Ines Anja Mergel

Publications (62) View all

• Article: A Framework for Interpreting Social Media Interactions in the Public Sector

  Ines Mergel
  Government Information Quarterly 05/2013; · 1.42 Impact Factor
• Article: A Three-Stage Adoption Model for Social Media Use in the Government

  Ines Mergel, Stuart I. Bretschneider
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  ABSTRACT: Social media applications are slowly diff using across all levels of government. Th e organizational dynamics underlying adoption and use decisions follow a process similar to that for previous waves of new information and communication technologies. Th e authors suggest that the organizational diff usion of these types of new information and communication technologies, initially aimed at individual use and available through markets, including social media applications, follows a three-stage process. First, agencies experiment informally with social media outside of accepted technology use policies. Next, order evolves from the fi rst chaotic stage as government organizations recognize the need to draft norms and regulations. Finally, organizational institutions evolve that clearly outline appropriate behavior, types of interactions, and new modes of communication that subsequently are formalized in social media strategies and policies. For each of the stages, the authors provide examples and a set of propositions to guide future research.
  Public Administration Review 03/2013; 73(3):1-11. · 0.84 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Ines Anja Mergel

  Article: Designing a social media strategy to fulfill your agency's mission

  Ines Mergel
  The Public Manager. 03/2013; Spring 2013:26-29.
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  Available from: Ines Anja Mergel

  Article: Social media adoption and resulting tactics in the U.S. federal government

  Ines Mergel
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  ABSTRACT: In 2009, the departments in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government received the presidential marching order to “harness new technologies” in order to become more transparent, collaborative and participatory. Given this mandate, this article sets out to provide insights from qualitative interviews with social media directors to understand the factors that influence internal adoption decisions to use social media applications, such as Facebook, Twitter, or blogs. Three distinct factors influence the adoption decisions of social media directors: information about best practices in their informal network of peers, passive observations of perceived best practices in the public and private sector, and “market-driven” citizen behavior. The resulting adoption tactics include: (1) representation, (2) engagement, and (3) networking. The findings point to the need for higher degrees of formalized knowledge sharing when it comes to disruptive technology innovations such as social media use in highly bureaucratic communication environments. Recommendations based on the lessons learned are provided for practitioners and social media researchers to develop social media tactics for different organizational purposes in government.
  Government Information Quarterly 02/2013; · 1.42 Impact Factor
• Book: Studying Social Networks: A Guide to Empirical Research

  Marina Hennig, Ulrik Brandes, Juergen Pfeffer, Ines Mergel
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  ABSTRACT: Studying Social Networks provides a concise, comprehensive introduction to the process of empirical network research. Students and practitioners new to social research will find easily understandable learning goals, numerous examples, and helpful exercises all in one compact volume. The authors have integrated different disciplinary perspectives, while stressing the importance of substance-specific orientation while studying networks. Scholars will find Studying Social Networks a helpful tool not only for teaching, but also as a guide for their own empirical research.
  02/2013; Campus Verlag.