Glenn J. Browne

Improving information requirements determination: a cognitive perspective

Requirements determination is a critical phase of information systems development, but much evidence suggests that the process can and should be improved. Because the bulk of requirements determination occurs early in the development of a system, improvements can yield significant benefits for the entire systems development process. This paper first discusses a three-stage descriptive model of the requirements determination process. Four classes of difficulties in determining systems requirements are then used to organize and describe particular problems that occur within each stage of the process, together with the cognitive and behavioral theories that underlie them. The paper then describes techniques that can address the problems and presents theoretical considerations that analysts can use in applying the techniques to improve requirements determination.

Cognitive stopping rules for terminating information search in online tasks

Online search has become a significant activity in the daily lives of individuals throughout much of the world. The almost instantaneous availability of billions of web pages has caused a revolution in the way people seek information. Despite the increasing importance of online search behavior in decision making and problem solving, very little is known about why people stop searching for information online. In this paper, we review the literature concerning online search and cognitive stopping rules, and then describe specific types of information search tasks. Based on this theoretical development, we generated hypotheses and conducted an experiment with 115 participants each performing three search tasks on the web. Our findings show that people utilize a number of stopping rules to terminate search, and that the stopping rule used depends on the type of task performed. Implications for online information search theory and practice are discussed.

Conceptual foundations of design problem solving

Design problems, processes, and methods are topics of longstanding interest in fields such as architecture and engineering. Design tasks are also common in domains addressed by systems and management scientists. However, much scientific work in these fields indicates little awareness of design theories and research. This paper introduces systems and management scientists to the extensive design theory literature. More importantly, it consolidates and extends that literature by developing a deep conceptual analysis of design problems and problem solving. The analysis is built around five elements of design problems: goals, constraints, alternatives, representations, and solutions. These elements define the basic tasks or functional demands posed by design problem solving. The paper also identifies special difficulties faced by designers in systems and management science domains. >

Managing peer-to-peer conflicts in disruptive information technology innovations: the case of software reuse

We examine the case of software reuse as a disruptive information technology innovation (i.e., one that requires changes in the architecture of work processes) in software development organizations. Using theories of conflict, coordination, and learning, we develop a model to explain peer-to-peer conflicts that are likely to accompany the introduction of disruptive technologies and how appropriately devised managerial interventions (e.g., coordination mechanisms and organizational learning practices) can lessen these conflicts. A study of software reuse programs in four organizations was conducted to assess the validity of the model. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data obtained showed that companies that had implemented such managerial interventions experienced greater success with their software reuse programs. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Improving requirements elicitation: an empirical investigation of procedural prompts

Abstract.  Information system success is dependent upon the effectiveness of requirements elicitation. Requirements elicitation is subject to numerous challenges, however, including cognitive limitations of analysts. In the present study, we test prompts designed to overcome the cognitive limitations that cause analysts to gather inadequate and inaccurate requirements. The study’s results indicate that providing analysts with procedural prompts to aid their requirements elicitation can result in the acquisition of additional meaningful requirements. In addition, the procedural prompts designed to mitigate cognitive challenges were significantly more effective than simple interrogatory prompts. Theoretical implications for the elicitation of requirements and practical implications for the training and practice of systems analysts are discussed.

The Role of Need for Cognition and Mood in Online Flow Experience

Several recent studies have investigated the concept of flow in human-computer interactions, which is a sensation that occurs with significant cognitive involvement in a task. Prior research has shown that person, artifact, and task are important determinants of flow. The present research investigates two aspects of the person, i.e., need for cognition (NFC) and mood, and their relationships with four dimensions of online flow experience. Two studies were conducted. Based on data collected from two different samples, NFC was positively associated with focused attention, control, and curiosity. No significant association was found between NFC and temporal dissociation. Mood was positively associated with all four dimensions. The interaction effect of NFC and mood was also significant. Implications for human-computer interaction research and practice are discussed.

Online Consumers' Switching Behavior: A Buyer-Seller Relationship Perspective

Limited studies have investigated online consumer loyalty and retention from a relationship orientation in electronic commerce research. It is important to understand the differences in relationship orientations between people who have the propensity to stick to particular Web sites (“stayers†) and people who have the propensity to switch to alternative Web sites (“switchers†). This study proposes a relationship-based classification schema consisting of five dimensions: that is, commitment, trust, satisfaction, comparison level of the alternatives, and nonretrievable investment. Data were collected from 299 college students who had experience with e-commerce Web sites. Using discriminating analysis, we found that stayers and switchers were significantly different along the five research dimensions. Satisfaction with the current Web site was the most important discriminant factor, followed by trust, commitment, comparison level of alternative Web sites, and nonretrievable investment in the current Web site. Implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed.

Consumer reactions toward clicks and bricks: investigating buying behaviour on-line and at stores

The development of the world wide web created a new sales channel for retailers, and many thousands of companies have attempted to take advantage of this new method for reaching customers. Analysis of the 2000 stock market collapse suggests that business models relying on both internet (‘clicks’) and physical (‘bricks’) presences may be the most successful. Internet business problems include the need to structure internal and external business processes to serve customers appropriately, the need to provide adequate technological and physical infrastructures, and the need to understand customer consumption processes in ‘virtual’ and physical environments. The purpose of this research is to provide insight into these problems by investigating consumer beliefs and preferences about shopping on-line and in physical stores. We developed a research model and then performed an empirical investigation using two studies. Results and implications of the findings for business strategy are discussed.

Network effects and social dilemmas in technology industries

Researchers investigating technology market dynamics have focused primarily on how a firms economic and marketing strategy for pricing, distribution, packaging , and so on affect the market and the firms position in it. This perspective reflects a managerial viewpoint, which focuses on maximizing a firms profits and tends to emphasize short-term outcomes. We take a different view - the social planners view - of the technology industry, which attempts to maximize total benefits for both firms and consumers over the long run. Network effects (also termed network externalities) impact how these total benefits, or social surplus, evolve over time in technology markets. Applying economic, social science, and biology theories to technology market dynamics, we find that network-effect-sensitive factors such as available capital, innovation, and product variety indicate whether an industry is heading toward healthy expansion or an unhealthy monopoly and ultimate decline. Increasing the social surplus to ensure long-term market health requires proactive measures such as industry self-regulation and government regulation.

Stopping Rule Use During Web-Based Search

The world wide web has become a ubiquitous tool for information search. The focal point of web navigation has changed over the past few years from destination sites to search engines, and search activity thus determines where most people spend most of their time online. However, little is known about how and why people stop their search efforts. Such an understanding holds much promise for both website design and marketing efforts. Building on an established theoretical and empirical foundation, we investigate the heuristics, or stopping rules, that people use to end search behavior. In the present study, subjects engaged in an online shopping task and then completed a questionnaire concerning why they stopped their searches. Results showed that some stopping rules were used more than others, and the proportions differed from those used in some prior contexts. Implications for information search theory and website design are discussed.