Systems Thinking and Community Operations Research Needed for Better Work in Community Informatics
نویسندگان
چکیده
The paper shows that systems thinking is needed in research efforts in Community Informatics. It analyses briefly Virtual Community Informatics, Community Informatics and the broader field of (Virtual) Community Informatics as suggested by Bieber and Gurstein. The links between Community Informatics and Community Operations Research and indirectly in that way with systems thinking, are explored as well as the potential lessons for (Virtual) Community Informatics from the evolution of the Group Support Systems area. Taking as a starting point the recent work agenda in Virtual Community Informatics by Lee, Vogel and Limayem, this paper outlines possible directions for expansion of the research in (Virtual) Community Informatics aiming at the development of deeper holistic understanding of the needs for computerised support of virtual communities.
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