article

NetWORKers and their Activity in IntensionalNetworks

Authors:

Bonnie A. Nardi,

Steve Whittaker,

Heinrich SchwarzAuthors Info & Claims

Computer Supported Cooperative Work, Volume 11, Issue 1-2

Pages 205 - 242

https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015241914483

Published: 25 April 2002 Publication History

Abstract

Through ethnographic research, we document the rise of personal social networks in the workplace, which we call i>intensional networks. Paradoxically, we find that the most fundamental unit of analysis for computer-supported cooperative work is i>not at the group level for many tasks and settings, but at the individual level as personal social networks come to be more and more important. Collective subjects are increasingly put together through the assemblage of people found through personal networks rather than being constituted as teams created through organizational planning and structuring. Teams are still important but they are not the centerpiece of labor management they once were, nor are they the chief resource for individual workers. We draw attention to the importance of networks as most CSCW system designs assume a team. We urge that designers take account of networks and the problems they present to workers.

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cover image Computer Supported Cooperative Work

Computer Supported Cooperative Work Volume 11, Issue 1-2

2002

276 pages

ISSN:0925-9724

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Copyright © Copyright © 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

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Kluwer Academic Publishers

United States

Publication History

Published: 25 April 2002

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