Elitsa Alexander
Thumbnail Image
Title
Dr.
Last Name
Alexander
First name
Elitsa
Email
elitsa.alexander@unisg.ch
Phone
+41 71 224 3022

Filters
Reset filters

Settings
Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Publication
    Understanding the Impact of Visual Representation Restrictiveness on Experience Sharing: an Experimental Assessment
    (Acad. Press, 2015-10-24)
    Alexander, Elitsa
    ;
    Bresciani, Sabrina
    ;
    Eppler, Martin J.
    This study investigates the effects of the restrictiveness of visuals on the communication process and outcome in small groups. Visual restrictiveness is conceived as the constraints imposed by a graphic template on the process of knowledge work. Through an experiment with ninety six experienced professionals we test the impact of a medium and a high level of visual restrictiveness compared to a control condition. As predicted, the results show that a medium level of visual restrictiveness, embodied in a grid layout, leads to higher experience sharing effectiveness. The impact is mediated by the structural pattern of appropriation of the interactive graphical template (assessed with content analysis). The implications of this study include extending the benefits and applications of visual representations to support group communication and the development (and testing) of the concept of visual restrictiveness.
    Type: journal article
    Journal: Journal of Visual Languages and Computing
    Volume: 31
    Issue: Part A
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jvlc.2015.09.003
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/105798
    Scopus© Citations 9
  • Publication
    Type: conference paper
    Journal: Annual Conference of the SACM SGKM 2017
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/102443
  • Publication
    The Effect of System-embedded Visual Restrictiveness on Experience Sharing
    (Academy of Management, 2015-08-07)
    Alexander, Elitsa
    ;
    Bresciani, Sabrina
    ;
    Eppler, Martin J.
    ;
    Humphreys, John
    Interactive visual representations of knowledge can be used as catalyst of organizational discourse. One under-investigated property of visual representations embedded into collaborative systems (CS) is their restrictiveness, i.e., the constraints which they impose on collaborative discussion, meaning construction and intellectual exchange. This study investigates the effects of visual restrictiveness on the process and outcome of CS-supported experience sharing in small groups. Through a lab experiment with 186 acting managers, followed by a field experiment in two organizations, we test the impact of a medium and a high level of visual restrictiveness compared to a non-restrictive control condition within a collaborative system. The results indicate support for the hypothesized positive impact of a medium level of visual restrictiveness on experience sharing effectiveness and efficiency. The impact is mediated by the perceived faithfulness of appropriation of the interactive graphical template. The implications of this study include augmenting the benefits and managerial applications of visual representations to support experience sharing in organizations, extending adaptive structuration theory to the visual context, and the development (and testing) of the concept of visual restrictiveness.
    Type: conference paper
    DOI: 10.5465/ambpp.2015.83
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/106072
  • Publication
    A Replay Analysis Methodology for Small-Group Communication Research: Unique Characteristics, Potential Benefits and Application Guide
    (International Communication Association (ICA), 2015-05-24)
    Alexander, née Shumarova, Elitsa
    ;
    Eppler, Martin J.
    ;
    Bresciani, Sabrina
    This paper discusses the application of a “re-play analysis research methodology” – an innovative technique for analyzing group communication discourse. Through a screen recording functionality, the software-supported group debate (captured by the creation and modification of textual elements on a software-preloaded visual template) can be re-played from the start to visually reconstruct how the conversation has unfolded. Apart from providing a step-by-step application guide for the suggested methodology, we outline its unique characteristics and potential benefits. We illustrate the specific methodological advantages that re-play analysis offers through the lens of the “l-o-t-u-s effect” metaphor. Following this, an example study is described in which the re-play methodology was employed in experience sharing sessions with ninety active managers. Reporting on this study allows a broad range of re-play analysis’s potential benefits to be highlighted. In closing the paper, a discussion is held on the range of possible application areas of the re-play analysis.
