Mapping the Field of Virtual Work: A Cocitation Analysis.

Author List: Raghuram, Sumita; Tuertscher, Philipp; Garud, Raghu;
Information Systems Research, 2010, Volume 21, Issue 4, Page 983-999.
Interest in the area of virtual work continues to increase with articles being written from different disciplinary perspectives-e.g., information systems (IS), management, psychology, and transportation. In this paper, we map research on virtual work to (a) understand the intellectual base from which this field has emerged, (b) explore how this field has evolved over time, and (c) identify clusters of research themes that have emerged over time and the relationships between them. Specifically, we use cocitation analysis of research published in all social science disciplines to map the field at three points in time-1995, 2000, and 2006. Our results show that the field has grown from 9 research clusters in 1995 to 16 in 2006. A comparison across these maps suggests that research in the cluster of "virtual teams" has gained significance even as research in some earlier clusters such as "urban planning and transportation" has lost ground. Our longitudinal analysis identifies relevant concepts, theories, and methodologies that have emerged in the field of virtual work. This analysis can help interested researchers identify how they may want to contribute to the field of virtual work-by adding to popular clusters, by enriching emerging smaller clusters, or by acting as bridges across clusters.
Keywords: bibliometric analysis; virtual teams; virtual work
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#21 0.231 research information systems science field discipline researchers principles practice core methods area reference relevance conclude set focus propose perspective inquiry
#169 0.151 research journals journal information systems articles academic published business mis faculty discipline analysis publication management tenure authors publications disciplines years
#254 0.135 level levels higher patterns activity results structures lower evolution significant analysis degree data discussed implications stable cluster exist relationships identify
#60 0.095 analysis techniques structured categories protocol used evolution support methods protocols verbal improve object-oriented difficulties analyses category benchmark comparison provided recognition
#83 0.074 personal computers use lead order using users pcs innovativeness understanding professional help forces gained usage increase trends parallel introduced expressed
#87 0.064 team teams virtual members communication distributed performance global role task cognition develop technology involved time individual's affects project geographically individuals
#220 0.061 research study different context findings types prior results focused studies empirical examine work previous little knowledge sources implications specifically provide
#146 0.059 work people workers environment monitoring performance organizations needs physical useful number personal balance perceptions create computer-based technological technologies investigation achievement
#120 0.058 virtual world worlds co-creation flow users cognitive life settings environment place environments augmented second intention spatial interactivity ownership objects immersive