%0 Journal Article %J Group & Organization Management %D 2021 %T Functional and Visionary Leadership in Self-Managing Virtual Teams %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A Kevin Crowston %A Heckman, Robert %K functional leadership %K Leadership %K Self-managing teams %K structuration theory %K virtual teams %K visionary leadership %X

In this conceptual article, we present a theory of leadership in self-managing virtual teams. We describe leadership in this setting as a process that results in the creation, reinforcement and evolution of shared mental models and shared norms that influence team member behaviour towards the successful accomplishment of shared goals. We distinguish two types of leadership. We identify leadership that works within and reinforces existing models and norms to influence team contributions as “functional” leadership. We identify leadership that results in changes in models and norms as “visionary” leadership. We propose that successful self-managing virtual teams require both types of leadership and that they will exhibit a paradoxical combination of shared, distributed functional leadership complemented by strong, concentrated and centralized visionary leadership and that visionary leadership is enabled by functional leadership in the form of substantive team member contributions.

%B Group & Organization Management %V 46 %P 424–460 %8 04/2021 %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1177/1059601120955034 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/1059601120955034_0.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Internet Research %D 2021 %T Participation in Community-Based Free/Libre Open Source Software Development Tasks: The Impact of Task Characteristics %A Kangning Wei %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A Kevin Crowston %X

Prior research on participation in FLOSS development has focused mainly on factors at the individual and/or project levels. In this research, we focus on task characteristics and explore their impacts on participation in FLOSS development tasks. Analyzing tasks from five projects in two categories, we find differences in participation related to different task triggers and task topics. Further, our results suggest the mediating role of number of participants in the relationship between task characteristics and the number of messages and the moderating role of project type in the relationships between task characteristics and the number of participants.

%B Internet Research %V 31 %P 1177-1202 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1108/INTR-03-2020-0112 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/IR%20to%20share.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Communications of the Association for Information Systems %D 2020 %T Decision-Making Processes in Community-based Free/Libre Open Source Software Development Teams with Internal Governance: An Extension to Decision-Making Theory %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A Kangning Wei %A Kevin Crowston %X

FLOSS teams are an extreme example of distributed teams, prominent in software development. At the core of distributed team success is team decision-making and execution. The lack formal organizational structures to guide practices and the reliance on asynchronous communication might be expected to make decision making problematic. While there is a paucity of research in how organizations make IS development decisions, the research in FLOSS decision making models is limited. Decision-making literature in FLOSS teams is limited to the investigation of the distribution of decision-making power. Therefore, it is not clear which decision-making theories fit FLOSS context best, or whether novel decision-making models are required. Despite these challenges many FLOSS teams are effective. We adopted a process-based perspective to analyze decision-making in five community-based FLOSS teams. We identified five different decision-making processes, indicating FLOSS teams use multiple processes when making decisions. Decision-making behaviors were stable across projects despite different type of knowledge required. We help fill in the literature gap due to the lack of investigations the extent to which FLOSS decision mechanisms can be explained using classical decision-making theories. Practically, community and company leaders should use these decision processes to infrastructure that fits best with the FLOSS decision-making processes.

