A conceptual model of feedback mechanisms in adjusted affordances – Insights from usage of a mental mobile health application

2023 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Meske, Christian; Amojo, Ireti; Thapa, Devinder

Abstract: Affordance theory provides one of the most prominent lenses through which the so ... Expand

Abstract: Affordance theory provides one of the most prominent lenses through which the socio-technical aspects of a system’s use can be investigated and understood. In this context, the literature has proposed that perceived and actualized affordances may be adjusted over time. Yet, how the adjustment of affordances occurs has not been explained in detail. Thus, in this article, we develop a conceptual model of feedback mechanisms that includes a more explicit description of how affordances are perceived by users, whether actualized and adjusted. With the model, we introduce the central concept of a generative base, out of which affordance perceptions emerge and which can be updated through affordance actualizations. With this base, we integrate mental model (MM) theory to explain better the differing perceptions before and after actor–artifact interactions. Our conceptual model is illustrated and specified using an empirical case of the mental mobile health (mHealth) app “Between The Lines” in Germany. In this study, we conducted 40 interviews in two rounds with 20 teenage app users. Our results show that the users’ perceptions of mHealth affordances become adjusted and hence change over time due to expe­ riencing the actualization process, which may lead to an update of the generative base, including the user’s MM. Collapse

Topics: affordance user experience usability mobile application mobile health

Methods: conceptual modelling qualitative interview case study single case study literature study

Theories: theory of affordance mental model theory

The Influence of Mental Models on Employee-Driven Digital Process Innovation during Times of a Crisis

2022 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Oberländer, Anna Maria; Leyer, Prof Dr Michael

Abstract: Digital technologies democratise the development of digital innovation. The res ... Expand

Abstract: Digital technologies democratise the development of digital innovation. The resulting employee-driven digital innovation has become a major driver for digital transformations and especially important during crisis times, such as the COVID 19 pandemic. To better understand cognitive factors influencing employee-driven digital process innovation (EDPI), we investigate the role of individual mental models for EDPI during times of a crisis compared to 'normal' times. Drawing from longitudinal data before and during the COVID 19 crisis, we find mental models having a significant influence on EDPI behaviour during 'normal' times. This relationship, however, loses robustness during the crisis, when employees with more accurate mental models show significant less EDPI behaviour before slowly recovering. We relate these findings to the mental models' explanatory power and derive recommendations for management. Our study contributes explanatory knowledge on employee-driven digital innovation and related cognitive antecedents. Collapse

Topics: innovation management pandemic covid 19 digital innovation business process innovation

Methods: longitudinal research survey partial least squares regression repeated measures ANOVA parametric test

Theories: mental model theory

How teams complete tasks in virtual worlds

2017 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Goel, Dr Lakshmi

Abstract: Given the unique affordances of virtual worlds, it is important to study how tea ... Expand

Abstract: Given the unique affordances of virtual worlds, it is important to study how teams function in such environments to complete tasks. One framework that has been used to understand how teams function is the punctuated equilibrium (PE) model, which provides an explanation for how teams complete tasks in a temporal frame, but falls short in explaining why teams carry out processes in certain ways. Preliminary analysis of data collected from 84 teams performing a complex decision-making task in the virtual world of Second Life shows evidence for the PE model. However, there is also evidence of unique social and contextual affordances of virtual worlds that enable members to use boundary objects and revise individual and shared mental models as they interact. Based on these preliminary results, we hope to arrive at a model of how teams complete tasks in virtual worlds. Collapse

Topics: virtual world decision making Second Life video game

Methods: experiment statistical hypothesis test survey quasi experiment theory development

Theories: boundary objects theory mental model theory punctuated equilibrium theory

Enhancing Analysts' Mental Models for Improving Requirements Elicitation: A Two-stage Theoretical Framework and Empirical Results

2016 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Vitharana, Padmal; Zahedi, Mariam Fatemeh; Jain, Hemant K.

