Eugenia Y. Huang

What type of learning style leads to online participation in the mixed-mode e-learning environment? A study of software usage instruction

Learning style is traditionally assumed to be a predictor of learning performance, yet few studies have identified the mediating and moderating effects between the two. This study extends previous research by proposing and testing a model that examines the mediating processes in the relationship between learning style and e-learning performance and the moderating effects of prior knowledge. The results show that the sensory/intuitive dimension of learning style predicts learning performance indirectly through the mediation of online participation. However, other types of learning styles do not affect online participation. Sensory students demonstrate a higher level and intuitive students a lower level of online participation. Prior knowledge plays an important role as a moderator between online participation and learning performance. This study was conducted in the context of software usage instruction using empirical data from 219 undergraduate students.

Exploring the effect of boundary objects on knowledge interaction

This study attempts to tackle cross-boundary knowledge management problems by examining how knowledge can be generated efficiently. The subjects comprised 81 pairs of users and student analysts. To understand the similarities and differences among 81 records of knowledge interactions, a max-min model was employed to analyze project performance and calculate knowledge interaction efficiency. The analysis involved one output factor (project performance) and four input factors (frequencies of encountering four different types of boundary objects). Cluster analysis and the subsequent comparisons among the clusters suggest that the occurrence of metaphoric boundary objects is the key to good project performance in the context of software system analysis. This paper successfully demonstrates that observing knowledge interaction through the lens of boundary objects can be fruitful, and that some boundary objects are more important than others. However, the context-dependent nature of knowledge interaction mandates further studies in other contexts. Identifying, creating, and facilitating useful boundary objects are key to efficient knowledge interaction.Four boundary object types were summarized and proposed.The concept of boundary objects was linked to project performance in cross-boundary knowledge interaction.Five steps were used to conduct the analysis via max-min models.Metaphoric boundary objects were shown to play a key role in software system analysis activities.

A Max-Min Approach to the Output Evaluation of Knowledge Interaction

The concept of knowledge management has been flowering as information management matures. Nevertheless, up until now, more attention has been focused on knowledge management inside organizations and less on knowledge management across organizational boundaries. Attempting to fill this gap and address the problems of cross-boundary knowledge management, this research first identified key boundary objects in the context of knowledge management, and then studies how actors from different organizations interact through boundary objects. The result links the performance of collaborative acts to the frequency of boundary object encountering in the course of interaction. In this study, although the context is described with “actors” in mind, the unit of analysis is “knowledge” itself, rather than “actors,” and the interaction is termed “knowledge interaction”. Student assignments of information system projects serve as the cases of analysis. To analyze the performance of knowledge interactions, a max-min approach is applied, with one output factor, namely project performance, and four input factors, which are the frequencies of the encountering of four boundary objects. The result strongly suggests that identifying, creating, and facilitating useful boundary objects is the key to successful projects. Whether tacit knowledge is converted into explicit knowledge during the process is less important in achieving effective collaboration. Also, it is not always necessary to identify specific tacit knowledge in each organization.

Antecedents and Outcomes of Boundary Objects in Knowledge Interaction in the Context of Software Systems Analysis

Much of knowledge management research has focused on knowledge generation, translation and storage during interactions among knowledge workers, which has led to project success; however, less effort has been made to examine the effects of artifacts or boundary objects that such interactions yield. Thus, the study aimed to help fill this research gap by investigating, not only the categories and characteristics of boundary objects, but also the possible antecedents, taking into consideration the link between outcome and type of boundary object. In the information system field, system design and implementation is a continuous process of interactions between system analysts and end-users, with most interactions occurring in the stage of defining system requirements. Thus, this stage offers an appropriate context to study knowledge interaction. Based on data collected and codified from 82 records of knowledge interaction, the results showed that project performance could be highly enhanced by making use of syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and metaphoric boundary objects. In addition, higher atmosphere leads to a higher frequency of the occurrence of semantic boundary objects. Although the results may be inevitably linked to the context being investigated, the importance of the expected findings will trigger like studies in other contexts.

Measuring Boundary Objects in an Attempt to Explain Innovativeness

This study explores types of boundary objects, their relationships, and their effect on project innovativeness in the context of systems analysis. Four types of boundary objects are identified and their content discussed. Based on data collected from 258 student analysts, the results indicate that out of syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and metaphoric boundary objects, only pragmatic boundary objects had a strong positive effect on project innovativeness. Metaphoric boundary objects are shown to have positive effect on all other three types of boundary objects. Metaphoric boundary object affects project innovativeness indirectly through pragmatic boundary objects. Surprisingly, semantic boundary objects negatively affect project innovativeness, although not very strongly. A practical implication is the possibility of increasing project innovativeness by enhancing both pragmatic boundary objects and metaphoric boundary objects.

Task-Oriented M-Commerce Interface Design

As pocket-size mobile devices are equipped with relatively small screen, when displaying web pages which are designed for personal computers and laptops, viewing poses a great challenge. Due to the limited space, items or components on the screen of pocket-size mobile devices should be much more intuitive so that users can interact with the interface more quickly. Thus, the study posits that m-commerce mandates a completely different approach, namely scenario-based design, to interface design which is task-oriented rather than functional-oriented. The result can be further summarized and compared with prior research which focused on a list of design factors.

Attracting Consumers’ Attention and Interest in Exploring: Does HCI Strategy Matter?

The aim of this study is to understand the best approaches for drawing consumers’ attention and triggering their interest in exploring marketers’ offerings. Human-computer interaction (HCI) strategies, which are widely adopted by online marketers, are categorized into two dimensions: intervention mode and interaction scheme. Intervention mode refers to the way that marketing messages intervene in the activities of online consumers, whereas interaction scheme refers to the communication acts required from consumers after the initial intervention. A within-subjects experiment is used in this study.