The Case of Roskilde University E-Services

2010 ◽  
pp. 189-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Heilesen

Examining electronic services both as products and as organization, this chapter discusses the development and management of e-services at Roskilde University, Denmark. The services in question can be distinguished according to purpose into products meant for administration, communication, education, and integration. The chapter discusses several examples of e-services from the point of view of adoption of technological innovation. Further, it is argued that participatory design and voluntary adoption are factors favourable to, but also challenging to the adoption of e-services. The technical and organizational integration of e-services are also touched upon, as is the importance of maintaining a creative environment for developing the services. The chapter concludes by outlining some challenges to the continued diffusion of e-services in the organization.

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-62
Author(s):  
Simon B. Heilesen

This case discusses the development and management of ICT-services at a Danish university. A special characteristic of the case is that the development has taken place on the basis of participatory design and voluntary adoption. On the one hand, this approach furthers the adoption of ICT-services. On the other hand, it may hamper the development of a uniform and universally accepted set of services. Some concrete examples of ICT-services are discussed from the point of view of factors favorable to the adoption of technological innovations. These include services for administration, communication, education, and integration. One lesson learned is that developing services for education is a cultural challenge as much as it is a technological one, and that the rate of adoption tends to be slower.


Author(s):  
Simon B. Heilesen

This case discusses the development and management of ICT-services at a Danish university. A special characteristic of the case is that the development has taken place on the basis of participatory design and voluntary adoption. On the one hand, this approach furthers the adoption of ICT-services. On the other hand, it may hamper the development of a uniform and universally accepted set of services. Some concrete examples of ICT-services are discussed from the point of view of factors favorable to the adoption of technological innovations. These include services for administration, communication, education, and integration. One lesson learned is that developing services for education is a cultural challenge as much as it is a technological one, and that the rate of adoption tends to be slower.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (26) ◽  
pp. 73-78
Author(s):  
Maria Antonietta Maria Antonietta Sbordone ◽  
Barbara Barbara Pizzicato

Over the course of its history, design has never lost sight of nature as a term of comparison, sometimes taking from it, sometimes moving away from it. To investigate the complex relationship between the two terms, design and nature, we cannot ignore the evolution of man and how it has been profoundly influenced by technological innovation, which is the most evident result of science. Tracing an evolutionary line of design thinking, a double trajectory can be registered: on the one hand the tension towards progress and the myth of the machine, on the other hand the idea of a harmonious co-evolution with nature and the need to be reconnected with it. Besides, it is progress that allows mankind to thoroughly investigate natural mechanisms and make them their own. Contemporary design, autonomous but at the same time increasingly interdisciplinary, has got blurred boundaries which intersect with the most advanced fields of biological sciences. This evolution has opened up a whole new field of investigation that multiplies the opportunities of innovation, especially from a sustainability-oriented point of view. Today the dramatic breaking of the balance between man and nature has turned into the concept of permanent emergency, which is now matter of greatest interest for design, a design that attempts to react, mend, adapt to change in an authentically resilient way.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 839
Author(s):  
Theresa Sophie Busse ◽  
Chantal Jux ◽  
Sven Kernebeck ◽  
Larissa Alice Dreier ◽  
Dorothee Meyer ◽  
...  

Background: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) patients experience years of multisectoral and professional care. An electronic cross-facility health record (ECHR) system can support the immediate exchange of information among PPC professionals. Based on a needs assessment, a prototype ECHR system was developed. Methods: To evaluate potential users’ perspective regarding the system, a qualitative observational study was conducted consisting of a concurrent think-aloud session and a semi-structured qualitative interview. Results: Twenty PPC professionals (nurses, physicians) from specialized outpatient PPC teams, a PPC unit, and medical offices rated the ECHR system as a helpful tool to improve the exchange and collection of information, communication between PPC professionals, and treatment planning. From the user’s point of view, the basic logic of the ECHR system should be further adapted to improve the interaction of data remirrored from patient records of outpatient and inpatient care with those entered via the system. The users wished for further functions (text search) and content (information on therapies). Some content, such as the treatment process, needs to be further adapted. Conclusion: The developed ECHR system needs to be more specific in some features by offering all available information; while for other features, be less specific to offer a quick overview. The ability to share information promptly and automatically was seen as a tremendous improvement to the quality of care for PPC patients.


