Going back to basics in design science: from the information technology artifact to the information systems artifact

The concept of the ‘information technology (IT) artifact’ plays a central role in the information systems (IS) research community's discourse on design science. We pose the alternative concept of the ‘IS artifact’, unpacking what has been called the IT artifact into a separate ‘information artifact’, ‘technology artifact’ and ‘social artifact’. Technology artifacts (such as hardware and software), information artifacts (such as a message) and social artifacts (such as a charitable act) are different kinds of artifacts that together interact in order to form the IS artifact. We illustrate the knowledge value of the IS artifact concept with material from three cases. The result is to restore the idea that the study of design in IS needs to attend to the design of the entire IS artifact, not just the IT artifact. This result encourages an expansion in the use of design science research methodology to study broader kinds of artifacts.     

Understanding collaborative learning activities in an information ecology: A distributed cognition account

Collaborative learning encloses a diversity of activities, interactions, and practices. Thus, designing a learning environment, potentially enhanced with technology, to support collaborative learning, is not an easy task. Using an in-class exploration involving four multidisciplinary teams, this research seeks to understand collaborative design activities within “InfoSpace” – an information ecology. That is, a collocated space enriched with a multiple interlinked heterogeneous technologies. The aim of the study is to explore how an information ecology works as an integrated cognitive system, through the lenses of distributed cognition. Through the analysis we constructed a detailed account of the information flow, physical layout and artefact models. We claim that distributed cognition framework can provide a lens for understanding interactions among learners, tasks, and tools in collocated technology enhanced learning environments. Furthermore, the analysis provides valuable insights on how the design of the information ecology supports collaboration and coordination.     

FlexiFrag: A design pattern for flexible file sharing in distributed collaborative applications

The need for flexible file sharing in distributed systems is increasing in applications such as calendar management, collaborative editing of documents, collaborative software developments etc. The file sharing policies required in these applications are often very different from the traditional read/write policies. Hence, a flexible way of specifying and implementing sharing policies on individual files in file systems is required. We propose a distributed object-based system model of constructing file systems. The object-based system model is based on a pattern called FlexiFrag. We show how a distributed object-based system and in particular distributed file system can be constructed using the pattern in a flexible way.     

From private digital platforms to public data spaces: implications for the digital transformation

Electronic Markets - Technological developments such as Cloud Computing, the Internet of Things, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence continue to drive the digital transformation of business and...     

QuesTInSitu: From tests to routes for assessment in situ activities

Test-based assessment tools are mostly focused on the use of computers. However, advanced Information and Communication Technologies, such as handheld devices, opens up the possibilities of creating new assessment scenarios, increasing the teachers’ choices to design more appropriate tests for their subject areas. In this paper we use the term Computing-Based Testing (CBT) instead of Computer-Based Testing, as it captures better the emerging trends. Within the CBT context, the paper is centered on proposing an approach for “Assessment in situ” activities, where questions have to be answered in front of a real space/location (situ). In particular, we present the QuesTInSitu software implementation that includes both an editor and a player based on the IMS Question and Test Interoperability specification and GoogleMaps. With QuesTInSitu teachers can create geolocated questions and tests (routes), and students can answer the tests using mobile devices with GPS when following a route. Three illustrating scenarios and the results from the implementation of one of them in a real educational situation show that QuesTInSitu enables the creation of innovative, enriched and context-aware assessment activities. The results also indicate that the use of mobile devices and location-based systems in assessment activities facilitates students to put explorative and spatial skills into practice and fosters their motivation, reflection and personal observation.     

Human-machine dynamics in complex information systems: the 'microworld' paradigm as a heuristic tool for developing theory and exploring design issues

Abstract. The term 'complex informated domain' refers to a work environment characterized by high complexity and onerous cognitive demands, in which the management of a remote process is mediated by an information system (IS). Such work environments are typical of highly technical domains, such as industrial process control, but as computer-based information systems penetrate ever deeper into modern businesses, all organizations are taking on the same 'informated' characteristics. This paper reports an experiment using a rich simulation ('a microworld'), which attempted to throw light on human–machine dynamics in such complex environments. Two issues were investigated: the state of the subject (fatigue induced by sleep loss) and the degree of operator control (empowerment) afforded by the IS interface. Results showed that sleep deprivation led to no degradation in overt performance but, contrary to expectations, lower performance was associated with high control operation. A detailed qualitative analysis showed the high control interface to encourage a more proactive control style, whereas fatigue intensified primitive, reactive strategies. The findings emphasize that cognition is a goal-directed, adaptive system not simply an information-processing mechanism. A model of cognitive dynamics is outlined that distinguishes a hierarchy of control levels: anxiety defences, reactive control and strategic control. In general, the experiment shows the potential value to IS research of the microworld paradigm as a tool for developing theory and exploring key design issues.     

