature of temporality. This is a significant limitation given that software development is a highly complex, socially embedded activity. This research applies temporality theory to examine software development teams. This research contributes to research and practice by (i) identifying any gaps, misconceptions or general conceptual issues in the application of temporal concepts to software development to date, (ii) examining the complexity of temporality that exist within software development teams (iii) examining the impact that such complexity may have, and (iv) identify strategies for resolving these temporality issues in software development. To achieve the objective of this study, the comprehensive temporality framework proposed by Ancona et al., (2001) is used to understand the various components of temporality within the context of software development

Download: This contribution is part of the OpenSym 2017 proceedings and is available as a PDF file.

Peer Reviewed Government: Public Value for the People

Conference Contributions, Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2017, Proceedings

Title: Peer Reviewed Government: Public Value for the People

Author: Ann O’Brien:National University of Ireland Galway

Abstract: Globally government initiatives are being introduced that seek to engage citizens in a co-creation process with government agencies. For the first-time this paper blends theories from public administration and IS to explore citizens’ value perceptions of Web 2.0 platforms in eParticipation These technologies appear to have huge potential to engage citizens, yet, uncertainty remains regarding the value of these process and the value of Web 2.0 in eParticipation. Sense of community theory is introduced to eParticipation as a mediating factor to the creation of public value in eParticipation, where the outcome of the success model are public value/net benefits. The aim of this paper is the construction of a framework using a sense of community index unique to the context of eParticipation, to evaluate the success of the individual/group experience eParticipation.

Download: This contribution is part of the OpenSym 2017 proceedings and is available as a PDF file.

Individual Work Behavior in Online labor markets: Temporality and Job Satisfaction

Conference Contributions, Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2017, Proceedings

Title: Individual Work Behavior in Online labor markets: Temporality and Job Satisfaction

Author: Azka Umair:National University of Ireland Galway

Abstract: The digitalization of labor markets has created new patterns of work. One such example is the rise of powerful intermediaries, known as online labor markets (OLMs), such as Freelancer and Upwork. Being rapidly growing markets, OLMs have attracted the interest of many researchers in recent years. Our research aims to examine the influence of temporal personalities of workers and the impact of temporal dimensions of work on job satisfaction in OLMs. Furthermore, we identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to job satisfaction. We use person-job fit and job characteristic theory as a theoretical foundation for this research. To collect data from workers, a survey will be designed and deployed on three popular online labor markets. The results of the study will help us to understand workers’ perception of job satisfaction in such markets.

Download: This contribution is part of the OpenSym 2017 proceedings and is available as a PDF file.

The Value of Engaging with Open Source Communities

Conference Contributions, Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2017, Proceedings

Title: The Value of Engaging with Open Source Communities

Author: Georg J.P. Link:University of Nebraska at Omaha

Abstract: Organizational engagement with open source communities has become increasingly common. Open source is becoming a widely accepted and utilized form of innovation and product development. The fact that organizations extend their development efforts to open source communities not only demonstrates that open source meets the needs of organizations but also that it is perceived as the best solution among alternatives. In this research, I take a value perspective for understanding how organizations evaluate their engagement with open source communities. I build on signaling theory to understand how organizations perceive open source communities and make value judgments about their engagement. This research contributes to the growing evidence of how open source integrates with business strategy. Open source office managers in organizations can use the results of this research to better articulate open source engagement and open source communities benefit from the results by learning how to best attract organizational members and maintain valuable engagements with them.

Download: This contribution is part of the OpenSym 2017 proceedings and is available as a PDF file.

Doctoral Symposium at OpenSym

Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2018, Uncategorized

For whom is this?

What is this?

The doctoral symposium is an opportunity to get feedback on your ideas and/or work-so-far from experts and doctoral candidates within and outside your own discipline.

How does it work?

  • You write a short exposé on your work as described on the submission types page.
  • You submit it (as PDF) to Easychair on or before  2018-04-15, AoE.
  • You will be notified of acceptance or rejection on 2016-05-27
    (we do not expect the doctoral symposium to be very selective; we expect to reject primarily submissions that are off-topic or have too little content to allow helpful discussion).
  • If accepted, you should submit a final version of your submission until 2016-06-03, again via Easychair.
  • If accepted, you come and present your topic and work
    (details on this will follow; do not forget that we are not topic specialists, so make sure you explain such that an interdisciplinary audience can follow).
  • We all discuss your topic and work.
  • You leave with plenty of good new ideas how to improve your work.

