| 1. |
- Johansson, Lars-Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Knowledge and communicative aspects of visualization in action case research
- 2007
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Ingår i: Proceedings of intelligent and agents 2007. - : IADIS Press. - 9789728924393 - 9728924399 ; , s. 154-160
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The departure point of this paper is the use of visualization as a tool in action case research. In such research, the researcher seeks a balance between interpreting qualitative data and intervening to solve the problem of the research partner. The communicative and knowledge aspects of visualization are highlighted. The research partner in this research, Flower Systems Ltd. (FSL), is a software company that has developed the ISOX 2000 document management system especially to meet the needs of social services in local governments. Over the last year, employees at various social service agencies have complained about the usability and user friendliness of ISOX. In the action case research two kinds of results are expected: concrete results, as in taking action in a problem solving context (here, the usability problem with ISOX), and conceptual results, as in listing proposed changes to a theoretical framework. The question raised in this paper is: What are the benefits of using visualization as a tool for building interpretations and understandings that are shared by both researchers and practitioners? The concrete results of the collaboration are 1) a more user-friendly, redesigned version of ISOX based on the use of different visualization techniques and 2) a change in how FSL works on redesign. The conceptual result is a list of proposed changes to the knowledge visualization framework, based on the empirical findings and theoretical framework regarding visualization
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| 2. |
- Johansson, Lars-Olof, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
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Operationalizing theory : Moving from insight to action in a SME
- 2007
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Ingår i: ICEIS 2007. - Setubal : INSTICC Press. - 9789728865900 - 9728865902 ; , s. 591-598
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a method for operationalizing theory. The method has its basis in the empirical findings arising from collaboration between the researchers and a research partner, Flower Systems Ltd. The research partner is a software company characterized as a SME. The presented method is exemplified with theories from learning organizations, usability, and visualization - which are all connected to the problem articulated by our partner. The method is an iterative process characterized by a systemic and holistic long- term view that incorporates feedback. The method takes as its point of departure the problematic area described by Flower Systems ltd; the researchers both intervene and interpret in this problematic area, so the method is both described and verified.. The paper combines the case study and action research methods in what is sometimes referred to as a "hybrid" method, the action case method. The view of innovation presented in this paper is that innovation entails supporting change processes in order to create purposeful and focused change.. The underlying research question has been: How usable is our method for operationalizing theory in solving the problem of adapting to changes in an SME?
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| 3. |
- Johansson, Lars-Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Visualization as a Tool in Action Case Research
- 2007
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Ingår i: Proceedings of The 6th European Conference on Research Methods for Business and Management Studies, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, 9-10 July 2007. - : Academic Conferences Limited. - 9781905305506 ; , s. 153-161
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- There are numerous examples of the use of visualization of events and processes within the field of Information Systems. Rich pictures are used in soft systems methodology (SSM), images of event-driven chain models are used in process modeling, etc. This paper focuses on the use of generic visualization methods in action case research. In action case research, the researcher balances between interpretation of qualitative data and intervention to solve the problem of the research partner. Two kinds of results are expected: conceptual results, as in describing expected events or expected functionality, and concrete results, as in taking action in some problem-solving context. The questions raised in this paper are:• What are the benefits of using visualization as a tool for building shared interpretations and mutual understandings between researchers and practice in action case research settings?• How can visualization activities in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contribute to bridging the gap between conceptual and concrete levels of results?In this paper we present empirical findings from an action case research project. Flower Systems Ltd. is a software company that has developed a document handling system (ISOX) especially designed to meet the needs of social services in local governments. The concrete result of the collaboration is a more user-friendly, redesigned version of ISOX based on the use of different visualization techniques. The conceptual result is a proposed model for using visualization when balancing between interpretation and intervention.
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