Abstract
This study explores how and why scholars find collaborators using team formation systems. Based on theories of teams and human and social capital, we describe how scholars' traits and social networks influence their team formation processes. We conducted a field study in Argentina in which 43 scholars used an online platform and assembled into eight interdisciplinary teams. Our results show that scholars initially tended to invite prior contacts, but, eventually, they assembled cohesive interdisciplinary teams with members they did not know before. We conclude by reflecting on how team formation platforms can enable individuals to expand their social capital.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 21-41 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Cuadernos.info |
| Issue number | 44 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2019 |
Funding
This work was supported by the Northwestern University Office of Provost, NSF IIS-1514427, NIH R01GM112938-01, and the Army Research Lab W911NF-09-2-0053. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous referees for their valuable comments and helpful suggestions. We also thank Anup Sawant and Xiang Li for the development of the My Dream Team web-based team formation platform.
Keywords
- Human capital
- Online relationships
- Platforms
- Social capital
- Team assembly
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Communication
- Library and Information Sciences
