Fall 2006 Research Forum to examine “How Technology Professionals Work"

The School of Information Sciences is pleased to announce its Fall 2006 Research Forum on Wednesday, October 25, from 12 - 1:00 p.m. in Hodges Library Faculty Lounge, Rm. 258. SIS graduate student Dorothy Ogdon will discuss the research findings of a IEEE-sponsored grant that allowed College of Communication and Information faculty and students to log some 600 hours of observation, while “shadowing” engineers in four global companies in the Unites States and two companies in India recently.
The UT team, along with graduate students from the University of Mysore, gathered information that will help in the design of future information products and services for high tech engineers. Principal Investigators on the grant are Drs. Carol Tenopir, Suzie Allard, and Kenneth Levine.
Everyone is invited to attend the SIS Research Forums. Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch.
WHAT: SIS Research Forum with Dorothy Ogdon; “How Technology Professionals Work”
WHEN: Wednesday, October 25, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Hodges Library Faculty Lounge, Rm. 258
Abstract
How technology professionals work
Information and communication are essential elements for success in the many projects that engineers and computer scientists work on as they pursue research and development. Studying the information behavior and communication patterns of these technology professionals helps us understand the unique information and communication needs of engineers working in highly creative, innovative environments.
This presentation reviews the methodology, participants, and key findings of this study, which was conducted during the 2005 calendar year. Funded by a grant from the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), this study used naturalistic observation to record the information behavior and communication patterns of 103 technology professionals as they worked at six technology companies in the United States and India.
The companies where the observations took place are considered to be global leaders in research and development in the following industries: software, hardware, medical devices, and communication technology. The data collected include nearly 600 hours of observation, as well as structured interviews with each of the observed technology professionals. Specific points of interest within the information this study produced include data on information need and usage, communication patterns, and the dynamic workplace environment, as well as data on the use of specific software tools, applications, and products.