When and where?

The symposium takes place on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 (that is, the day before OpenSym proper will begin) at

Télécom Paris,

46 Rue Barrault, 75013, Paris

The format of each slot is: 20 minutes presentation, 20 minutes discussion of this topic (including specific methods), 20 minutes discussion beyond this topic (including methods in general).
A projector (VGA) will be available. Please bring your own laptop.

Doctoral symposium program committee

To be announced

A Crowdsourcing Practices Framework for Public Scientific Research Funding Agencies

Announcement, Conference Contributions, Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2016

Title: A Crowdsourcing Practices Framework for Public Scientific Research Funding Agencies

Author: Eoin Cullina (Lero, NUI Galway), Kieran Conboy (Lero, NUI Galway) and Lorraine Morgan (Lero, Maynooth Univeristy)

Abstract: Scientific research and the work of public scientific research funding agencies (SRFAs) has in recent times been impeded by various obstacles and challenges. SRFAs are predominantly engaged in tasks surrounding the assessment and funding of scientific projects through research call processes. Such traditional processes face various problems. Firstly, scientific research in recent years has seen increased competition between participants for decreasing resources globally. Added competition and submissions brings a new layer of complexity to existing processes. Secondly, it is difficult to build and assess multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research projects through existing approaches. Thirdly, existing call assessment/peer review processes have shown intellectual insularity, a lack of flexibility and a lack of transparency in project selection mechanisms. It is posited that crowdsourcing presents solutions to many of these challenges. Whereas research has seen the advancement of various crowdsourcing models and taxonomies it is posited that many of these do not suit the specific needs of SRFAs. A practical contribution is required whereby practices are advanced to assist task completion by SRFAs in research assessment and funding processes. Open collaboration presents asa means to enable SRFAs. Accordingly, this research proposes adapting an exemplary crowdsourcing framework for selecting, formulating and evaluating crowdsourcing practices for use by public SRFAs.

This contribution to OpenSym 2016 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2016 proceedings on or after August 17, 2016.

Medical Science in the Lab Versus Medical Science in Wikipedia: Open Collaboration and Transformation of Scientific Knowledge Production

Announcement, Conference Contributions, Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2016

Title: Medical Science in the Lab Versus Medical Science in Wikipedia: Open Collaboration and Transformation of Scientific Knowledge Production

Author: Reham Al Tamime (University of Southampton – Web Science Institute)

Abstract: Wikipedia has challenged the way laboratory based knowledge is built and contested by creating an open socio technical environment that allows non domain experts to contribute to scientific and medical knowledge. The open nature of Wikipedia has been successful, but there are concerns about the quality and trustworthiness of its articles. The goal of my research is to investigate the process of knowledge creation in Wikipedia and observe the transformation of contested to accepted knowledge over time. By using Actor Network Theory and Social Network Analysis, the contribution of my research is to unveil the network dynamic that is behind statements’ dynamic in Wikipedia. In addition, this research is an opportunity to study how open collaboration models have transformed the scientific knowledge production inside labs.

This contribution to OpenSym 2016 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2016 proceedings on or after August 17, 2016.

Generating Trust in Collaborative Annotation Environments

Announcement, Conference Contributions, Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2016

Title: Generating Trust in Collaborative Annotation Environments

Author: Jamal Al Qundus (Freie Universität Berlin – Institute of Computer Science)

Abstract: The main goal of this work is to create a model of trust which can be considered as a reference for developing applications oriented on collaborative annotation. Such a model includes design parameters inferred from online communities operated on collaborative content. This study aims to create a static model, but it could be dynamic or more than one model depending on the context of an application. An analysis on Genius as a peer production community was done to understand user behaviors. This study characterizes user in-teractions based on the differentiation between Lightweight Peer Production (LWPP) and Heavyweight Peer Production (HWPP). It was found that more LWPP- interactions take place in the lower levels of this system. As the level in the role system increases, there will be more HWPP- interactions. This can be explained as LWPP-interacions are straightforward, while HWPP-interations demand more agility by the user. These provide more opportunities and therefore attract other users for further interactions.

This contribution to OpenSym 2016 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2016 proceedings on or after August 17, 2016.