Exploring Co-presence Enabled Collaboration in Social Computing Inspired Enterprise Systems

This research describes the findings from an interpretive case study that explores the interplay between social computing (SC) and enterprise systems (ES). A fundamental shift is evident in how organisations become more effective through the adoption of SC capabilities. As process centric ES continues to pose challenges, an SC inspired, people-centric ES has become a medium for efficient interaction and collaboration across the divisions of an organisation. In this organisational reality, we explore the role of virtual co-presence of users on collaboration in ES. Our findings indicate that virtual co-presence enabled interactions, when focused and sustained over time, could facilitate collaboration for sharing of knowledge. An understanding of how users interact in mediated encounters contributes to our knowledge of how focused interactions may enable collaborations in ES. By drawing on the findings, the research seeks to outline some implications for the practice of a collaborative ES for the contemporary organisations.