Abstract
The technological advancements in the second half of the previous century generated the
potential for participatory decision making in organizational and governmental institutions.
Moreover, the digital networking environments on the Internet that enabled this type of
decision making were accompanied by the emergence and establishment of on-line
communities. Under this perspective, the range of communication mediated by ubiquitous
computing allows problems, ideas, and suggestions of a specific nature to be considered
when gathered into organizational and institutional virtual spaces. Within these spaces, the
voices of individual customers, workers, organizational stakeholders, and/or citizens can be
articulated and brought to bear on services, practices, and policies, as well as to join voices
with salient others. Such naturally or intentionally formed communities and groups require
roles within them to function.