The author would like to thank a number of individuals for providing help and support as this study was written. Particular thanks are extended to Dave Chess, who, in addition to administering the IBMPC computer conferencing facility through most of its early history, collaborated in constructing and administering two surveys of the IBMPC computer conferencing facilities participants and acted as an expert editor, proofreader, and student of computer conferencing through several drafts of this project. Special thanks are also extended to Dr. Gerald Waldbaum, who has guided, nurtured, and protected IBMPC throughout its history in his role of management owner of the facility. He has supported and encouraged this and other studies of IBMPC, and provided special insights into the corporate risks associated with a computer conference like IBMPC and the role of management in making it work.
John Alvord and Gloria Whittico, both key members of IBMPC's "royal family" during its formative years, also provided invaluable support and counsel. John provided considerable assistance in the gathering of archival measures of IBMPC's growth and provided thoughtful insight into some of the more difficult issues associated with the study. Gloria defined the role of the IBMPC reviewer during her tenure in that position and also led the drive for corporate recognition (in the form of the IBM Corporate Computer Conferencing Guidelines) of the value of computer conferencing to the company.
Thanks also to my dissertation committee. Herb Simons, who has chaired the committee for all of its ten plus years, provided good advice, unflagging support, and critical insight that have proved critical to organizing the material and getting things finished. Bob Craig's thoughtful criticism has also been of great value, particularly to this studies theoretical chapters. Anita Pomerantz has continually challenged me to better understand participant observation and the relationship of this study. to ethnomethodology
My greatest thanks are reserved, however, for my wife and family, who supported the work in the face of disrupted vacations despite having long given up hope that it would ever be done.