Time-Life, World Reporter and the secretary: experiments with end-users

1986 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 167-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Nicholas ◽  
Kevin Harris ◽  
Gertrud Erbach

After six months of training Time-Life book researchers to use online databases it is clear that they will not become end-users overnight—despite plentiful training, good facilities, user-friendly interfaces and the like. The reasons for this are less clear but high on the list come: a lack of time (to learn and maintain the necessary searching skills); a general reluctance to abandon the tried and tested—and often pleasurable—con ventional information retrieval methods (there is certainly nothing to suggest that the computer is going to replace the telephone as an information source); and the low priority given to the (formal) information-seeking component of the job (high priority being given to the more visible and pressing elements, like writing and commissioning pictures). There is little in Time-Life's online experience to lend support to the belief that there will be wide-scale end-user searching in the near future. Online will find its place in the array of information retrieval methods at the disposal of the user and will undoubtedly be used where manual methods have failed: it is unlikely, however, to supplant manual systems that work well and are well-liked. Secretaries do appear to be well-qualified, and in an excel lent position to become a major end-user group and might indeed pose a threat to the librarian intermediary in the near future.

Author(s):  
Tiago Almeida ◽  
Leonor Teixeira ◽  
Carlos Ferreira

This chapter analyzes the impact of the implementation of SAP R/3 in a Multinational Portuguese Organization (MPO), defining some Critical Success Factors (CSFs). In order to understand the motivations of end-users prior to implementation and to analyze the behavior after a change (post-implementation), a study based on a questionnaire was carried out. The sample included 67 users of SAP R/3 that were present throughout the process. Considering the results, the authors conclude that the implementation of SAP R/3 in MPO was successful, and the respondents consider their work more productive and achieve easier access to information. The existence of a solid team to support the project was established as a major facilitator in the whole process, as opposed to the limited time and lack of training that emerged as barriers to the implementation. It was also found that the learning period assumes a high importance in the success of the implementation, since increasing the training time reduces the need for support to the end-users.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-447
Author(s):  
Jessica Kuonen ◽  
Flaxen Conway ◽  
Ted Strub

Abstract This case study explores how to add value to regional ocean condition forecast information by bringing awareness to the processes that govern decision-making and outcomes within the system. A modified mental models research approach is applied to examine differences and similarities in perceptions of risk and comfort with uncertainty between two interdependent communities, the ocean “data provider” and “end user,” and how these perceptions impact accessibility and usefulness of data products. In this study, data providers are academic and agency scientists from institutions that provide ocean condition forecasts to public end users (n = 17). End users are members of the Oregon commercial-fishing community (n = 16). Comparisons reveal key differences and similarities related to the nature of each profession that impact perceptions of scale in time and space and reveal the ways that cumulative and intersecting risks and uncertainties act as key drivers in decision-making. Implications for expanding the current understanding of how ocean forecasts are produced and used include 1) highlighting the value of optimizing ocean forecast delivery tools based on end-user needs and information-seeking processes already in place, 2) identifying structural and cultural barriers within the data-provider network that prevent them from doing so, and 3) demonstrating the value of learning about both producers and users of scientific information and suggesting potential ways to structure cooperation and strengthen relationships between them by working toward a common desired outcome.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Houwaart

Abstract End-user (e.g. patients or the public) testing of information material is becoming more common in the German public health care system. However, including the end-user (in this case patients) in an optimisation process and thus enabling a close collaboration while developing PIMs is still rare. This is surprising, given the fact that patients provide the exact perspective one is trying to address. Within the isPO project, a patient organization is included as a legal project partner to act as the patient representative and provide the patient's perspective. As such, the patient organization was included in the PHR approach as part of the PIM-optimisation team. During the optimisation process, the patients gave practical insights into the procedures of diagnosing and treating different types of cancer as well as into the patient's changing priorities and challenges at different time points. This was crucial information for the envisioned application of the individual PIMs and their hierarchical overview. Moreover, the developed PIM-checklist enabled the patients to give detailed feedback to the PIMs. With their experience of being in the exact situation in which the PIMs will be applied, their recommendations, especially on the wording and layout of the materials, have been a valuable contribution to the PIM optimisation process. In this part of the seminar, we will take a closer look at the following skill building aspects: What is gained from including patients as end-users in the development and optimization of PIM?How can we reach patients to contribute to a PIM optimization process? Which requirements and prerequisites do patients have to provide to successfully work on an optimisation team?How to compromise and weigh opinions when different ideas occur? Altogether, this part will construct a structured path of productive patient involvement and help to overcome uncertainties regarding a collaboration with patient organizations.


