A Model of Crowd Enabled Organization: Theory and Methods for Understanding the Role of Twitter in the Occupy Protests

Authors

  • Sheetal D. Agarwal University of Washington
  • W. Lance Bennett University of Washington
  • Courtney N. Johnson University of Washington
  • Shawn Walker University of Washington

Keywords:

Occupy, Twitter, networks, networked organization, collective action, big data

Abstract

This analysis establishes a conceptual framework, empirical criteria, and measures for deciding when technology-equipped crowd networks such as Occupy Wall Street behave as organizations. The framework is based on three principles that underlie most organizations: (1) resource mobilization; (2) responsiveness to short-term external conditions; and (3) coordinated long-term change, adaptation, or decline. We argue that Twitter played a coordinating role in Occupy as a connector and dynamic switching mechanism linking various networks. We develop methods for tracking how users embedded and shared links to resource locations. Using a database of some 60 million tweets, we examine different types of links distributed through different hashtags across time, showing how Occupy operated along each theoretical dimension as a networked organization. 

Author Biographies

Sheetal D. Agarwal, University of Washington

PhD Candidate Department of Communication University of Washington, Seattle

W. Lance Bennett, University of Washington

Professor of Political Science and Ruddick C. Lawrence Professor of Communication University of Washington, Seattle, USA 

Courtney N. Johnson, University of Washington

PhD Candidate Department of Communication University of Washington, Seattle

Shawn Walker, University of Washington

PhD Candidate Information SchoolUniversity of Washington, Seattle 

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Published

2014-02-14

Issue

Vol. 8 (2014)

Section

Articles

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