As a scholar, I study the impact of information technologies on human cognition, interactions, collaboration, with a particular focus on group and team settings. Over the years, I have studied a wide variety of phenomena such as virtual teams, online groups, business use of social media, and most recently human AI interaction and collaboration.
In my research, I draw heavily from theories in organization science, social psychology, sociology, information systems, and human-computer interaction. I employ a wide variety of methods including statistical analyses, case studies, interviews & surveys, field and lab experiments, and simulation or more specifically agent-based modeling.
Books
· Kraut, R. E., Resnick, P., with Kiesler, S., Burke, M., Chen, Y., Kittur, N., Konstan, J., Ren, Y., Riedl, J. Building Successful Online Communities: Evidence-Based Social Design. Boston, MA: MIS Press. [Amazon Link]
Journal Articles
· Ren, Y., Clement, J. 2024. “Augmenting Human Teams with Robots in Knowledge Work Settings: Insights from the Literature.” ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction. [PDF]
· Ren, Y., Zhang, H., Kraut, R. E. 2023. “How Did They Build the Free Encyclopedia: A Literature Review of Collaboration and Coordination among Wikipedia Editors.” ACM Transaction on Computer-Human Interaction. [PDF]
· Ren, Y., Deng, X., Joshi, K.D. 2023. “Unpacking Human and AI Complementarity: Insights from Recent Works.” The DATA BASE for Advancements in Information Systems. [PDF]
· Yang, M. Ren, Y., and Adomavicius, G. 2020. Engagement by design: An empirical study of the “reactions” feature on Facebook Business Pages. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction. 27, 6, Article 43, 35 pages. [Journal Link] [PDF] [SSRN]
· Liu-Thompkins, Y., Maslowska, E., Ren, Y., and Kim, H. 2020. Creating, meta-Voicing, and propagating: A road map for understanding user roles in computational advertising. Journal of Advertising, 49(4), 394-410. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Daniel, S. L., Janansefat, S., Diamant, I., Ren, Y. 2019. Single and double-loop learning: Linking Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) developer motivation, contribution, and turnover intentions. The Data Base for Advances in Information Systems. [Journal Link] [PDwww.dropbox.com/s/2dtcx0fktey1zxj/Database%202020%20Learning%20in%20OSS.pdf?dl=0F]
· Yang, M., Ren, Y., and Adomavicious, G. 2019. “Understanding word-of-mouth and customer engagement on Facebook business pages,” Information Systems Research, 30(3), 839-855. [Journal link] [PDF] [SSRN]
· Yang, M., Adomavicius, G., Burtch, G., Ren, Y. 2018. "Mind the gap: Accounting for measurement error and misclassification in variables generated via data mining" Information Systems Research, 29(1), 4-24. [Journal link] [PDF] [SSRN]
· Ren, Y., Chen, J., and Riedl, J. 2016. “The impact and evolution of group diversity on online collaboration,” Management Science 62(6), pp. 1668-1686. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Ren, Y., and Kraut, R. E. 2014. “Agent-based modeling to inform online community theory and design: Impact of topical breadth, message volume, and discussion moderation on member commitment and contribution,” Human-Computer Interaction (29), pp. 351-389. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Wang, X., Butler, B., and Ren, Y. 2013. “The impact of membership overlap on the growth: An ecological competition view of online groups,” Organization Science (24:2), pp. 414-431. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Ren, Y., Harper, F. M., Drenner, S., Terveen, L., Kiesler, S., Riedl, J., and Kraut, R. E. 2012. “Building member attachment in online communities: Applying theories of group identity and interpersonal bonds,” MIS Quarterly (36:3), pp. 841-864. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Argote, L. and Ren, Y. 2012. “Transactive memory systems: A micro foundation of dynamic capabilities,” Journal of Management Studies (49:8), pp. 1375-1382. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Ren, Y., and Argote, L. 2011. “Transactive memory systems 1985-2010: An integrative framework of key dimensions, antecedents, and consequences,” Academy of Management Annals (5:1), pp. 189-229. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Ren, Y., Kiesler, S., and Fussell, S. 2008. “Multiple Group coordination in complex and dynamic task environments: Interruptions, coping mechanisms, and technology recommendations,” Journal of Management Information Systems (25:1), pp. 105-130. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Ren, Y., Kraut, R. E., and Kiesler, S. 2007. “Applying common identity and bond theory to design of online communities,” Organization Studies (28:3), pp. 377-408. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Boh, W. F., Ren, Y., Kiesler, S., and Bussjaeger, R. 2007. “Expertise and collaboration in the geographically dispersed organization,” Organization Science (18:4), pp. 595-612. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Du, R., Ai, S., and Ren, Y. 2007. “Relationship between knowledge sharing and performance: A survey in Xi’an, China,” Expert Systems with Applications (32:1), pp. 38-46. [Journal Link] [PDF]
