Handbook of Research on Virtual Workplaces and the New Nature of Business Practices Pavel Zemliansky James Madison University, USA Kirk St.Amant East Carolina University, USA InformatIon scIence reference Hershey • New York Acquisitions Editor: Development Editor: Senior Managing Editor: Managing Editor: Copy Editors: Typesetter: Cover Design: Printed at: Kristin Klinger Kristin Roth Jennifer Neidig Sara Reed Ashley Fails, Jeannie Porter Michael Brehm Lisa Tosheff Yurchak Printing Inc. Published in the United States of America by Information Science Reference (an imprint of IGI Global) 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Suite 200 Hershey PA 17033 Tel: 717-533-8845 Fax: 717-533-8661 E-mail:
[email protected] Web site: http://www.igi-global.com and in the United Kingdom by Information Science Reference (an imprint of IGI Global) 3 Henrietta Street Covent Garden London WC2E 8LU Tel: 44 20 7240 0856 Fax: 44 20 7379 0609 Web site: http://www.eurospanonline.com Copyright © 2008 by IGI Global. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without written permission from the publisher. Product or company names used in this set are for identification purposes only. Inclusion of the names of the products or companies does not indicate a claim of ownership by IGI Global of the trademark or registered trademark. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Handbook of research on virtual workplaces and the new nature of business practices / Pavel Zemliansky and Kirk St. Amant, editors. p. cm. Summary: "This book compiles authoritative research from scholars worldwide, covering the issues surrounding the influx of information technology to the office environment, from choice and effective use of technologies to necessary participants in the virtual workplace"-Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-59904-871-0 (hbk.) -- ISBN 978-1-59904-872-7 (ebook) 1. Virtual reality in management--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Virtual work teams--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Information technology-Management--Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Zemliansky, Pavel. II. St. Amant, Kirk, 1970HD30.2122.H36 2008 658'.05--dc22 2007032054 British Cataloguing in Publication Data A Cataloguing in Publication record for this book is available from the British Library. All work contributed to this book set is original material. The views expressed in this book are those of the authors, but not necessarily of the publisher. If a library purchased a print copy of this publication, please go to http://www.igi-global.com/reference/assets/IGR-eAccess-agreement.pdf for information on activating the library's complimentary electronic access to this publication. Editorial Advisory Board Jamie S. Switzer Colorado State University, USA Neil P. Baird University of Nevada –Reno, USA Leah Zuidema Dordt College, USA Kirstie Edwards Sheffield Hallam University, B