Robert P. Bostrom

The importance of learning style in end-user training

The importance of effective training in ensuring the success of end-user computing (EUC) has been emphasized by several researchers in information systems. A vast amount of evidence from research in related areas such as educational psychology suggests that individual differences, such as learning style, may affect users learning about a new EUC software package. This article reports the findings of a series of studies that examine the influence of a novices learning style in learning typical EUC tools such as spreadsheets and electronic mail. A consistent pattern of findings emerges that indicates that learning modes is an important predictor of learning performance, both by itself and in interaction with training methods. The findings suggest that in the design of training, it is essential to match training methods to individual difference variables. Based on these findings, guidelines are recommended for IS professionals involved in EUC training and further research directions are discussed.

Applying adaptive structuration theory to investigate the process of group support systems use

Adaptive structuration theory (AST) provides a sound basis from which to study the use of group support systems (GSS). The need for a theoretical approach such as AST is especially urgent because i...

Comparing representations with relational and EER models

The diffusion of technology to end users who can now develop their own information systems raises issues concerning the cost, quality, efficiency, and accuracy of such systems.

MIS Problems and failures a socio-technical perspective part II: the application of socio-technical theory

This article provides, by means of a hypothetical example, the procedures to be followed in applying the Socio- Technical-Systems Approach to information systems design. The need for this approach was presented in the first part of this article which appeared in the September Issue of the MIS Quarterly. Here the authors provide an overview of the Socio- Technical-Systems procedure and show how it could be used in redesigning an information system used by the circulation department of a large newspaper. The step by step approach is intended to Illustrate the process to those practitioners feeling that more needs to be done in the area of using computer-based systems to improve the quality of working life of the system users.

Managerial Coaching Behaviors in Learning Organizations.

Limited published research has examined the role of leaders and managers in building learning capability and learning organizations. It is speculated that leaders and managers will assume roles such as facilitators of learning, coaches, and teachers. However, these roles and the micro‐behaviors manifested in them remain an area that has not been fully explored. This article reports specific findings from a qualitative critical incident study that was designed to investigate the multiple ways exemplary managers facilitate their employees’ learning in organizations considered to be learning organizations. Thirteen behavior sets emerged from this research that help to define the role of facilitator of learning. Implications for management development are discussed and areas for future research are identified.

Successful application of communication techniques to improve the systems development process

Abstract Inadequate system requirements specifications reflect ineffective communication transactions between system users and developers. Today, effective communication between developers and users is more important than ever as organizations redirect resources to the development of decision/expert and communication support systems and to helping users develop their own systems. This paper reports on an exploratory study which tested the use of the Precision Model, a generalized communication model that draws upon a set of communication behaviors to facilitate effective communication between users and developers. These behaviors were incorporated into a general format for running design team meetings. The findings indicate that the new meeting format improved the communication between users and developers and enhanced their ability to develop shared, accurate and complete system requirements. In addition, the use of this format led to a reduction in the number of and length of meetings. It also demonstrated that developers were better able to develop and maintain rapport with users and that team members felt more productive and satisfied when meetings concluded. This research identifies specific behaviors and guidelines that can be used to improve the requirements definition process in any systems development project.

The Role of the Facilitator in Computer-Supported Meetings

The ability tofacilitate diverse human and technological interactions will be one of the most essential skillsfor leading and contributing to all levels of the organization in thefuture. Yet none of the research to date has definedfacilitation or the role of the facilitator in depth or has provided empirically grounded guidelines for effectively performing this role. The introduction of Group Support Systems (GSSs)-computer technology to support group work-into organizations has created yet another newfacilitation role-the GSSfacilitatoi: This article presents the results ofa rigorous assessment, using the critical incidents research methodology, of the role of the facilitator in computer-supported environments. The overall purpose of the study was to empirically develop the critical dimensions of the facilitators role.

Personality characteristics of MIS project teams: an empirical study and action-research design

Information systems for large firms are typically designed by a team comprised of both users and systems personnel. The Management Information System (MIS) literature discusses a communication gap between the organization oriented users and the more technical systems staff. It is often hypothesized that systems personnel and users are different in terms of personality and behavior characteristics and that these differences are one of the primary reasons for the existence of a communication gap. This article summarizes a two-phased study. The first phase investigated personality characteristics of respondents from thirty-two large organizations who worked on design teams. The second phase examines, in detail, a system success and failure in one organization. Analysis was performed to see if there are significant differences on personality dimensions between users and systems personnel and to explore the relationship between these differences and system success. An operationalization of Jungs personality typology (Myers-Briggs Type indicator) was employed. The results show that the users involved in the systems design are very similar to their systems counterparts. Even more surprising is that the characteristics of these users are closer to the popular descriptions of systems staff than the analysts are. They also suggest that these similarities in personality types may have an impact on system success. The general implications of these findings in terms of the management of project teams and the MIS designs they create are discussed.

A longitudinal study of the impact of group decision support systems on group development

Abstract:This paper reports on a study aimed at integrating an important but neglected behavioral issue-group development-into group decision support systems (gdss) research. Group development is based on the fact that most groups have a past and a future, and this affects group outcomes. However, most gdss studies have investigated only a single group session. This study examined the behavior of groups using a gdss over multiple sessions.The study reported in this paper specifically examined the following two questions: (1) does computer support affect the development of decision-making groups? and (2) do the patterns of development differ over time between computer-supported and manual groups? These two questions were studied using a two-factorial repeated measures research design. Results showed significant differences in development patterns between computer-supported groups and manual groups in terms of conflict management and degree of cohesiveness. Mter adapting to gdss, computer-supported groups d...

Individual differences and conceptual models in training novice users

Although there is a strong theoretical basis for concluding that conceptual models are effective in aiding users build mental models of computer systems, very little empirical evidence exists to support such a conclusion. Frequently, the effect has been weak. Subjects trained with a conceptual model often perform better than control group subjects in learning tests, but seldom at a statistically significant level. One possible reason for this is the influence of individual differences such as basic cognitive abilities. This study examined the influence of two cognitive variables - visual ability and learning mode - in the mental model formation process of novice users of an electronic mail filing system. We compared the effectiveness of two types of conceptual models-analogical and abstract. It was found that high-visual subjects performed significantly better than low-visual subjects. Abstract learners also performed better than concrete learners.