Human Resources and Knowledge Management Based on E-Democracy

Abstract

Correspondence between everyday and scientific life is a blessing (Warren & Jahoda, 1966). Although virtual communities are nowadays widely expanded, research online is not fully developed yet, as methodological approaches are not designed specifically for online research. In addition, the results from the evaluation and the reports do not find an immediate space of use. As such, the researchers use methodologies that deal with online situations borrowing methods and techniques from the “real” ones. Although the adaptations have the same principles, there are limitations due to the virtual nature of the research. In addition, multi-disciplinary approaches characterize virtual communities as different fields interact, such as learning approaches, psychology of the individual and the masses, sociology, linguistics, communication studies, management, human computer interaction and information systems. As a result, there is no methodology that, solely used, could bring results for adequate evaluation and implementation of the results in the community. Due to this complexity, we suggest Real Time Research Methodology based on Time-Series Design to study process-based activities; Focus Groups Methodology and Forum Messages Discourse Analysis as two of the most vital parts in the use of a multi-method. The other parts will depend on the nature and culture of the selected virtual community. Both focus groups (FG) and Forum Messages Discourse Analysis are referred as Extraction Group Research Methodology, or X-Groups. The reason for using X-Groups is the actual implementation of members’ suggestions into their environment as an interaction into an immediate space of use.