Abstract: Research has extensively documented the importance of accurate system requiremen ... Expand

Abstract: Research has extensively documented the importance of accurate system requirements in avoiding project delays, cost overruns, and system malfunctions. Requirement elicitation (RE) is a critical step in determining system requirements. While much research on RE has emerged, a deeper understanding of three aspects could help significantly improve RE: 1) insights about the role and impacts of support tools in the RE process, 2) the impact of using support tools in multiple stages of the RE process, and 3) a clear focus on the multiplicity of perspectives in assessing RE outcomes. To understand how using support tools could improve RE, we rely on the theoretical lens of mental models (MM) to develop a dynamic conceptual model and argue that analysts form mental models (MMs) of the system during RE and these MMs impact their outcome performance. We posit that one can enhance analysts' MMs by using a knowledgebased repository (KBR) of components and services embodying domain knowledge specific to the target application during two key stages of RE, which results in improved RE outcomes. We measured the RE outcomes from user and analyst perspectives. The knowledge-based component repository we used in this research (which we developed in collaboration with a multi-national company) focused on insurance claim processing. The repository served as the support tool in RE in a multi-period lab experiment with multiple teams of analysts. The results supported the conceptualized model and showed the significant impacts of such tools in supporting analysts and their performance outcomes at two stages of RE. This work makes multiple contributions: it offers a theoretical framework for understanding and enhancing the RE process, develops measures for analysts' mental models and RE performance outcomes, and shows the process by which one can improve analysts' RE performance through access to a KBR of components at two key stages of the RE process. Collapse

Topics: systems development website requirements elicitation requirements analysis business process management

Methods: qualitative interview experiment survey theoretical contribution conceptual modelling

Theories: schema theory mental model theory

Deriving knowledge representation guidelines by analyzing knowledge engineer behavior

2012 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 2

Authors: Chua, Cecil Eng Huang; Storey, Veda C.; Chiang, Roger H. L.

Abstract: Knowledge engineering research has focused on proposing knowledge acquisition te ... Expand

Abstract: Knowledge engineering research has focused on proposing knowledge acquisition techniques, developing and evaluating knowledge representation schemes and engineering tools, and testing and debugging knowledge-based systems. Few formal studies have been conducted on understanding the behaviors and roles of knowledge engineers. Applying the theory of mental models, this paper describes a think aloud verbal protocol study to determine an empirical basis for understanding: (1) how knowledge engineers extract domain knowledge from textual sources; and (2) the cognitive mechanisms by which they engage various knowledge representation schemes to represent that knowledge acquired. The results suggest that knowledge representation is not simply a translation of acquired knowledge to a knowledge representation. Instead, it is an iterative process of selective querying of acquired knowledge, and continuous refinement of a model leveraging, not only on acquired knowledge from domain experts, but also from the knowledge engineer. From the findings of empirical studies, a set of guidelines is derived to support the training and development of better knowledge representation schemes, representation processes, and knowledge engineering tools. Collapse

Topics: knowledge representation decision support system

Methods: protocol analysis qualitative coding experiment design science cognitive walkthrough

Theories: mental model theory learning theory

Editorial

2005 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Themistocleous, Marinos

Abstract: The European Journal of Information Systems provides a distinctive European pers ... Expand

Abstract: The European Journal of Information Systems provides a distinctive European perspective on the theory and practice of information systems for a global audience. We encourage first rate research articles by academics, but also case studies and reflective articles by practitioners. We provide a critical view on technology, development, implementation, strategy, management and policy. Collapse

Topics: IT security enterprise resource planning

Methods: design guideline case study survey

Theories: mental model theory

Designing consumer interfaces for experiential tasks: an empirical investigation

2005 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 13

Authors: Wells, John D.; Fuerst, William L.; Palmer, Jonathan W.