From critiquing to representational talkback: computer support for revealing features in design

Computational critiquing mechanisms support designers in refining a partial design solution in an alternating cycle of reflection and action. This paper argues that critiquing mechanisms can support designers not only in refining a partial solution, but also in gaining a better understanding of the problem. We further argue that different types of critiquing are possible, ranging from conventional rule-based messages to an implicit type of critiquing based on the notion of “representational talkback” – representations that can reveal to the user otherwise implicit features of a design. We support these claims with user studies of three types of design support systems: Kid, IAM-eMMa, and Art.     

Automotive technicians' training as a community-of-practice: implications for the design of an augmented reality teaching aid

The paper presents an ergonomic analysis carried out in the early phases of an R&D project. The purpose was to investigate the functioning of today's Automotive Service Technicians (ASTs) training in order to inform the design of an Augmented Reality (AR) teaching aid. The first part of the paper presents a literature review of some major problems encountered by ASTs today. The benefits of AR as technological aid are also introduced. Then, the methodology and the results of two case studies are presented. The first study is based on interviews with trainers and trainees; the second one on observations in real training settings. The results support the assumption that today's ASTs' training could be regarded as a community-of-practice (CoP). Therefore, AR could be useful as a collaboration tool, offering a shared virtual representation of real vehicle's parts, which are normally invisible unless dismantled (e.g. the parts of a hydraulic automatic transmission). We conclude on the methods and the technologies to support the automotive CoP.     

From regional sensitivity to intra-sensitivity for parametric analysis of free-form shapes: Application to ship design

Robust Parametric Sensitivity Analysis (PSA) is a prerequisite for efficient shape optimisation via parametric modelling. A major challenge PSA has to handle is related to the fact that a parameter can be sensitive in certain local areas of the design space but become insensitive in others. Therefore, setting an applicable space for this analysis becomes a difficult task. In this paper, we introduce the concept of intra-sensitivity to identify parameters whose perturbation has a major impact on the sensitivity index of the remaining parameters. For this purpose, we firstly appeal to Active Subspace Method (ASM) and develop an ASM-based regional sensitivity analysis, which investigates parametric sensitivity in local regions of the design space and aids conducing to parameters’ intra-sensitivity. This regional analysis is applied in conjunction with a Dynamic Propagation Sampling approach, for tackling the computational complexity arising when high-dimensional problems are concerned. Once sensitive and intra-sensitive parameters are identified, then free-form features, correlated to these parameters, are evaluated using a feature saliency map built with the aid of Hausdorff distance. The so resulting methodology has been validated in the area of computer-aided ship design using two parametric modellers: the first one is a Procedural Deformation (PD) modeller which is based on T-splines and involves 24 parameters while the second one is based on Free-Form Deformation (FFD) and involves 104 parameters. The corresponding design spaces have been generated using a parent hull close to the KCS container ship and are analysed against hull’s volume of displacement and total resistance. Finally, the convergence performance of the various components of this approach is compared with state-of-the-art techniques.     

Planning as Propositional CSP: From Walksat to Local Search Techniques for Action Graphs

Graphplan-style of planning can be formulated as an incremental propositional CSP where the (boolean) variables correspond to operator instantiations (actions) that are or are not scheduled at certain time steps. In this paper we present a framework for solving this class of propositional CSPs using local search in planning graphs. The search space consists of particular subgraphs of a planning graph corresponding to (complete) variable assignments, and representing partial plans. The operators for moving from one search state to the next one are graph modifications corresponding to revisions of the current variable assignment (partial plan), or to an extension of the represented CSP.Our techniques are implemented in a planner called LPG using various types of heuristics based on a parametrized objective function, where the parameters weight different constraint violations, and are dynamically evaluated using Lagrange multipliers. LPG's basic heuristic was inspired by Walksat, which in Kautz and Selman's Blackbox can be used to solve the SAT-encoding of a planning graph. An advantage of LPG is that its heuristics exploit the structure of the planning graph, while Blackbox relies on general heuristics for SAT-problems, and requires the translation of the planning graph into propositional clauses. Another major difference is that LPG can handle action execution costs to produce good quality plans. This is achieved by an anytime process minimizing an objective function based on the number of constraint violations in a plan and on its overall cost. Experimental results illustrate the efficiency of our approach, showing, in particular, that LPG is significantly faster than Blackbox and other planners based on planning graphs.     