    Type: conference paper
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/106428
  • Publication
    A Visual Re-Play Methodology for Group Discussion Analysis
    (Academy of Management, 2015-08-07)
    Alexander, née Shumarova, Elitsa
    ;
    Eppler, Martin J.
    ;
    Bresciani, Sabrina
    This paper discusses the theory and proposed application of an innovative research methodology for visual elicitation. The methodology introduces a new way to observe and investigate the interaction patterns during collocated or distributed small-group discussions. The software-supported group debate can be recorded and re-played – with the help of, ideally software-embedded, screen recording functionality – to visually reconstruct how the conversation has unfolded. The discussion patterns are captured by tracing the creation, movement and modification of textual elements on the software-preloaded visual template(s). Instead of tracking mouse or eye-gaze movements, we are tracing discussion trail movements – contributions during group discussion, their timing and trajectory, their grouping into categories, etc. Instead of relying on secondary observational data, e.g., gesturing, we analyze what actually happens during the group discussion based on observation of concrete human contributions. In this paper we provide a coding scheme and a step-by-step application guide for the suggested methodology, apart from outlining its unique characteristics. Following this, we describe an example study in which the re-play methodology was first employed in experience sharing sessions with ninety active managers. Reporting on this study allows a range of potential benefits of applying the methodology in scholarly and management inquiry to be highlighted.
    Type: conference paper
    DOI: 10.5465/ambpp.2015.13935abstract
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/106073
  • Publication
    Type: conference paper
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/86413
  • Publication
    How Visual Restrictiveness Affects Group Communication Effectiveness: Experimental Evidence
    (ICCMTD, 2014-04-25)
    Bresciani, Sabrina
    ;
    Alexander, née Shumarova, Elitsa
    ;
    Eppler, Martin J.
    Visual representations of knowledge can be used as catalyst of group communication to map and document dialogue. The characteristics of visual templates for collaborative work have seldom been assessed. This study aims at addressing this gap by investigating in particular the effect of the restrictiveness of visuals on the communication process and outcome in small groups. Through an experiment we test the impact of medium and a high level of visual restrictiveness compared to a control group. The results show that a medium level of visual restrictiveness leads to higher experience sharing effectiveness, mediated by the structural pattern of appropriation of the interactive graphical template (assessed with content analysis). The implications of this study include extending the benefits and applications of visual representations to support group communication and the development (and testing) of the concept of visual restrictiveness.
    Type: conference paper
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/87070
  • Publication
    Knowledge Scaffolding: A Classification of Visual Structures for Knowledge Communication in Teams
    (ACM, 2013-09-04)
    Alexander, née Shumarova, Elitsa
    ;
    Eppler, Martin J.
    ;
    Bresciani, Sabrina
    ;
    Lindstaedt, Stefanie
    ;
    Granitzer, Michael
    In this conceptual paper we develop Wanda Orlikowski's [1] idea of considering the distinguishing characteristics of physical scaffolds as a metaphor to offer insights into how knowledge in practice is materially scaffolded. We build on an interdisciplinary analogy between two connotations of the notion of "scaffolding": physical scaffolding from an architectural-engineering perspective and scaffolding of the "everyday knowing in practice" from a knowledge management perspective. Based on that, we classify visual structures for knowledge communication in teams into four types of scaffolds: grounded (corresponding i.e., to perspectives diagrams or dynamic facilitation diagrams), suspended (i.e., negotiation sketches), panel (i.e., roadmaps or timelines) and reinforcing (i.e., a visual domain glossary). The article concludes with a set of recommendations in the form of questions to ask whenever practitioners are making choices regarding which types of visual structures should be used for specific knowledge communication needs. Our recommendations aim at providing a framework at a broad-brush level to aid choosing a suitable visualization template depending on the type of knowledge management endeavor.
    Type: conference paper
    DOI: 10.1145/2494188.2494200
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/88752
    Scopus© Citations 4