· Ren, Y., Carley, K. M., and Argote, L. 2006. “The contingency effects of transactive memory: When is it more beneficial to know what others know?” Management Science (52:5), pp. 671-682. [Journal Link] [PDF]
Books and Book Chapters
· Ren, Y. 2018. Learning in virtual teams. In L. Argote and J. Levine (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Group and Organizational Learning, Oxford, UK. [PDF]
· Ren, Y., and Kraut, R. E. 2014. Agent-based modeling to inform the design of multi-user systems. In J. S. Olson & W. Kellogg, eds., Human Computer Interaction Ways of Knowing. Springer: New York. [PDF]
· Ren, Y., Kraut, R. E., and Kiesler, S. 2012. Encouraging commitment to online communities. In R. E. Kraut & P. Resnick, eds. Designing from Theory: Using the Social Sciences as the Basis for Building Online Communities. MIS Press: Boston, MA. [PDF]
· Kiesler, S., Boh, W. F., Ren, Y., and Weisband, S. 2008. “Virtual teams: High tech rhetoric and low tech experience,” In Computerization Movements and Technology Diffusion: From Mainframe to Ubiquitous Computing, K. Kraemer and M. Elliott (eds.) New Jersey: Information Today Medford, pp. 263-287. [PDF]
· Ren, Y. 2001. “Simulating the role of transactive memory in group performance,” In Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management: New Directions, M. Crossan, and F. Olivera (eds.) London, Canada: Richard Ivey School of Business.
Conference Publications
· Zhang, H., Ren, Y., Kraut, R. E. 2020. “Mining and Predicting Temporal Patterns in the Quality Evolution of Wikipedia Articles” Proceedings of Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences, Maui, Hawaii. [PDF]
· Yu, B., Wang, X., Lin, A. Y., Ren, Y., Terveen, L., Zhu, H. 2017. “Out With The Old, In With The New? Unpacking Member Turnover in Online Production Groups,” Proceedings of ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work. [PDF]
· Yu, B., Ren, Y., Terveen, L., and Zhu, H. 2017. “Predicting Member Productivity and Withdrawal from Pre-Joining Attachments in Online Production Groups,” Proceedings of ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, Portland, Oregon. [PDF]
· Wang, S, Chen, J., Ren, Y., and Riedl, J. 2012. “Searching for the Goldilocks zone: Trade-offs in managing online volunteer groups,” Proceedings of ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, Seattle, Washington. [PDF]
· Musicant, D. R., Ren, Y., Johnson, J. A., and Riedl, J. 2011. “Mentoring in Wikipedia: A clash of cultures,” Proceedings of International Symposium on Wikis and Open Collaboration, Mountain View, California. [PDF]
· Chen, J., Ren, Y., and Riedl, J. 2010. “The effects of diversity on group productivity and member withdrawal in online volunteer groups,” Proceedings of ACM Conference on Human Factor in Computing Systems, Atlanta, Georgia. [PDF]
· Ren, Y., and Kraut, R. E. 2007. “An agent-based model to understand trade-offs in online community,” Proceedings of International Conference on Information Systems, Montreal, Canada. [PDF]
· Weisz, J., Kiesler, S., Zhang, H., Ren, Y., Kraut, R. E., and Konstan, J. 2007. “Watching together: Integrating conversations with video,” Proceedings of ACM Conference on Human Factor in Computing Systems. [PDF]
· Harper, F. M., Frankowski, D., Drenner, S., Ren, Y., Kiesler, S., Terveen, L., Kraut, R. E., and Riedl, J. 2007. “Talk amongst yourselves: Inviting users to participate in online conversations,” Proceedings of International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces. [PDF]
· Ren, Y., Kiesler, S., Fussell, S., and Scupelli, P. 2007. “Trajectories in multiple group coordination: A field study of hospital operating suites,” Proceedings of Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. [PDF]
· Ren, Y., Kraut, R. E., and Kiesler, S. 2006. “Identity and bond theories to understand design decisions for online communities,” Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings, Atlanta, GA. [PDF]
· Boh, W. F., Ren, Y., and Kiesler, S. 2002. “Managing expertise in a distributed environment,” Proceedings of International Conference on Information Systems, Barcelona, Spain. [PDF]
· Carley, K. M., and Ren, Y. 2001. “Tradeoffs between performance and adaptability for C3I architectures,” Proceedings of Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium, Annapolis, MA. [PDF]
· Carley, K. M., Ren, Y., and Krackhardt, D. 2000. “Measuring and modeling change in C3I architectures,” Proceedings of Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium, Monterray, CA. [PDF]