Author(s):  
Pelle Ehn

In Scandinavia we have for two decades been concerned with participation and skill in the design and use of computer-based systems. Collaboration between researchers and trade unions on this theme, starting with the pioneering work of Kristen Nygaard and the Norwegian Metal Workers’ Union, and including leading projects like DEMOS and UTOPIA, has been based on a strong commitment to the idea of industrial democracy. This kind of politically significant, interdisciplinary, and action-oriented research on resources and control in the processes of design and use has contributed to what is often viewed abroad as a distinctively Scandinavian approach to systems design. This Scandinavian approach might be called a work-oriented design approach. Democratic participation and skill enhancement, and not only productivity and product quality, are themselves considered objective of design. [Based on the two research projects, DEMOS and UTOPIA, I have elaborated this approach in detail in Work-Oriented Design of Computer Artifacts (1989). This paper is based on that work.] Two important features of participatory design shape its trajectory as a design strategy. The political one is obvious. Participatory design raises questions of democracy, power, and control in the workplace. In this sense it is a deeply controversial issue, especially from a management point of view. The other major feature is technical—its promise that the participation of skilled users in the design process can contribute importantly to successful design and high-quality products. Some experiences, perhaps most developed in Scandinavia, support this prediction and contribute to the growing interest in participatory design in the United States and other countries; by contrast, “expert” design strategies have too often turned out to be failures in terms of the usability of the resulting systems. These two features together suggest that there should be a strong link between the skill and product quality aspect of user participation and the democracy and control aspect, or else participatory design will be a deeply controversial issue from the point of view of the employees and trade unions. The trade-union-oriented democracy aspect of skill and participation in design is discussed in the first part of the chapter.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bregje De Vries

In this article, we further explore the idea that educational design, and subsequently educational design research, are in essence dialogical processes in which problem statements, strategies and interventions, and their implementations are realized in co-creation between different stakeholders. We elaborate on the idea of reflexive design as stated in the article of Richter and Allert (2017) by exploring three deepening thoughts on the characteristics of such dialogical design processes. First, we further relate reflexive design to the concept of participatory design to see if we can use insights from this approach on when and how co-creation can take place. Second, we explore the merits of narrative research as a way to include multiple voices in the process of reflexive design. And third, from a methodological point of view we explore the idea of crystallization as a way to collect data and validate findings within reflexive design research processes.


Author(s):  
Ursula Hyrkkänen ◽  
Juha Kettunen ◽  
Ari Putkonen

The purpose of this article is to describe and assess the participatory development process of a palm computer with special software from the work activity system point of view and analyse the benefits and drawbacks experienced by an employee while testing, implementing, and using a new communication and collaboration tool. This study focuses on the maintenance personnel of Company Alpha (the name has been changed for this study). The workers are responsible for the maintenance and serving of real estate.


Author(s):  
Felix Weber

The ever increasing intra- and inter-competition, increased costs, and a lower differentiation margin have led to intense competitive pressures within the domains of wholesaling and retailing. At the same time, the increasing digitization due to technological innovation will radical change the economical and procedural fundamentals. In addition, from an entrepreneurial point of view, it must also be considered that the complexity of decision-relevant framework conditions has increased. Digitalisation is therefore to be seen as an essential driver for optimising business processes and as the basis for a new understanding of products and services. However, it cannot be considered independently of other social trends. The chapter will elaborate the underlying drivers and technological trends empowering the transformation processes within the domain of wholesaling and retailing. Starting from these major drivers we will scrutinize the impact of technological advancements and the opportunities, risks and constraints which are connected with it.


Author(s):  
Sandra Buchmüller ◽  
◽  
Sugandh Malhotra ◽  
Corinna Bath ◽  
◽  
...  

The paper argues that the different dimensions of collaboration - intercultural, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary - contribute to mutual understanding and empathy. Their intersection fosters self-reflection and reveals shortcomings, blind spots, and prejudices about other cultures, disciplines, and social groups. The course aimed to overcome technology-driven design practices that tend to (re)produce stereotypes or social exclusions - often unconsciously. To make students aware of such problems, we introduced them to Feminist Science and Technology Studies, which show how dimensions such as age, class, and gender affect socio-technological participation. Moreover, we introduced user-centered and participatory design methods (contextual interviews, scenario-based design, design forecasting) that the teams had to adapt to pandemic conditions to conduct participatory research and propose design scenarios. The empirical course evaluation by the students indicates that the pedagogical concept, which we conceptualized as an extended version of a 'Third Space', allowed for intercultural, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary learning experiences and improved collective student and team performance, transcending culturally- and disciplinary-specific situatedness. In our analysis, we reflect on the power of the different forms of collaborations and their contribution to teaching future researchers, designers, and engineers how to engage with another's point of view. We consider this ability a prerequisite for acting responsibly in a globalized digital world. Results from the study are contextualized in current debates on internationalization and digitalization in the educational sciences and translated into recommendations for practitioners.


Author(s):  
Lisa Haskel

Participatory Design (PD) is an extremely productive field of practice with great benefits to communities and individuals. It is a stimulating and exciting way of working that brings new relationships and experiences to all concerned. However, as a collaborative and situated practice it brings with it a number of challenges for the early-stage academic researcher. This paper reflects on some of the challenges of defining participation in the dual areas of production and research from the point of view of a practice-based doctoral researcher in PD. The contributions of some research methods in addressing these challenges, notably Action Research and Design Research, are discussed. In response, it is suggested that researchers might benefit from differentiating the roles of participants in production and research. It is further suggested that this two-fold definition of participation may be possible without compromising projects' ethical integrity.


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