Cognitive Ergonomics of Formgiving as Unstructured Approaches in Furniture Design Practice

This paper discusses how designers formulate ideas through unstructured approaches in furniture design. The problem arose from a logical analysis of the strategies, methods, and hermeneutics in designing within the state-of-the-art interpretation principle. The goal is to understand how designers interpret the visual concept of subjectivity. In the designers’ cognitive ergonomics, verbal protocol analysis approaches methodologically analyzed. The 15-minute memorizing-based videotapes observe the designer reflection using several form properties, namely a characteristic of the uncertain objects has practiced. The findings showed the embodiment of metaphorical forms for designers to visualize unstructured visual forms as significant tangible forms. Keywords: Cognitive ergonomics; formgiving; furniture design; visual protocol eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI5.2927

Competency assessors’ cognitive map of practice when assessing practice based encounters

Introduction: There is growing evidence that inconsistencies exist in how competencies are conceptualised and assessed. Aim: This study aimed to determine the reliability of pharmacist assessors when observing practice-based encounters and to compare and contrast assessors’ cognitive map of practice with the guiding competency framework. Methods: This was a qualitative study with verbal protocol analysis. A total of 25 assessors were recruited to score and verbalise their assessments for three videos depicting practice-based encounters. Verbalisations were coded according to the professional competency framework. Results: Protocols from 24 participants were included. Interrater reliability of scoring was excellent. Greater than 75% of assessment verbalisations were focused on 3 of the 27 competencies: communicate effectively, consults with the patient, and provide patient counselling. Conclusion: Findings support the notion that assessment completed within practice could be largely informed by a single component of the interaction or more specifically, what ‘catches the eye’ of the assessor.

Competency assessors’ cognitive map of practice when assessing practice based encounters

Introduction: There is growing evidence that inconsistencies exist in how competencies are conceptualised and assessed. Aim: This study aimed to determine the reliability of pharmacist assessors when observing practice-based encounters and to compare and contrast assessors’ cognitive map of practice with the guiding competency framework. Methods: This was a qualitative study with verbal protocol analysis. A total of 25 assessors were recruited to score and verbalise their assessments for three videos depicting practice-based encounters. Verbalisations were coded according to the professional competency framework. Results: Protocols from 24 participants were included. Interrater reliability of scoring was excellent. Greater than 75% of assessment verbalisations were focused on 3 of the 27 competencies: communicate effectively, consults with the patient, and provide patient counselling. Conclusion: Findings support the notion that assessment completed within practice could be largely informed by a single component of the interaction or more specifically, what ‘catches the eye’ of the assessor.

What qualities do government-owned venture capital investors seek in a new venture? A comparison of investment criteria across pre-seed, seed, and expansion stage startups

Private venture capital (VC) investors usually do not invest in early life-cycle stage startups such as seed and pre-seed companies, since investment size typically doesn’t reach investment thresholds. The entry of governments with fund managers to venture capital markets presents seed and pre-seed companies with the opportunity to receive funding. This paper examines the main investment preferences of Hungarian government-owned venture capital investors regarding pre-seed, seed, and expansion stage startups. Verbal protocol analysis enabled examination of the screening process in real-time in all three life-cycle stages. It is found that governmental VC funds mostly value financial indicators followed by market-related qualities while private VCs value these characteristics in alternate formation. However, in the pre-seed stage, the financial acumen and capabilities of management teams form the main criteria in similarity to angel investors. Governmental VCs also greatly seek innovational value in target firms.

Exploring KPIS Utilization Effects on Decision Making for the Architectural Design Process in Industrial Buildings

The paper presents the influence of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) on decision making during the architectural design process. In the beginning, the researcher selected a functional complex of industrial nature for the test and defined five criteria for evaluating the architectural design and then created two categories of result and process indicators to explore the decision making during the design process through Verbal Protocol Analysis (VPA). Two groups of subjects attended the VPA, while one group received the indicators; the other one did not receive the indicators. The protocols were transcribed and encoded to make the comparison more efficient. At the same time, the jury evaluated the sketches separately to check the previous results. The study indicates that the indicators were affecting the decision making and design process and design product simultaneously. First of all, framing decisions were made more organized and mature and at the same time increased in numbers, the key decisions were evaluated easier and in some cases divided into smaller decisions related to one or more criteria and then merged into a final concept, the enabler decision making was done more efficiently and faster because of better thought key decisions and the use of indicators for control. The design process, although still has iterative nature. However, iteration was done in smaller cycles due to the use of result indicators for evaluation and process indicators to lead the process. Indicators facilitate idea generation, and the whole process is without difficulties. The design quality assessment by the jury shows the improvement in the final quality of design outcome in specific aspects related to indicators.

IDENTIFY CRITICAL DATA DURING PRODUCT CUSTOMISATION – A CASE STUDY OF ORTHOSES FABRICATION

Big data provides high volume of data to inform product customisation. Understanding which data is relevant remains a challenge. A method is proposed to identify relevant data to inform data-driven customisation. A case study regarding customisation of orthoses was conducted. Verbal protocol analysis was employed to extract time spent on major fabrication phases. Data related to patients, therapists and fabrication time was analysed. Results showed that the number of stabilised joints, experience of therapists and whether the design is for in- or out-patient are key factors for customisation.