%B Communications of the Association for Information Systems %G eng %N 46 %R 10.17705/1CAIS.04620 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/CAIS%20Journal%202nd%20Round%20Resubmission.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Information and Management %D 2017 %T Roles and politeness behavior in community-based Free/Libre Open Source Software development %A Kangning Wei %A Kevin Crowston %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A Heckman, Robert %K Core-periphery structure %K Open source software development %K Politeness behavior %X Community-based Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development relies on contributions from both core and peripheral members. Prior research on core-periphery has focused on software coding-related behaviors. We study how core-periphery roles are related to social-relational behavior in terms of politeness behavior. Data from two FLOSS projects suggest that both core and peripheral members use more positive politeness strategies than negative strategies. Further, core and peripheral members use different strategies to protect positive face in positive politeness, which we term respect and intimacy respectively. Our results contribute to FLOSS research and politeness theory. %B Information and Management %V 54 %P 573-582 %G eng %N 5 %R 10.1016/j.im.2016.11.006 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Group_maintenance%20paper%20to%20share.pdf %0 Generic %D 2008 %T Asynchronous Decision-Making in Distributed Teams (Poster) %A Li, Qing %A Heckman, Robert %A Allen, Eileen E. %A Kevin Crowston %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A James Howison %A Wiggins, Andrea %K Decision-Making %K FLOSS %B Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work %C San Diego, CA %8 8–12 November %G eng %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/CSCW2008Poster11x17Draft.pdf %0 Conference Proceedings %B Proceedings of the International Conference on Open Source Systems %D 2008 %T Decision Making Paths in Self-Organizing Technology-Mediated Distributed Teams %A Li, Qing %A Heckman, Robert %A Kevin Crowston %A James Howison %A Allen, Eileen E. %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %X This paper investigates decision making in self-organizing technology-mediated distributed teams. This context provides an opportunity to examine how the use of technological support to span temporal and organizational discontinuities affects decision-making processes. 258 software-modification decision episodes were collected from the public emailing lists of six Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) projects over a span of five years. Six decision-making paths were identified as 1) short-cut decision-making path; 2) implicit-development decision-making path; 3) implicit-evaluation decision-making path; 4) normative decision-making path; 5) dynamic decision-making path; and 6) interrupted/delayed decision-making path. We suggest that the nature of the tasks and the affordances of the technology used reduce the need for explicit coordination, resulting in a broader range of possible decision processes than are observed in face-to-face groups. %B Proceedings of the International Conference on Open Source Systems %C Paris, France, 14-17 December %G eng %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Decision%20Making%20Paths%20in%20Self%20Organizing%20Technology%20Mediated%20Dist.pdf %0 Conference Proceedings %B Proceedings of the 41st Hawai'i International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) %D 2008 %T Shared mental models among open source software developers %A Scozzi, Barbara %A Kevin Crowston %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A Li, Qing %X Shared understandings are important for software development as they guide to effective individual contributions to, and coordination of, the software development process. In this paper, we present the results of a preliminary analysis on shared mental models within Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development teams. Based on structuration theory and by adopting cognitive mapping and process analysis, we represented and com-pared the mental models of some developers of the Lucene Java project. Our analysis suggests that there is a high-level of sharing among core developers but the shar-ing is not complete, with some differences related to ten-ure in the project. %B Proceedings of the 41st Hawai'i International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) %C Big Island, Hawai'i, 7-10 January %G eng %R 10.1109/HICSS.2008.391 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/SharedMntalModels.pdf %0 Conference Proceedings %B Proceedings of the IFIP 3rd International Conference on Open Source Software %D 2007 %T Emergent decision-making practices in Free/Libre Open Source Software FLOSS development teams %A Heckman, Robert %A Kevin Crowston %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A James Howison %A Allen, Eileen E. %A Li, Qing %X We seek to identify work practices that make Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development teams effective. Particularly important to team effectiveness is decision making. In this paper, we report on an inductive qualitative analysis of 360 decision episodes of six FLOSS development teams. Our analysis revealed diversity in decision-making practices that seem to be related to differences in overall team characteristics and effectiveness. %B Proceedings of the IFIP 3rd International Conference on Open Source Software %C Limerick, Ireland, 10-14 June %G eng %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/20070320%20OSS%20Conference_v15_final%20submitted.pdf %0 Generic %D 2007 %T Emergent leadership in self-organizing virtual teams (Poster) %A Heckman, Robert %A Kevin Crowston %A Misiolek, Nora %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %K FLOSS %K Leadership %B Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) %C Montréal, Québec, Canada, 9–12 Dec %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/20081204%20ICIS%20Poster_v.5.1.pdf %0 Generic %D 2007 %T Investigating the Dynamics of FLOSS Development Teams (Poster) %A Li, Na %A Li, Qing %A Kangning Wei %A Heckman, Robert %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A Liddy, Elizabeth D. %A James Howison %A Kevin Crowston %A Allen, Eileen E. %A Scialdone, Michael J. %A Inoue, Keisuke %A Harwell, Sarah %A Rowe, Steven %A McCracken, Nancy %A Wiggins, Andrea %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/HSDposter_8.ai_.pdf %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/HSDposter_8.pdf %0 Journal Article %J IEEE Transactions on Professional Communications %D 2007 %T The role of face-to-face meetings in technology-supported self-organizing distributed teams %A Kevin Crowston %A James Howison %A Masango, Chengetai %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %K FLOSS %X We examine the role of face-to-face meetings in the context of technology-supported self-organizing distributed or virtual teams, specifically Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development teams. Based on a qualitative inductive analysis of data from interviews and observations at FLOSS conferences, we identify a variety of settings in which developers meet face-to-face, activities performed in these settings and benefits obtained. