The Hugging Team: The Role of Technology in Business Networking Practices

Anne Thorsø Sørensen, Irina Shklovski

    Research output: Conference Article in Proceeding or Book/Report chapterArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    Technological devices for social networking are produced in droves and networking through media seems to be the way of getting ahead in business. We examine what role technology plays in the creation, development and maintenance of business relationships among entrepreneurs in Copenhagen. We find that mediated communication is useful in all stages of relational maintenance but only in a supportive role in relational development where co-presence and shared personal experiences take center-stage, generating trust necessary for business relationships to work. These trust-developing experiences take effort and hard work and although they can be successfully supported and even facilitated through the use of communication technologies, they need not be replaced or made simpler. The difficulties of creating these experiences make working business relationships viable in the uncertain and risky world of entrepreneurship.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationECSCW 2011 : Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, 24-28 September 2011, Aarhus Denmark
    EditorsSusanne Bødker, Niels Olof Bouvin, Volker Wulf, Luigina Ciolfi, Wayne Lutters
    Number of pages20
    Place of PublicationNew York
    PublisherSpringer
    Publication date2011
    Edition1st
    Pages333-352
    ISBN (Print)0857299123
    Publication statusPublished - 2011
    EventEuropean Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work - ECSCW 2011 - Århus, Denmark
    Duration: 24 Sept 201128 Sept 2011
    http://www.ecscw2011.org/

    Conference

    ConferenceEuropean Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work - ECSCW 2011
    Country/TerritoryDenmark
    CityÅrhus
    Period24/09/201128/09/2011
    Internet address

    Keywords

    • Technological Devices
    • Social Networking
    • Business Relationships
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Mediated Communication

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