Just a couple of weeks before the optional abstracts are due. * * * Please forward as appropriate * * * CALL FOR PAPERS Third Annual Online Communities in the Digital Economy at the Hawai'i International Conference on Systems Science on the Big Island of Hawaii, January 3-6, 2005 *** AT A GLANCE *** ---Topic Area--- Possible topics include, but are not limited to: Communities as sociological phenomenon in the digital economy Community-related business models, best practices and lessons learned Business Communities Personalization and use of customer profiles Case studies and topologies of Online Communities Research methodologies Novel communities, M-Communities and hybrid communities Design principles for community platforms: Coordination, trust, normative values, design patterns and methods, implementations, architectures and components, personalization and avatars Formal or semi-formal models of communities and their platforms: Theories, Conceptual frameworks, Organizational models, Cognitive models, Multi-agent systems, Formalizations, as, e.g., logical models Visualizations For other examples of appropriate topics see the list of previous years' papers: http://www.e-business.fhbb.ch/hicss ---Who--- Researchers and designers from fields such as business development, information systems, information studies, computer science, anthropology, computer-mediated communication, management sciences, usability, interaction design, linguistics, psychology, rhetoric, sociology, and so forth. ---Chairs--- Blair Nonnecke, University of Guelph, Canada Ulrike Lechner, University of Bremen, Germany Petra Schubert, University of Applied Sciences Basel, Switzerland ---Important Dates--- Abstract submission - Wednesday, March 31, 2004 [instructions below] Abstract feedback - by Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Paper submission - Tuesday, June 15, 2004 [instructions below] Accept/Reject notice - Sunday, August 15, 2004 Final papers due - Friday, October 1, 2004 One author must register for HICSS - Friday, October 1, 2004 Deadline for conference-negotiated hotel rates - Wednesday, December 1, 2004 ---For More Information--- The online call and a list of previous years' papers: http://www.e-business.fhbb.ch/hicss Contacts: nonnecke@cis.uoguelph.ca lechner@informatik.uni-bremen.de petra.schubert@fhbb.ch About the HICSS conference: http://www.hicss.org/ *** DETAILS *** ---About the Minitrack--- Virtual Communities have been studied from a variety of different perspectives. Examples range from Communities of Interest, Communities of Relationship, Gaming Communities to Communities of Transaction. Community building and community management can be a key success factors in the digital economy. They can either supplement existing or even represent new business models in the digital economy. The communities we target may be constituted as Internet shops, portal sites, groupware systems, electronic auctions, billboards, peer-to-peer file sharing infrastructures, enterprises or organizations. Product-centred communities are relevant for online companies, as for example the reader community at Amazon.com or mutual support groups for software development. Other communities form value chains, such as single product manufacturing consortia or flexible consumer-driven organization of global supply chains. Further examples are topic and technology oriented communities such as Open-EDI trading communities, Open Trading on the Internet (OTP), EDI/XML interest groups or the community-oriented programming of Linux. Communities of Practice or Learning Communities are pivotal for knowledge management. On peer-to-peer infrastructures communities share files and wireless technologies enable a new type of communities, M-Communities. As the examples show, online communities differ in their orientation. Nevertheless, there are some common features which all types of communities share: common interests, practices, languages and ontologies with common semantics as well as normative issues. Communities are a sociological phenomenon. They can foster a social atmosphere for interactions and transactions. They dispose of enormous power - provided the emergence of adequate services and platforms as the file sharing communities illustrate. ---Instructions for Abstract Submission---- 1. Submit a 250 word abstract of your proposed paper via email to the chairs (March 31): Blair Nonnecke<nonnecke@cis.uoguelph.ca>, Ulrike Lechner <lechner@informatik.uni-bremen.de> Petra Schubert <petra.schubert@fhbb.ch> 2. We will send you feedback on the suitability of your abstract shortly thereafter. ---Instructions for Paper Submission--- 1. HICSS papers must contain original material not previously published, or currently submitted elsewhere. 2. Do not submit the manuscript to more than one Minitrack Chair. If unsure which Minitrack is appropriate, submit the abstract to the Track Chair for guidance. 3. Submit your full paper according to the detailed formatting and submission instructions found on the HICSS website. Note: All papers will be submitted in double column publication format and limited to 10 pages including diagrams and references (June 15). 4. Submit final paper (October 1). ---About the HICSS Conference--- Since 1968 the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) has become a respected a forum for the substantive interchange of ideas in all areas of information systems and technology. The objective of HICSS is to provide a unique environment in which researchers and practitioners in the information, computer and system sciences can frankly exchange and discuss their research ideas, techniques and applications. Comments and feedback from each HICSS conference indicate that the conference format continues to be professionally rewarding and stimulating to everyone who attends. More information about the HICSS conference can be found at http://www.hicss.hawaii.edu/. --- Conference Administration--- Ralph Sprague, Conference Chair, sprague@hawaii.edu Sandra Laney, Conference Administrator, hicss@hawaii.edu Eileen Dennis, Track Administrator, eidennis@indiana.edu --- 2005 Conference Venue--- Hilton Waikoloa Village (on the Big Island of Hawaii) 425 Waikoloa Beach Drive Waikoloa, Hawaii 96738 Tel: 1-808-886-1234 Fax: 1-808-886-2900 http://www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com -- Blair Nonnecke, Assistant Professor Computing and Information Science University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1 (519) 824-4120 x56407 http://snowhite.cis.uoguelph.ca/~nonnecke/