Katriina Byström
University of Borås
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Featured researches published by Katriina Byström.
Information Processing and Management | 1995
Katriina Byström; Kalervo Järvelin
Abstract It is nowadays generally agreed that a persons information seeking depends on his or her tasks and the problems encountered in performing them. The relationships of broad job types and information-seeking characteristics have been analyzed both conceptually and empirically, mostly through questionnaires after task performance rather than during task performance. In this article, the relationships of task complexity, necessary information types, information channels, and sources are analyzed at the task level on the basis of a qualitative investigation. Tasks were categorized in five complexity classes and information into problem information, domain information, and problem-solving information. Moreover, several classifications of information channels and sources were utilized. The data were collected in a public administration setting through diaries, which were written during task performance, and questionnaires. The findings were structured into work charts for each task and summarized in qualitative process description tables for each task complexity category. Quantitative indices further summarizing the results were also computed. The findings indicate systematic and logical relationships among task complexity, types of information, information channels, and sources.
Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology | 2005
Katriina Byström; Preben Hansen
Today information-intensive work tasks in professional settings involve highly dynamic information utilization in which information seeking and searching tasks are taking a more central role. This article considers the concept of task in the context of information studies in order to provide a definitional clarity for task-based information seeking and retrieval studies. We identify (1) the central task levels as well as (2) the kinds of dimensions connected to the levels from the perspective of information studies. The analysis is aimed to serve as a conceptual starting point for empirical studies in the research area. The focus is on some central aspects of tasks that are recognized within information studies as well as related research areas (e.g., organizational studies). We define two levels of information-related subtasks: information seeking tasks and information search tasks. Information retrieval tasks are explicitly considered as a specific type of information search task. We describe differences and connections between these task levels. Finally, the implications of the proposed conceptual framework for information studies are discussed.
international conference theory and practice digital libraries | 2004
Lena Blomgren; Helena Vallo; Katriina Byström
This paper presents a holistic evaluation of an operational information system that employs the Boolean search technique. An equal focus is laid on both the system (system perspective) and its users (user perspective) in the actual environment where the system and its users are functioning (contextuality). In addition to these research objectives, the study has a methodological objective to test an evaluation approach developed by Borlund [1] in a real life setting. Our evaluation methodology involves triangulation (pre-search questionnaires; search log; post-interviewing) as well as novel interactive performance measures, such as the Ranked Half-Life measure and the Satisfaction and Novelty perception by users supplementing the traditional Precision. The study confirms the finding of earlier research and reveals the discrepancy between the evaluation results according to the system and the user perspectives. More specifically, the system performed better when evaluated from the user perspective than from the system perspective.
Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology | 2012
Katriina Byström; Annemaree Lloyd
Our aim is to introduce an emerging understanding of how practice theory can be used to frame the analysis of (work) task-based research. This analytical work is tentative, but has the capacity of furthering task-based research by addressing the dialogical relationships and embodied performances that constitute practice. We argue that analyses of task as a constitute element of practice can contribute to a rich discussion of knowledge construction in information studies.
ASIS&T 2011: Bridging the Gulf: Communication and Information in Society, Technology, and Work. 9-13 October, New Orleans, Louisiana | 2011
Emma Forsgren; Katriina Byström
This research investigates a conventional professional work practice and hesitant attitudes and feelings related to an introduction of a social media tool for communication and collaboration. The study was conducted at a well- established, international product development company in the electronic industry. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with engineers from the companys R&D site. Based on the data analysis, the key findings focus upon a perception of Social Media Discomfort (SMD). Factors that constitute SMD can be divided into factors relating to arenas of social interaction (socialness) and into factors mirroring a goal-orientation in attending to work duties (usefulness). The study extends our understanding of why people might reject new social media tools. The results of this study indicate that it happens if the tools are perceived as disconnected to established structures, tools, norms and ideals shared in the workplace. The SMD occurs especially in connection with the adoption of the tool. Understanding the dual nature of uncertainty, i.e. socialness and usefulness, in relation to new social media tools is of relevance for both practitioners and scholars working with issues of the increasingly complex information environment at work.
Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology | 2015
Karin Dessne; Katriina Byström
The aim of this article is to explore the claim that communities of practice (CoPs) can be designed and managed. The concept of CoPs was originally developed as a social learning theory, and CoPs were defined by their informal emergent nature. This informal nature has been recognized to be of value to organizations, resulting in a desire to design CoPs. In this article, the nature of CoPs is addressed by focusing on aspects of formality and informality in relationships and learning; CoPs are described as emergent and designed practices. Furthermore, it is questioned whether a designed CoP may realize the essential characteristics attributed to an emergent CoP. It is argued that it is crucial to recognize the informal nature of CoPs in order to either encourage them as informal phenomena or to use the concept of CoPs as inspiration for designing imitations of them. However, when attempting to design them, the original meaning of a CoP is lost, even though, in some cases, the consequences of such a design may be beneficial to organizations. Nevertheless, when not taking the nature of a CoP into account, a designed construct may have a negative impact on learning and knowing.
Information Systems Journal | 2018
Emma Forsgren; Katriina Byström
In this paper, we report an investigation on the use of multiple social media in knowledge work and explore the contribution of activity theory for such a study. As social media are increasingly adopted at work, there is a demand to understand how they are being incorporated. This study focuses on how social media may improve or reduce coherence in work activities, and for this purpose, we use activity theory as an analytical lens to conceptualise social media usage in a Scandinavian software development company. The qualitative data, consisting of interviews and observations, were analysed to capture the mediating role of social media for information sharing within and across work activities. We found social media in general helpful to maintain coherence in terms of sharing work‐related information, improving ambient awareness, as well as for socialising, but they also caused inconsistencies in use and adoption. In addition, we found that social media served different purposes in different activity systems, causing both contradictions and congruencies; what was seen as a benefit for some work activities appeared as a limitation for others (eg, concerning pace and aims of information sharing). In our findings through the lens of activity theory, we observed how objects, although they were shared, were fractionalised in networked activities. Our conclusion is that despite the still unoptimised functionality, social media do bring coherence in work activities in a decentralised work environment.
association for information science and technology | 2015
Eystein Gullbekk; Idunn B⊘yum; Katriina Byström
Our aim with this conceptual analysis is to demonstrate possible expectations put on librarians who are engaged in interdisciplinary courses in higher education programs. We do so by relating views on interdisciplinarity with views on information literacy. We distinguish views on interdisciplinarity by the degree of integration between disciplinary components and views on information literacy by the degree of participation in addressing research problems. The analysis brings forth four cases. The cases entail different professional competencies that range from source‐oriented technical skills applicable in multidisciplinary settings to collaborative negotiations of research problems and information needed to address them in inter‐disciplinary fields. This conceptual account has a twofold potential: First, it has a capacity of informing academic libraries about alternative paths in developing or revising activities for interdisciplinary education. Second, it also provides a framework for developing future research problems that address current challenges related to information literacy in interdisciplinary settings.
Journal of Documentation | 2018
Anita Nordsteien; Katriina Byström
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate how new healthcare professionals engage with information practices and information culture in their workplace, and the resulting influences on development and change. Design/methodology/approach A longitudinal study was conducted on a hospital training programme. Three series of focus groups provided data from 18 recently qualified nurses, supported by observations. Data were thematically analysed applying a framework consisting of six approaches to information use. Findings Newcomers take a proactive approach to seek, use and share scientific information, which is negotiated within existing information practices and organisational information culture. Their competencies, such as research skills, values, motivation and sense of integrity to use and share scientific information, often differ from those existing workplace practices. For this reason, they drive towards renewal and change. Practical implications Examination of organisational approaches to information use indicates clearly the necessity for improvements to meet the needs of information proactiveness and thus be able to face challenges and changes in an organisation. Originality/value This work sheds new light on newcomers’ information use, as they integrate into a workplace and interact with information practices and organisational approaches to information use. A significant contribution is the identification of the dynamics and interdependencies between newcomers’ individual agency in their way of seeking, using and sharing information, and the established community’s social agency promoting existing information practices and the organisational agency represented by information culture.
scandinavian conference on information systems | 2016
Helena Vallo Hult; Katriina Byström; Martin Gellerstedt
The medical profession demands training and lifelong learning to ensure patient safety and quality of treatment. Main barriers are lack of time and resources. Information and communication technology (ICT) has proven to be useful to support e-learning, but less focus has been placed on the potential role of ICT as support for continuous learning in everyday practice. The aim of this qualitative interview study was to explore physicians’ perspective of learning and how ICT in various ways can support learning at work. The findings indicate that continuous learning to a large extent is case driven, and that ICT may play an important role and support reflection and learning for individual physicians and for the collective as well. We argue that such ICT solutions must be adopted to and integrated in the everyday work, save time and include learning usability.