A social dynamics of the development of community network: problems raised by two cases of community network development
<br><b>Introduction.</b> This study investigates the processes involved in the development of a broadband community network in the Northeast USA. A community network project was studied by tracing the developmental processes from network design to the stabilization of information...
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| Language: | English |
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University of Borås
2007-01-01
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| Series: | Information Research: An International Electronic Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://informationr.net/ir/12-3/paper317.html |
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| author | Dong Hee Shin |
| author_facet | Dong Hee Shin |
| author_sort | Dong Hee Shin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <br><b>Introduction.</b> This study investigates the processes involved in the development of a broadband community network in the Northeast USA. A community network project was studied by tracing the developmental processes from network design to the stabilization of information infrastructure. <br><b>Method.</b> A case study was conducted on the broadband community network. Qualitative data were collected primarily through in-depth interviews, drawing on the retrospective data of diverse stakeholders: strategic policy groups, user groups, technical groups and functional groups. Archival documents from various sources were also collected and analysed to triangulate research findings. <br><b>Analysis.</b> Qualitative analyses were carried out on the data, which related to ninty-six interviews, 279 archival documents, and twenty-nine survey responses. The data were analyzed with thematic analysis using the Atlas.ti program. <br><b>Results.</b> The political economy of the development process has biased the development toward private interests and away from the public benefit, and toward lucrative services and intra-organizational connectivity and away from community-oriented uses. <br><b>Conclusion.</b> This study provides a conceptual base for understanding contemporary and future community networks by illustrating the applicability of the Social Construction of Technology Theory. It suggests that Constructive Technology Assessment would be valuable to include technology users in the technology design process. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f3685a024e594183a77a261d9c2c0056 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1368-1613 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2007-01-01 |
| publisher | University of Borås |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Information Research: An International Electronic Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-f3685a024e594183a77a261d9c2c00562025-02-02T09:33:21ZengUniversity of BoråsInformation Research: An International Electronic Journal1368-16132007-01-01123317A social dynamics of the development of community network: problems raised by two cases of community network developmentDong Hee Shin<br><b>Introduction.</b> This study investigates the processes involved in the development of a broadband community network in the Northeast USA. A community network project was studied by tracing the developmental processes from network design to the stabilization of information infrastructure. <br><b>Method.</b> A case study was conducted on the broadband community network. Qualitative data were collected primarily through in-depth interviews, drawing on the retrospective data of diverse stakeholders: strategic policy groups, user groups, technical groups and functional groups. Archival documents from various sources were also collected and analysed to triangulate research findings. <br><b>Analysis.</b> Qualitative analyses were carried out on the data, which related to ninty-six interviews, 279 archival documents, and twenty-nine survey responses. The data were analyzed with thematic analysis using the Atlas.ti program. <br><b>Results.</b> The political economy of the development process has biased the development toward private interests and away from the public benefit, and toward lucrative services and intra-organizational connectivity and away from community-oriented uses. <br><b>Conclusion.</b> This study provides a conceptual base for understanding contemporary and future community networks by illustrating the applicability of the Social Construction of Technology Theory. It suggests that Constructive Technology Assessment would be valuable to include technology users in the technology design process.http://informationr.net/ir/12-3/paper317.htmlCommunity network development |
| spellingShingle | Dong Hee Shin A social dynamics of the development of community network: problems raised by two cases of community network development Information Research: An International Electronic Journal Community network development |
| title | A social dynamics of the development of community network: problems raised by two cases of community network development |
| title_full | A social dynamics of the development of community network: problems raised by two cases of community network development |
| title_fullStr | A social dynamics of the development of community network: problems raised by two cases of community network development |
| title_full_unstemmed | A social dynamics of the development of community network: problems raised by two cases of community network development |
| title_short | A social dynamics of the development of community network: problems raised by two cases of community network development |
| title_sort | social dynamics of the development of community network problems raised by two cases of community network development |
| topic | Community network development |
| url | http://informationr.net/ir/12-3/paper317.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dongheeshin asocialdynamicsofthedevelopmentofcommunitynetworkproblemsraisedbytwocasesofcommunitynetworkdevelopment AT dongheeshin socialdynamicsofthedevelopmentofcommunitynetworkproblemsraisedbytwocasesofcommunitynetworkdevelopment |