Aaron Read

My mom's on Facebook: an evaluation of information sharing depth in social networking

Information sharing in social networking sites (SNSs) provides users the opportunity to maintain relationships and express themselves. However, users share information with a heterogeneous audience with varied expectations. As a result, various social spheres may influence the information individuals share or their decision to share at all. The current research describes dimensions of information in terms of horizontal and vertical information sharing. Previous research has demonstrated the salience of social spheres with conflicting norms for SNS users. We build on previous research by exploring the effects of social spheres on the depth of information shared by SNS users. Students from a university in the USA and South Korea were interviewed to understand their perceptions of information sharing and the influence social spheres have on the depth of information they provide. We found that conflicting social spheres influence the depth of information provided when a user posts to their SNS and that impression management plays a key role.

Exploring User Preference for the Dashboard Menu Design

User interfaces generally rely on a main menu for navigation and orientation. Therefore, the main (navigational) menu layout design is a determinant of user performance and satisfaction levels. Effective menu designs also help users avoid feeling lost and disoriented when seeking information or finding functionality. Research on menu design finds that an understanding of users’ ability to recognize a menu layout through positional and semantic grouping of menu items helps explain design effectiveness and user preference. Our research compares an expandable index menu layout design to a framebased (dashboard) design, and finds that the positional and semantic groupings of the framebased (dashboard) design were preferred. Real clients using a live system participated in this study using the Think Aloud usability evaluation method. This research is significant in that it contributes to ongoing work in development of effective user interfaces, and in that it strengthens the findings of earlier researchers.

Towards a Taxonomy of Requirements for Hybrid Products

In order to differentiate from competitors and to respond to new customer expectations, many organizations develop hybrid products, composed of hardware, software and service elements. Determining the requirements for a hybrid product, however, can be complex. Designers must address the requirements for each of the product elements, as well as the interfaces and interdependencies among them and the service organization. Complexity increases with stakeholder interests associated with each element. As a first st ep towards reducing this complexity, we derive a taxonomy of requirements for hybrid products. We begin by analyzing requirements literature in the three disciplines: hardware, software, and service requirements and synthesize requirements categories from each discipline. Next, we synthesize a taxonomy of requirements for hybrid products, defining and describing each category. We conclude with limitations of our work and directions for future research to refine and utilize the taxonomy.

Coding for Unique Ideas and Ambiguity: Measuring the Effects of a Convergence Intervention on the Artifact of an Ideation Activity

Groups can generate large numbers of ideas as part of a decision-making process. These ideas may become too numerous for the group to process effectively. Ideas may also need to be clarified to facilitate this processing. Convergence patterns of group behavior help to reduce the number of ideas to a manageable set and at the same time clarify these ideas. Research aimed at understanding convergence is in the beginning stages. Researchers are developing methods of quantifying convergence. In this paper, we present a method for quantifying the reduction and clarification that has occurred through convergence using an assessment of pre- and postconvergence artifacts. The method characterizes artifacts obtained in the field when facilitators led groups of managers through convergence activities to solve an actual business problem. The workshops utilized the FastFocus thinkLet, as part of a larger group process. We present the results of this measurement or coding method.

The Seven Layer Model of Collaboration: An Exploratory Study of Process Identification and Improvement

In preparing for conflict, the US military must make complex decisions based on a vast amount of information in as quickly and efficiently as possible. The Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) has been developed to structure the efforts of a combat unit as they decide how to best implement the orders of a higher command. The process is highly collaborative, as staff officers assemble information necessary for the mission, conduct scenario analyses (war-games), and select and implement. Collaboration Engineers attended a week-long MDMP training camp to analyze the MDMP for opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes. To identify processes of improvement, the engineers used the Seven Layer Model of Collaboration (SLMC) which aids in the identification of the goals, deliverables, activities, patterns of collaboration, techniques, actions, and technologies associated with each process. We report in this study some of the more promising improvement opportunities found using the SLMC. We also report on some classes of problems observable across work practices within the MDMP, which may likely extend to other work practices. We end with a discussion of these classes and opportunities for future research.

Coding for Unique Ideas and Ambiguity: A Method for Measuring the Effect of Convergence on the Artifact of an Ideation Activity

Groups can generate so many ideas during a decision making process involving brainstorming that they become an impediment to group processes. Convergence activities reduce the number of ideas generated by the group and clarify those ideas, allowing the group to move forward with a set of ideas worthy of further attention. Research about convergence and its affect on collaboration is in the early stages. To further this research, measures of convergence are developed in this study as part of an assessment of the effects of convergence on an ideation artifact produced by managers attempting to solve an actual business problem. This paper presents a method for quantifying the reduction and clarification that has occurred through convergence using an assessment of a pre- and post-convergence artifact. This study expands upon understanding of collaboration by presenting the method of characterizing the convergence artifacts.

Generating user stories in groups

Communicating about system requirements with user stories is a distinctive feature of Agile Software Development methods. While user stories make system requirements intelligible to both customers and technical developers, they also create new challenges for the requirements elicitation process such as personal bias and requirements coverage. In this study we propose that when elicited from groups instead of individuals, the number of stories generated, the uniqueness and the comprehensiveness of the stories is likely to increase. A lab experiment design is delineated and partially completed. Future research will need to be conducted to determine conclusions.

Exploring the effects of a convergence intervention on the artifacts of an ideation activity during sensemaking

Organizations must enlist the efforts of groups to solve important problems. Six patterns of collaboration describe group behavior as they work towards solutions. The convergence patterns of collaboration-- reduce and clarify are key in helping a group focus effort on issues that are worthy of further attention. These group behaviors have not been extensively studied in the literature. In the current study, we further this research effort by exploring and characterizing the effects of a fast focus intervention on an ideation artifact. Researchers conducted an observational case study of executives addressing a real task within a large organization. Analysis of the problem statements generated during a problem identification and clarification session revealed several implications about convergence activities. The FastFocus thinkLet was found to reduce the number of concepts from 246 down to 30, a reduction of 76%. Ambiguity was reduced from 45% in the ideation artifact to 3% in the converged artifact. A serendipitous event in the field allowed researchers a window into comprehensiveness, showing that the FastFocus thinkLet may not contribute to comprehensiveness as much as was previously thought. Finally implications for brainstorming instructions were identified that may contribute to reduced ambiguity in ideation artifacts.