RESEARCH INTERESTS:
My research interests center on the socio-emotional effects of digital technologies on how workers interact.
My two research streams reflect these interests: one focuses on social interaction patterns and identity
implications of geographically distributed groups and teams, examining face-to-face versus non-face-to-face
social dynamics; the second explores the socio-emotional impact of increasingly autonomous digital technologies
in the workplace -- technologies that seemingly make decisions for workers.
DISSERTATION:
Workers’ interactions in non-face-to-face versus face-to-face meetings and the effects on emotional engagement
and participation
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:
Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Stanford University Hasso Institute of Design, 2008-09.
Ph.D., Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, June 2007.
Concentration: Work, Technology and Organization
B.A., Communications, minors in Sociology and English, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA.
May 1984, Summa Cum Laude
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:
2006-present: Lecturer, School of Engineering, Stanford University.
“Global Work” undergraduate course (Instructor rating 4.9 / 5.0),
“Organizations: Theory and Management” undergraduate course (Most recent instructor
rating: 4.6 / 5.0) and “Organizational Behavior” Masters' course (Most recent instructor rating:
4.3 / 5.0)
2007-present: Researcher, School of Engineering, Stanford University. Projects include ethnographic study
of the use of telepresence robots on distributed teams, prototyping change in organizations, an
ethnographic study of Internet vs. floor sales at auto dealerships, and a laboratory study of
individuals’ emotional reactions to working with autonomous mobile robots
2001-2007: Research Assistant, School of Engineering, Stanford University.
Advisor: Dr. Pamela Hinds; Ethnographic and experimental research on social implications of
workplace robots
2005 (Spring): Course Assistant, School of Engineering, Stanford University.
“Organizations: Theory and Management” undergraduate course
2004 (Winter): Course Assistant, School of Engineering, Stanford University.
“Organizations: Theory and Management” undergraduate course
NON-ACADEMIC WORK HISTORY:
2007-present: Strategic Communications and Management Consultant
High technology companies including Qualcomm, SUN Microsystems, Wolfe Video and
various startup organizations.
1999-2004: Strategic Communications Advisor
High technology companies including Google, AOL, Shutterfly and various start-up organizations
1994-99: Vice President of Corporate Communications
Netscape Communications Corporation
1990-94: Public Relations Manager
Silicon Graphics, Inc.
1988-90: Assistant Public Relations Manager
Informix Corporation
1987-88: Public Relations Account Executive
Neale-May & Partners and Acumen Inc.
1985-87: Media Relations Specialist
John F. Kennedy University
1984-85: PR/Resource Development Specialist
Big Brothers of the East Bay
ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS:
Awarded post-doctoral fellowship, Stanford University’s Hasso Institute of Design, School of Engineering,
2008-09.
Awarded full sponsorship for the Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW) 2006 Doctoral Colloquium.
Awarded full sponsorship to present “Work Role Enactment on Geographically Distributed Teams” at IBM’s
TJ Watson Research Symposium, November 2005.
Selected as Stanford University’s representative to Academy of Management’s Organization
Management and Theory Division 2005 Doctoral Consortium.
Runner-Up Award winner for Best Paper, Organizational Communication and Information Systems Division,
Academy of Management, 2004. With Pamela Hinds.
Selected as Stanford University’s representative to the Academy of Management’s Organizational Communication
and Information Systems Division 2004 Doctoral Consortium.
Representative of Stanford University’s Center for Work, Technology and Organization in research exchange with
King’s College, University of London, London, England, 2004.
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES:
Reviewed Conference Proceedings:
Siino, R., J. Chung, & P. Hinds, “Colleague vs. Tool: Effects of Disclosure in Human-Robot Collaboration.”
Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Robot-Human Interaction, Munich, Germany, 2008.
Chong, J. and R. Siino, “Interruptions on Software Teams: A Comparison of Paired and Solo Programmers.”
Proceedings of the Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Work, Banff, Canada, 2006.
Siino, R. and P. Hinds, “Robots, Gender & Sensemaking: Sex Segregation’s Impact On Workers Making Sense
Of a Mobile Autonomous Robot.” Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Robotics and Automation,
Barcelona, Spain, 2005.
Siino, R. and P. Hinds, “Making Sense of New Technology as a Lead-In to Structuring: The Case of an
Autonomous Mobile Robot.” Academy of Management 2004 Best Paper Proceedings, New Orleans, LA.
Working Papers:
Grodal, S., A. Nelson and R. Siino, “Getting the Job Done: Coordinating Work through Helping Tactics.”
Received “revise and resubmit” request, Organization Science, June 2010.
Siino, R. and J. Chong, “Broken Interactions on Virtual Temporary Teams”
Grodal, S., A. Nelson and R. Siino, “Mechanisms of Informal Organization: Negotiating Work Schedules
and Workflow”
Siino, R. and P. Hinds, “Sensemaking in the Pre-Implementation of Technology”
Refereed Conference Presentations:
Chong, J. and R. Siino, “Interruptions on Software Teams: A Comparison of Paired and Solo Programmers.”
Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Work, Banff, Canada, 2006.
Siino, R. and P. Hinds, “Robots, Gender & Sensemaking: Sex Segregation’s Impact On Workers Making Sense
Of a Mobile Autonomous Robot.” Presented at IEEE Conference on Robotics and Automation, Barcelona,
2005.