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, FLOSS developers generally do not meet face-to-face until the project is well under way. An additional benefit of face-to-face meetings is time away from a regular job and speed of interaction for certain kinds of tasks. %B IEEE Transactions on Professional Communications %V 50 %P 185–203 %G eng %R 10.1109/TPC.2007.902654 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/070122.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Information and Software Technology Journal: Special issue on Understanding the Social Side of Software Engineering, Qualitative Software Engineering Research %D 2007 %T Self-organization of teams in free/libre open source software development %A Kevin Crowston %A Kangning Wei %A Li, Qing %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A James Howison %X This paper provides empirical evidence about how free/libre open source software development teams self-organize their work, specifically, how tasks are assigned to project team members. Following a case study methodology, we examined developer interaction data from three active and successful FLOSS projects using qualitative research methods, specifically inductive content analysis, to identify the task-assignment mechanisms used by the participants. We found that ‘self-assignment’ was the most common mechanism across three FLOSS projects. This mechanism is consistent with expectations for distributed and largely volunteer teams. We conclude by discussing whether these emergent practices can be usefully transferred to mainstream practice and indicating directions for future research. %B Information and Software Technology Journal: Special issue on Understanding the Social Side of Software Engineering, Qualitative Software Engineering Research %V 49 %P 564–575 %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1016/j.infsof.2007.02.004 %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/060918.pdf %0 Audiovisual Material %D 2006 %T Audio of ICIS 2006 Presentation %A Kevin Crowston %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A Li, Qing %K FLOSS %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/ICIS-2006-Kevin-Yeliz-Qing-fixed.mp3 %0 Conference Proceedings %B Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) %D 2006 %T Emergent decision-making practices in technology-supported self-organizing distributed teams %A Heckman, Robert %A Kevin Crowston %A Li, Qing %A Allen, Eileen E. %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A James Howison %A Kangning Wei %K Decision-Making %K FLOSS %X We seek to identify work practices that make technology-supported self-organizing distributed (or virtual) teams (TSSODT for short) effective in producing outputs satisfactory to their sponsors, meeting the needs of their members and continuing to function. A particularly important practice for team effectiveness is decision making: are the right decisions made at the right time to get the work done in a way that satisfies team sponsors, keeps contributors happy and engaged, and enables continued team success? In this research-in-progress paper, we report on an inductive qualitative analysis of 120 decision episodes taken by 2 Free/libre Open Source Software development teams. Our analysis revealed differences in decision-making practices that seem to be related to differences in overall team effectiveness. %B Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) %C Milwaukee, WI, 10–13 Dec %G eng %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Emergent%20Decision%20Making%20Practices%20In%20Technology%20Supported%20Self%20O.pdf %0 Generic %D 2006 %T Investigating the Dynamics of FLOSS Development Teams (Poster) %A Li, Qing %A Kangning Wei %A Heckman, Robert %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A Liddy, Elizabeth D. %A James Howison %A Kevin Crowston %A Allen, Eileen E. %A Inoue, Keisuke %A Harwell, Sarah %A Rowe, Steven %A McCracken, Nancy %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/hsd2006poster.pdf %0 Conference Proceedings %B Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) %D 2005 %T Coordination of Free/Libre Open Source Software development %A Kevin Crowston %A Kangning Wei %A Li, Qing %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %A James Howison %K Coordination %K FLOSS %X The apparent success of free/libre open source software (FLOSS) development projects such as Linux, Apache, and many others has raised the question, what lessons from FLOSS development can be transferred to mainstream software development? In this paper, we use coordination theory to analyze coordination mechanisms in FLOSS development and compare our analysis with existing literature on coordination in proprietary software development. We examined developer interaction data from three active and successful FLOSS projects and used content analysis to identify the coordination mechanisms used by the participants. We found that there were similarities between the FLOSS groups and the reported practices of the proprietary project in the coordination mechanisms used to manage task-task dependencies. However, we found clear differences in the coordination mechanisms used to manage task-actor dependencies. While published descriptions of proprietary software development involved an elaborate system to locate the developer who owned the relevant piece of code, we found that “self-assignment” was the most common mechanism across three FLOSS projects. This coordination mechanism is consistent with expectations for distributed and largely volunteer teams. We conclude by discussing whether these emergent practices can be usefully transferred to mainstream practice and indicating directions for future research. %B Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) %C Las Vegas, NV, USA, December %G eng %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/Coordination%20of%20Free%20Libre%20Open%20Source%20Software%20Development.pdf %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/CoordinationFreeLibreOSSDevSlides.pdf %0 Generic %D 2005 %T An exploratory study of factors related to effectiveness of Free/Libre Open Source Software teams %A Kevin Crowston %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %K FLOSS %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/050415%20padua%20presentation.pdf %0 Conference Paper %B Academy of Management Conference %D 2005 %T Face-to-face interactions in self-organizing distributed teams %A Kevin Crowston %A James Howison %A Masango, Chengetai %A Eseryel, U. Yeliz %K FLOSS %X We explore the role of face-to-face meetings in the life of distributed teams using data from Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) development teams. Such distributed teams are part of many organizations’ new vision of management in the 21st century. Practitioner research has suggested the need for face-to-face meetings when a team is formed, but few studies have considered the role of face-to-face meetings during a team’s life. Based on a qualitative inductive analysis of data from interviews and observations at FLOSS conferences, we identify a variety of settings in which FLOSS developers meet face-to-face, activities performed in these settings and benefits obtained. Contrary to prior research, we find that FLOSS developers generally do not meet until the project is well under way. We also find that an additional benefit of face-to-face meetings is time away from a regular job. We conclude by noting limitations in our data collection due to a focus on core developers in large projects and with directions for further research. %B Academy of Management Conference %C Honolulu, HI %G eng %> https://crowston.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/FaceToFace%20Interactions.pdf