Process virtualization theory

Acronym
PVT

Main dependent construct(s)/factor(s)
Process virtualizability - A continuous variable describing how amenable a process is to being conducted without physical interaction between people or between people and objects.

Main independent construct(s)/factor(s)
Main factors: sensory requirements, relationship requirements, synchronism requirements, identification and control requirements Moderating factors: representation, reach, monitoring capability

Concise description of theory
In our increasingly virtual society, more and more processes that have traditionally been conducted via physical mechanisms are being conducted virtually. This phenomenon of "process virtualization" is happening in many contexts, including formal education (via distance learning), shopping (via electronic commerce), and friendship development (via social networking sites and virtual worlds). However, some processes are more amenable to virtualization than others. For example, distance learning seems to work better for some educational processes than others, and electronic commerce has worked well for some shopping processes but not for others. These observations motivate the following question: What factors affect the "virtualizability" of a process? This question is becoming increasingly important as advances in information technology create the potential for society to virtualize more and more processes. The purpose of "process virtualization theory" is to provide a general theoretical basis for investigating this question. Process virtualization theory includes four main constructs (sensory requirements, relationship requirements, synchronism requirements, and identification and control requirements) that affect whether a process is amenable or resistant to being conducted virtually. Recognizing that processes can be virtualized with or without the use of information technology, process virtualization theory makes explicit the theoretical significance of information technology in process virtualization by discussing the moderating effects of representation, reach, and monitoring capability. This helps explain how advances in information technology are enabling a new generation of virtual processes.

- Summary adapted from Overby, E.M. 2008. "Process Virtualization Theory and the Impact of Information Technology," Organization Science (19:2), March-April, pp. 277-291.

Originating author(s)
Eric Overby

Seminal articles
Overby, E.M. 2008. "Process Virtualization Theory and the Impact of Information Technology," Organization Science (19:2), March-April, pp. 277-291.

Originating area
Information Systems - developer of theory is IS scholar

Level of analysis
Process and/or technology

IS articles that use the theory
Czarnecki, C.; Winkelmann, A.; Spiliopoulou, M. 2010. "Services in Electronic Telecommunication Markets: A Framework for Planning the Virtualization of Processes," Electronic Markets (20:3-4), pp. 197-207.

Links from this theory to other theories
Diffusion of innovations theory Technology acceptance model Task-technology fit

Original Contributor(s)
Eric Overby

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