Abstract: In the early adoption phase of business-to-consumer (B2C) ecommerce, the tasks t ... Expand

Abstract: In the early adoption phase of business-to-consumer (B2C) ecommerce, the tasks that proved most conducive to online consumer interaction typically were goal-directed, being clear in sequence and structure. A key challenge in ecommerce is the ability to design interfaces that support experiential tasks in addition to goal-directed tasks. Most of the ecommerce research on interface design, however, has focused on goal-directed tasks and has not addressed experiential tasks. Based on the literature from interface metaphors and mental models, this paper explores the use of tangible attributes derived from the physical business domain as a technique for designing an interface that effectively supports experiential tasks. A laboratory experiment was designed and conducted to test the impact of two types of interfaces and business domain familiarity when completing an experiential task. Because consumers need to retain and recall information to evaluate products/services or to make brand associations, retention/recall of information was measured on both the day of the treatment and after a 2-day lag. Results revealed that the interface based upon the business domain metaphor stimulated higher levels of retention and recall of information and thus provided the desired support for experiential tasks. Further, users with weaker domain familiarity showed the greatest improvement in retention and recall, particularly after a 2-day lag, when using the interface with the business domain metaphor design. Collapse

Topics: usability website electronic commerce human computer interaction user interface

Methods: survey experiment design guideline parametric test ANOVA

Theories: mental model theory

Exploring the impact of formal training in ISD methods on the cognitive structure of novice information systems developers

2000 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 10

Authors: Lee, Jungwoo; Truex, Duane P.

Abstract: Abstract. Hundreds of information systems development (ISD) methods exist at the ... Expand

Abstract: Abstract. Hundreds of information systems development (ISD) methods exist at the present time, covering many different perspectives on the problem of systems development. There is a fairly consistent assumption running although debate on ISD methods; namely, that systems development is a cognitively intensive activity. But despite considerable study systems development remains a poorly understood activity. There is also evidence that, in practice, systems development projects are being approached from phenomenological pragmatism rather than from formally proposed teleological prescriptions, or ISD methods. That is, in practice ISD methods do not appear to be widely followed. This raises a question as to whether part of the reason lies in the training in formal ISD methods. Or phrased differently: what impact does formal development methods training have upon the cognitive development of systems developers. This research investigates one aspect of the relationship between the methodical training and the cognitive structure of novice systems developers, i.e. changes in a developer's cognitive complexity. The study suggests a cognitive growth cycle experienced by systems developers that underlies an informed method usage cycle. Collapse

Topics: system development method systems design systems development decision making

Methods: experiment repertory grid technique literature study experimental design within subject experiment

Theories: cognitive complexity theory mental model theory personal construct theory

Thomas R. Willemain

1999 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Willemain, Thomas

Abstract: Rapidly advancing modeling technologies, such as data mining algorithms and new ... Expand

Abstract: Rapidly advancing modeling technologies, such as data mining algorithms and new modeling languages, are making modeling accessible to an ever-broadening cross-section of knowledge workers. Advances in computer display technologies are also being incorporated into modeling software. Both research and anecdotal evidence suggest that visuals are important in the process of modeling. Collapse

Topics: problem solving expert system

Methods: survey cognitive walkthrough experiment design science mixed method

Theories: mental model theory

On hypermedia-based argumentation decision support systems

1998 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Hua, Gary H; Kimbrough, Steven O

Abstract: This paper presents and discusses a logical apparatus which may be used to suppo ... Expand

Abstract: This paper presents and discusses a logical apparatus which may be used to support machine-based inferencing and automatic creation of hypertext links in what we call hypermedia-based argumentation decision support systems (HADSS). This logical approach has important advantages over other sorts of argument representation, found in the current literature. We present and discuss a prototype implementation in the context of three examples. We also present an exploratory experiment indicating that graph-based logical representations can materially help people make better inferences. Collapse

Methods: experiment experimental group design artifact survey Kruskal Wallis test

Theories: mental model theory utility theory argumentation theory