Analytical IMC-PID design in terms of performance/robustness tradeoff for integrating processes: From 2-Dof to 1-Dof

This communication addresses the analytical PID tuning rules for integrating processes. First, this paper provides an analytical tuning method of two-degree-of-freedom (2-Dof) PID controller using an enhanced internal model control (IMC) principle. On the basis of the robustness analyses, the presented method can easily achieve the performance/robustness tradeoff by specifying a desired robustness degree. Second, an analytical tuning method of one-degree-of-freedom (1-Dof) PID also is proposed in terms of performance/robustness and servo/regulator tradeoffs, which are not commonly considered for 1-Dof controller design. The servo/regulator tradeoff is formulated as a constrained optimization problem to provide output responses as similar as possible to those produced by the 2-Dof PID controller. The presented PID settings are applicable for a wide range of integrating processes. Simulation studies show the effectiveness and merits of the proposed method.     

从日常行为分析到还原“日常”的产品研究——定向于“母婴交互”的设计

日常行为,正因为其"日常"到不假思索,最容易为人们所忽略,但同时也是最能体现"自然人"意识的行为反应。在母婴对待"日常"中,婴儿是不具备语言能力,通过行为分析婴儿真实需求不但有利于婴儿健康成长更有利于减轻看护者负担。本文尝试探索将行为设计这一在信息网络领域广泛运用的交互设计研究方法运用到普通产品的设计领域,以确保最终设计是建立在科学的设计方法分析的基础上,真正能满足消费者需求的产品设计。     

Adding a strategic edge to human factors/ergonomics: Principles for the management of uncertainty as cornerstones for system design

It is frequently lamented that human factors and ergonomics knowledge does not receive the attention and consideration that it deserves. In this paper I argue that in order to change this situation human factors/ergonomics based system design needs to be positioned as a strategic task within a conceptual framework that incorporates both business and design concerns. The management of uncertainty is presented as a viable candidate for such a framework. A case is described where human factors/ergonomics experts in a railway company have used the management of uncertainty perspective to address strategic concerns at firm level. Furthermore, system design is discussed in view of the relationship between organization and technology more broadly. System designers need to be supported in better understanding this relationship in order to cope with the uncertainties this relationship brings to the design process itself. Finally, the emphasis on uncertainty embedded in the recent surge of introducing risk management across all business sectors is suggested as another opportunity for bringing human factors and ergonomics expertise to the fore.     

From cacophony to harmony: A case study about the IS implementation process as an opportunity for organizational transformation at Sentara Healthcare

The cacophony of criticisms emanating from an organization facing an information technology-enabled transformation can be deafening and deleterious. This is especially true in healthcare in the US, where information systems investments are typically huge and often perceived by change resistant stakeholders as disruptive or even potentially life threatening. We describe how the IS implementation process itself contributed to organizational transformation in terms of changes in coordination, culture, and learning at a successful organization, Sentara Healthcare, which transformed the discordant cacophony of the change process into a harmonious implementation.     

Activity theory as a framework for building adaptive e-learning systems: A case to provide empirical evidence

We apply activity theory (AT) to design adaptive e-learning systems (AeLS). AT is a framework to study human’s behavior at learning; whereas, AeLS enhance students’ apprenticeship by the personalization of teaching–learning experiences. AeLS depict users’ traits and predicts learning outcomes. The approach was successfully tested: Experimental group took lectures chosen by the anticipation AT principle; whilst, control group received randomly selected lectures. Learning achieved by experimental group reveals a correlation quite significant and high positive; but, for control group the correlation it is not significant and medium positive. We conclude: AT is a useful framework to design AeLS and provide student-centered education.