Heliyon ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e06257
Author(s):  
Ennio Idrobo-Ávila ◽  
Humberto Loaiza-Correa ◽  
Rubiel Vargas-Cañas ◽  
Flavio Muñoz-Bolaños ◽  
Leon van Noorden

2020 ◽  
pp. 102986492097216
Author(s):  
Gaelen Thomas Dickson ◽  
Emery Schubert

Background: Music is thought to be beneficial as a sleep aid. However, little research has explicitly investigated the specific characteristics of music that aid sleep and some researchers assume that music described as generically sedative (slow, with low rhythmic activity) is necessarily conducive to sleep, without directly interrogating this assumption. This study aimed to ascertain the features of music that aid sleep. Method: As part of an online survey, 161 students reported the pieces of music they had used to aid sleep, successfully or unsuccessfully. The participants reported 167 pieces, some more often than others. Nine features of the pieces were analyzed using a combination of music information retrieval methods and aural analysis. Results: Of the pieces reported by participants, 78% were successful in aiding sleep. The features they had in common were that (a) their main frequency register was middle range frequencies; (b) their tempo was medium; (c) their articulation was legato; (d) they were in the major mode, and (e) lyrics were present. They differed from pieces that were unsuccessful in aiding sleep in that (a) their main frequency register was lower; (b) their articulation was legato, and (c) they excluded high rhythmic activity. Conclusion: Music that aids sleep is not necessarily sedative music, as defined in the literature, but some features of sedative music are associated with aiding sleep. In the present study, we identified the specific features of music that were reported to have been successful and unsuccessful in aiding sleep. The identification of these features has important implications for the selection of pieces of music used in research on sleep.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096100062199280
Author(s):  
Nafiz Zaman Shuva

This study explores the employment-related information seeking behaviour of Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 60 Bangladeshi immigrants in Ontario, Canada, and obtained 205 survey responses. The study highlights the centrality of employment-related settlement among Bangladeshi immigrants in Ontario and reports many immigrants not being able to utilize their education and skills after arrival in Canada. The results show that Bangladeshi immigrants utilize various information sources for their employment in Canada, including friends and professional colleagues, online searchers, and settlement agencies. Although Bangladeshi immigrants utilized a large array of information sources for meeting their employment-related information needs, many interview participants emphasized that the employment-related benefits they received was because of their access to friends and professional colleagues in Canada. The survey results echoed the interview findings. The cross-tabulation results on post-arrival information sources and occupation status as well as first job information sources and occupational status in Canada show a significant association among the use of the information source “friends and professional colleagues in Canada” and immigrants’ occupational status. The study highlights the benefits of professional colleagues among immigrants in employment-related settlement contexts. It also reports the challenges faced by many immigrant professionals related to employment-related settlement because of the lack of access to their professional friends and colleagues in Canada. The author urges the Federal Government of Canada, provincial governments, and settlement agencies working with newcomers to offer services that would connect highly skilled immigrants with their professional networks in Canada, in order to get proper guidance related to obtaining a professional job or alternative career. The author calls for further studies on employment-related information seeking by immigrants to better understand the role information plays in their settlement in a new country.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 6674
Author(s):  
Sebastian Hoffmann ◽  
Fabian Adelt ◽  
Johannes Weyer

This paper presents an agent-based model (ABM) for residential end-users, which is part of a larger, interdisciplinary co-simulation framework that helps to investigate the performance of future power distribution grids (i.e., smart grid scenarios). Different modes of governance (strong, soft and self-organization) as well as end-users’ heterogeneous behavior represent key influential factors. Feedback was implemented as a measure to foster grid-beneficial behavior, which encompasses a range of monetary and non-monetary incentives (e.g., via social comparison). The model of frame selection (MFS) serves as theoretical background for modelling end-users’ decision-making. Additionally, we conducted an online survey to ground the end-user sub-model on empirical data. Despite these empirical and theoretical foundations, the model presented should be viewed as a conceptual framework, which requires further data collection. Using an example scenario, representing a lowly populated residential area (167 households) with a high share of photovoltaic systems (30%), different modes of governance were compared with regard to their suitability for improving system stability (measured in cumulated load). Both soft and strong control were able to decrease overall fluctuations as well as the mean cumulated load (by approx. 10%, based on weekly observation). However, we argue that soft control could be sufficient and more societally desirable.


foresight ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco A. Palomino ◽  
Alexandra Vincenti ◽  
Richard Owen

Author(s):  
Nitin Vishnu Choudhari ◽  
Dr. Ashish B Sasankar

Abstract –Today Security issue is the topmost problem in the cloud computing environment. It leads to serious discomfort to the Governance and end-users. Numerous security solutions and policies are available however practically ineffective in use. Most of the security solutions are centered towards cloud technology and cloud service providers only and no consideration has been given to the Network, accessing, and device securities at the end-user level. The discomfort at the end-user level was left untreated. The security of the various public, private networks, variety of devices used by end-users, accessibility, and capacity of end-users is left untreated. This leads towards the strong need for the possible modification of the security architecture for data security at all levels and secured service delivery. This leads towards the strong need for the possible adaption of modified security measures and provisions, which shall provide secured hosting and service delivery at all levels and reduce the security gap between the cloud service providers and end-users. This paper investigates the study and analyze the security architecture in the Cloud environment of Govt. of India and suggest the modifications in the security architecture as per the changing scenario and to fulfill the future needs for the secured service delivery from central up to the end-user level. Keywords: Cloud Security, Security in GI Cloud, Cloud Security measures, Security Assessment in GI Cloud, Proposed Security for GI cloud


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document