Siino, R. and P. Hinds, “Making Sense of New Technology as a Lead-In to Structuring: The Case of an
Autonomous Mobile Robot.” Presented at the Academy of Management Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2004.
Grodal, S., A. Nelson and R. Siino, “Negotiating Work Schedules: The Micro-Foundations of Temporal
Structures in Distributed Groups.” Presented at the Academy of Management Conference, New Orleans,
LA, 2004.
Grodal, S., A. Nelson and R. Siino, “Collaboration on Distributed Teams: Evidence for the Importance of Time.”
Presented at INFORMS Conference, San Jose, CA, 2002.
Periodical Publications:
Stanford Social Innovation Review:
“UPFRONT: Cashing In: Why Nonprofits Should Raise the Bar in Corporate Partnerships,” Winter 2004.
“UPFRONT: Political Advocacy: No Strings Attached,” Fall 2004.
“UPFRONT: Finance: Playing Loose with God’s Money,” Summer 2004
“UPFRONT: Nonprofit Marketing: Donor Satisfaction,” Spring 2004.
“UPFRONT: Nonprofit Mergers: The Incredible Shrinking Donor Base,” Spring 2004.
Invited Talks:
Work / Life Balance ongoing seminar series at Qualcomm Inc., 2007 to present.
Employee seminars have included:
- "Leading Teams," Upcoming January 2011
- "Global Communication," November 2010
- "Effective Teamwork," August 2010
- "Getting Work Done," June 2010
- “Tips for Managers,” May 2009
- “Working at Your Best,” March 2009
- “Email and Interruptions Management,” January 2009
- “Optimizing Time at Work,” December 2008
- “Email and Interruptions Management,” June 2008
- “Effective Meetings,” April 2008 and November 2007.
“Why People Give," fundraising presentation for Board of Directors, Big Brothers / Big Sisters of the Bay Area,
Oakland CA, November 2010.
"All Work is Global Work," keynote speech for Stanford Pre-Business Association's International Business
Conference, April 2010.
"Changing Notions of Workspace," Stanford University Technology and Work course, January 2009.
"Basics of Group Dynamics,” Stanford University’s International Students group, July 2008.
“Interaction Rituals on Geographically Distributed versus Face-to-Face Teams,” IBM’s Almaden Research
Center USER group, January 2007.
“Broken Interactions on Virtual Temporary Teams,” Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction
seminar series, November 2006.
“Work Role Enactment in Distributed Team Meetings,” General Motors Corp., Warren, MI, May 2006 and 2004.
“The Negotiation of Time on Distributed Work Teams,” SUN Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View, CA, May 2002
“Working in a Technology Start-Up,” Women in Engineering seminar series, Stanford University’s School of
Engineering, February 2002.
COURSES TAUGHT:
“Organizational Behavior: Evidence in Action,” Masters’ course, School of Engineering, Stanford University,
Winter 2011, Spring 2009 and Spring 2008.
“Global Work,” undergraduate seminar. School of Engineering, Stanford Universtiy, Spring 2010.
“Organizations: Theory and Management,” undergraduate course on organizational behavior, School of
Engineering, Stanford University, Spring 2009, Fall 2007 and Spring 2006.
TUTORIAL AND WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS:
Served as discussant for panel on “Trust and Reputation Online,” Academy of Management Conference, Anaheim,
CA, August 2008.
Organized and presented on a panel on the “The Social in the Virtual,” International Federation for Information
Processing Conference on Virtuality, Portland, OR, July 2007.
Organized and led panel on “Robots and Humans on Teams” at Graduate Student Invitational Research Workshop
on Human-Robot Interaction, Carmel, CA 2006.
Led Internet marketing workshop for book publishers, Deepak Chopra Center, San Diego, CA, 2001.
Co-led marketing and communications workshop for technology start-up companies, hosted by venture capital
firm Angel Investors, Palo Alto, CA, 2000.
Co-led seminar on the relationship between corporate public relations professionals and journalists, University
of California School of Journalism, Berkeley, CA 2000.
Presented communications workshop for companies preparing for initial public offerings, Public Relations Society
of America Conference, San Jose, CA 1999.
ACADEMIC COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Reviewer for Academy of Management conferences, 2005-present; Computer-Human Interactioin conferences,
2007-present; Computer Supported Collaborative Work conferences, 2006-2008; Human-Robot Interaction
conferences, 2005-2008; Presence journal from MIT Press.
Consultant to Carondelet High School, Concord, CA, regarding integration of technology into the curriculum
of this all-girls private school, 2010-11.
Organizer, Stanford University’s Center for Work, Technology and Organization’s Partners and Affiliates
Workshop, March 2009, and Tenth Anniversary Conference, September 2006.
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Board Member, Donor Cultivation Committee Chair, and Docent, 2009-present. Lindsey Wildlife
Museum – California wildlife rehabilitation center and museum based in the San Francisco Bay Area
Board Member, 2000-2006, GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) – media watchdog
and advocacy organization
Women’s Delegate to Ethiopia & Uganda, 2004, Save the Children – leading non-governmental organization
addressing the needs of children worldwide
Mentor / Fundraiser, 2001-2008, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training – blood cancer
research organization
Fundraiser / Silicon Valley Advisory Committee Member, 2000-2003, CARE International
third-world relief organization
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
Academy of Management
- Organizational Communications and Information Systems division
- Organization Management and Theory division
American Sociological Association
INFORMS: The Institute for Operations Management and Management Science
Association of Computing Machinery
