Improving sense of community. An action research on social software artifact for a graduate university setting

      Аннотация: The books' two objectives were first, to improve the sense of a local educational community by utilizing the social software artifact; and second; to contribute learning in the field of Community Information Systems. The book employed a multi-medthod approach, utilizing different concepts and methodologies such as Community Centered Development (CCD), Action research, and Content Analysis. A large content pool from blogspots were coded and analyzed to find changes in the level of the sense of community among its members. Working closely with various stockholders from the School of Information Science and Technology (SISAT) over a period of 18 months, the author designed and implemented user-centric, community based software- The SISATSpace. Findings suggest positive feedback from community stakeholders in using the system. The system designer/administrator plays a vital role in designing, planning and implementing it to ensure a sustainable system life cycle. In addition, contributions to the Community Information System were obtained from findings from different types of users and the types of messages they shared among each other.

Ключевые слова: Social Network, computer, Information System, InformationTechnology, social innovation