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Towards CSCW Design in the Scandinavian Tradition

Abstract

This thesis addressed how to design Computer Supported Cooperative Work systems (CSCW) on the basis of design practice that is established in the Scandinavian model of System Design. The approach of the thesis is to develop an understanding of the design of CSCW environments through a series of case studies. These case studies, the CoDesk system, the AtWork system and the VideoCafe system, cover a variety of methods from the Scandinavian tradition in cooperative design. Studying how these methods have succeeded was the primary source of inspiration for my thesis. In particular, this thesis will focus on the following issues: Can simulation of realistic work situations be used for cooperative design of CSCW systems by developers and users? And, how can we balance a design based on daily work practice with exploration of innovative CSCW solutions? Furthermore we are also investigating how cooperative design could be integrated in the evolving use and how to combine different design approaches into a coherent design. Given the complexity of CSCW it will be argued that the design of CSCW system needs to mix design methods with various backgrounds, such as methods that have their roots in workplace practice with methods that transcend common styles of cooperation, to balance different design methods’ strengths and weaknesses. It is suggested that a usable approach is to define and use different design orientations in order to deal with this complexity. The use of a design orientation helps in selecting the essential element that is at the heart of the design. This approach seems more usable than working with pure design methods with specific outlines. A design orientation integrates instead a holistic view into the design by leaving the pre-dominant sequential notion in system modeling.

ISBN 91-7283-176-6
TRITA-NA-0131
ISSN 0348-2952
ISRN KTH/NA/R--01/31

Content

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Thesis Outline
1.2 Past And Current Views Of CSCW
1.3 CSCW Design Methods
1.4 Scandinavian (Cooperative) Design
1.5 Research Issues

2.0 The CoDesk Case-Study
2.1 (CSC)Work Environments
2.2 The Collaborative Desktop As An Environment For CSCW
2.3 Using Prototype Media To Design CoDesk
2.4 Conclusions

3.0 The AtWork Case-Study
3.1 Related Work
3.2 Understanding The Workplace
3.3 Design Workshops
3.4 Design For Multiplicity - Our Second Prototype
3.5 Using A Cooperative Redesign Approach
3.6 Conclusions

4.0 The VideoCafé Case-Study
4.1 Related Work
4.2 Design Of VideoCafé Places
4.3 Discussion
4.4 Conclusions

5.0 Towards CSCW Design In The Scandinavian Tradition
5.1 Design Methods Used In The Case-Studies
5.2 Design Orientations
5.3 Examples Of Design Orientations
5.4 Developing New Design Orientations
5.5 Final Remarks On CSCW Design In The Scandinavian Tradition

References

>> The Thesis (PDF) > >