Professional Development Symposia (PDS) offer the opportunity for creative, multi-way conversations, and have the potential to offer a positive impact on the professional development of participants from different regions, SIGs, chapters, career stages, or demographic backgrounds.
Thursday, August 15 – 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Symposium Leaders:
The rise of Metaverse platforms is transforming the landscape of the workplace. Workrooms from Meta and AltspaceVR by Microsoft stand out as two leading virtual reality platforms designed to enhance collaboration, meetings, and social interaction within the Metaverse. These platforms distinguish themselves from traditional tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams by their immersive environments, aiming to redefine remote connectivity. Metaverse platforms could make even mundane tasks less effortless with the novel forms of engrossing telepresence. However, while they offer unparalleled opportunities for engagement and interaction, there’s potential for these platforms to introduce new challenges in managing workloads. Yet, the effectiveness of these virtual workplaces as tools for immersive remote collaboration remains unexplored. In this PDS, we aim to discuss the research opportunities in metaverse platforms for teamwork and collaboration. For example, Is it necessary, or even beneficial, for all teamwork tasks to be performed within a Metaverse context? How can researchers leverage these metaverse platforms to enhance teamwork productivity.
Friday, August 16 – 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Symposium Leaders:
IS research has grappled with the digital divide caused by information technology in terms of who can and cannot access and use IT, but the recent integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools into every aspect of our lives threatens to cause further harm. Studies have shown that employees using GenAI can automate repetitive tasks and produce creative work faster than those not using it. Faced with the infusion of GenAI into all levels of education, research, and the workforce, how will we prevent the digital divide from leaving even more people behind? From an ethical perspective, where do we draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable uses of GenAI? What is the status quo in research about the impact and uses of GenAI? Furthermore, how do we prevent causing further inequities as we incorporate GenAI tools into our work processes? More importantly, how GenAI is impacting educational processed and learning outcomes? What about state policies regarding incorporating GenAI tools into curriculum? This PDS will highlight digital divides currently occurring as a result of GenAI and similar tools; provide an opportunity to discuss ethical and unethical uses of GenAI; and share ideas as to constructive policies to guide GenAI use.
Saturday, August 17 – 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Symposium Leaders:
As information systems professors, we (might) have a few converging conditions that predispose us toward entrepreneurial pursuits: 1) we may have the technical skills to know what’s possible and to bring our ideas into proof of concept, 2) we may have the business knowledge to know what makes a good business idea, 3) we have constantly refreshing immediate access to low-cost semi-talented labor (i.e., IS students), we may have the business network to partner and possibly fund ideas, and 5) because we are paid for performance (and not time) we have the autonomy to shape our work schedule – including taking advantage of 8-10 month contracts – to use excess time to pursue passion projects. However, regardless of what your primary vocation is, pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors on the side is a sticky and tricky proposition due to conflicts of interest in their various forms. While being an entrepreneur on the side reduces financial risk, it increases other risks. This symposium is intended to bring together two main groups: 1) those who have good and bad experiences of engaging in entrepreneurial activity while fully employed as a professor and 2) those who have flirted with the idea, but haven’t known how/whether to get started.
