The Role of Territorial Behavior in Shaping User Engagement on Enterprise Collaboration Platforms

Lin L, Morschheuser B, Offergelt F, Moser K (2023)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Abstract of lecture

Publication year: 2023

Pages Range: 44-46

Conference Proceedings Title: Proceedings of the 5th German Human Factors Summer School 2023

Event location: Chemnitz DE

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10490095

Abstract

The importance of ownership, control, and identification with specific resources is emphasized by organizations' territoriality theory (Brown et al., 2005; Pierce et al., 2003). Individual territorial behavior in enterprise collaboration platforms refers to employees actively taking ownership and providing or protecting information or ideas using platforms (Chen et al., 2022; Hobfoll, 1989). Supporting and acknowledging such conduct through collaboration platforms may foster user engagement by instilling a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This aligns with the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which implies that people have fundamental psychological requirements for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. According to the notion, when these requirements are met, people are more intrinsically motivated and engaged (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Enterprise collaboration platforms' communication, coordination, cooperation, and content management functionality can help fulfill these psychological demands, thereby increasing user engagement.

This paper explores the potential interaction between individual territorial behavior and the use of enterprise collaboration platforms, influencing the association between platform functionality, intrinsic need satisfaction, and user engagement. We conducted an empirical study with data from 170 employees from different organizations. Using Hayes' PROCESS in RStudio (Hayes, 2022; R Core Team, 2023; RStudio Team, 2023), we analyzed the link between platform functionality, intrinsic need satisfaction, and user engagement. The findings revealed an interaction effect and a mediating role of intrinsic need satisfaction in understanding the relationship between platform functionality, territorial behavior, and user engagement. The interaction effect between the usage frequency of platform functionality and territorial behavior of marking and defending was significant, suggesting that the relation between the use of platforms and intrinsic need satisfaction depended on the level of territorial behavior of marking and defending. When territorial behavior of marking and defending was low, higher use of platforms was associated with increased levels of intrinsic need satisfaction. However, when territorial behavior of marking and defending was high, higher use levels of platforms were associated with decreased intrinsic need satisfaction. Moreover, the indirect effects of usage frequency of platform functionality on user engagement through intrinsic need satisfaction were significant. The magnitude and direction of the indirect effects varied depending on the territorial behavior of marking and defending. Likewise, when territorial behavior of marking and defending was low, higher use levels of platforms were associated with increased user engagement through intrinsic need satisfaction. However, when territorial behavior of marking and defending was high, higher use levels of platforms were associated with decreased user engagement through intrinsic need satisfaction. In conclusion, employees showing lower territorial behavior of marking and defending were more likely to utilize the collaboration platform functionality of communication, coordination, cooperation, and content management in their work. This increased usage of platform functionality strengthened their intrinsic need satisfaction, fostering intrinsic motivation and enhancing user engagement.

Our research contributes to understanding how individual territorial behavior, platform functionality, and intrinsic need satisfaction shape user engagement in intra-organizational collaboration. The results emphasize the importance of considering the interplay between territorial behavior and the use of platforms in fostering user engagement. These insights have practical implications for organizations seeking to optimize collaboration platforms to enhance employee engagement.

Authors with CRIS profile

Lin Lin Lehrstuhl für Psychologie, insbesondere Wirtschafts- und Sozialpsychologie Benedikt Morschheuser Assistant Professorship of Information Systems (Gamification) - endowed by adidas Klaus Moser Lehrstuhl für Psychologie, insbesondere Wirtschafts- und Sozialpsychologie

Related research project(s)

DIGItal COllaboration Platforms as enablers of organizational exchange (DIGICOP) Jan. 1, 2022 - Dec. 31, 2024

Involved external institutions

Privatuniversität Schloss Seeburg AT Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

Lin, L., Morschheuser, B., Offergelt, F., & Moser, K. (2023, September). The Role of Territorial Behavior in Shaping User Engagement on Enterprise Collaboration Platforms. Paper presentation at Fifth German Human Factors Summer School, Chemnitz, DE.

MLA:

Lin, Lin, et al. "The Role of Territorial Behavior in Shaping User Engagement on Enterprise Collaboration Platforms." Presented at Fifth German Human Factors Summer School, Chemnitz Ed. Lewis Chuang, Ann-Christin Hensch, Elisabeth Wögerbauer, Julian Bornemeier, 2023.

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