Practices and Challenges: Comparing Emergent and Expanding Virtual Volunteer Organizations in Disaster Response During COVID-19

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Final Year Thesis Oral Defense

Title: "Practices and Challenges: Comparing Emergent and Expanding Virtual 
        Volunteer Organizations in Disaster Response During COVID-19"

by

WU Zhiyang

Abstract:

During disasters, both emergent volunteer organizations and expanding ones 
(which emerged in previous crises and respond to the current ones with 
expanded capacity) play critical roles in response work. While research 
has identified their differences in nature, empirical knowledge on how 
they operate and respond differently in disasters is limited. In this 
study, we compared two virtual volunteer teams (one emergent and one 
expanding) that use ICTs to collaborate and respond to the 2022 Shanghai 
COVID-19 outbreak. Through observation and interviews, we identified the 
different practices these two organizations applied and the unique 
challenges they were facing. We found that the two organizations have 
formed different structures and workflows, which were suitable for the 
level of expertise of their members. The prior experience of the expanding 
team allowed for rapid deployment of high-quality management, whereas the 
emergent one had great potential for self-improvement and maintaining a 
positive working environment. We also identified their unique challenges 
in using ICTs in their practice of online volunteerism. These findings 
shed light on improving crisis management practices and have design 
implications for future computer-supported cooperative volunteering in 
crisis situations.


Date            : 4 May 2023 (Thursday)

Time            : 16:00 - 16:40

Venue           : Room 5501 (near lifts 25/26), HKUST

Advisor         : Dr. MA Xiaojuan

2nd Reader      : Prof. QU Huamin