INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND IT INFRASTRUCTURE

While IT provides faster transmission of information, it affords the logical sepa- ration of work from work processes and the resources required to perform the work processes. This gives managers the fl exibility to focus on effective accomplishment of the work requirements objectively. As noted previously, the fl exible allocation of resources (e.g., labor, time, hardware, software) to work processes, favors a virtual organizational structure. The virtual organizational structure, in turn, favors ephemeral labor contracts, telework, short-term supplier contracts, and outsourcing. Given the long-term nature of existing organizational arrangements, it is natural for there to be resentment from employees, suppliers, and the labor community. For example, one of the grievances in a recent labor strike between General Motors and the United Auto Workers labor union ( June, 1998) centered on the outsourcing issue. There is a dearth of research on the impact of such resentment on emergent virtual organizations.

Another challenge for the virtual organization is how to reduce switching and contract costs and how to handle temporal alliances and partnerships in order to protect company secrets such as special formulas or marketing strategies. These two problems are formidable since few or no studies exist from which companies can learn. However, as we move into the virtual society, virtual organizations will have to fi nd solutions to such problems. Organizations may institute strict and dra- conian nondisclosure agreements that may be impractical to enforce.

At the microlevel, individuals should have the ability to become perpetual learners and apply their knowledge to new situations. As technology changes, so too will the need to master and use the new technology (Scharmer, 2001). The rate at which individuals and organizations are able to learn and apply new knowledge to new situations may become the only sustainable competitive advantage in the virtual society (Teece, 2001). As advocated by Nonaka and Teece (2001), multidis- ciplinary studies will be needed to evaluate the psychological and social impacts of increased burdens on people to be knowledgeable about various technologies and to learn continuously.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

This chapter provides important insights into the forces, dilemmas, and implications of the oncoming virtual society. We identifi ed and discussed the main forces and exposed the issues and complexities involved. Additional research

216 Shayo et al.

is needed to examine the relevance of such forces and issues in a virtual societal context. The framework provided in Fig. 1 was aimed at organizing our knowledge from prior literature and identifying the boundaries of the “virtual society” phenomenon. The arrangements covered select areas seen as specifi c instances of the virtual society. We hope that this chapter highlighted the issues and complexities involved as we move into a more virtual world and that it will stimulate research in fi eld settings on the driving forces, issues, dilemmas, and prospects facing the virtual society.

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CHAPTER 9

Internet Self-Help and Support Groups: The Pros

and Cons of Text-Based Mutual Aid *

Storm A. King

East Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Danielle Moreggi

PIR Psychology Department University of New Haven New Haven, Connecticut

Introduction The Psychology of Text-Based Relationships Self-Help as Mutual Aid Text-Based Mutual Aid Results of a Replication Survey Pros and Cons of Internet Self-Help Groups Internet Support Groups and Text-Based Group

Therapy Ethical Considerations in Researching Text- Based Mutual Aid Conclusion References

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND IT INFRASTRUCTURE