The digital divide: Investigating the personal information management practices of engineers

Hamish C McAlpine; C Tiryakioglu; Ben Hicks

The digital divide: Investigating the personal information management practices of engineers

Hamish C McAlpine, C Tiryakioglu, Ben Hicks

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

Abstract

Whilst there exists a significant amount of work exploring the Personal Information Management (PIM) practices of various general groups of people (such as ‘knowledge workers’), or specific PIM tools (such as email, or task management tools) there has been considerably less research focussed on the wider PIM practice of engineers. Furthermore, the revolution in working practices witnessed over the last decade means that previous studies may fail to give an accurate picture of today’s practice.

This research therefore presents a detailed investigation into the PIM practice of 27 engineers working in a range of organisations and across various stages of the product lifecycle is presented. Through semi-structured interviews and a detailed mapping exercise of the engineers’ PIM tools and sources, their ‘information world’ is characterised. The research also sheds light on the relationships between informal PIM tools and more formal document types generated as part of the design process. Users’ satisfaction with their current PIM practice is also revealed, together with the seven most commonly cited issues.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	DS 68-6: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 11), Impacting Society through Engineering Design
Subtitle of host publication	Vol. 6: Design Information and Knowledge, Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark, 15.-19.08.2011
Publisher	The Design Society
Pages	31-42
Number of pages	12
ISBN (Print)	9781904670261
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2011

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED)
Publisher	The Design Society
ISSN (Print)	2220-4334

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McAlpine, H. C., Tiryakioglu, C., & Hicks, B. (2011). The digital divide: Investigating the personal information management practices of engineers. In DS 68-6: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 11), Impacting Society through Engineering Design: Vol. 6: Design Information and Knowledge, Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark, 15.-19.08.2011 (pp. 31-42). (Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED)). The Design Society. https://www.designsociety.org/publication/30397/ds_68-6_proceedings_of_the_18th_international_conference_on_engineering_design_iced_11_impacting_society_through_engineering_design_vol_6_design_information_and_knowledge_lyngby-co

McAlpine, Hamish C ; Tiryakioglu, C ; Hicks, Ben. / The digital divide : Investigating the personal information management practices of engineers. DS 68-6: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 11), Impacting Society through Engineering Design: Vol. 6: Design Information and Knowledge, Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark, 15.-19.08.2011. The Design Society, 2011. pp. 31-42 (Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED)).

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abstract = "Whilst there exists a significant amount of work exploring the Personal Information Management (PIM) practices of various general groups of people (such as {\textquoteleft}knowledge workers{\textquoteright}), or specific PIM tools (such as email, or task management tools) there has been considerably less research focussed on the wider PIM practice of engineers. Furthermore, the revolution in working practices witnessed over the last decade means that previous studies may fail to give an accurate picture of today{\textquoteright}s practice.This research therefore presents a detailed investigation into the PIM practice of 27 engineers working in a range of organisations and across various stages of the product lifecycle is presented. Through semi-structured interviews and a detailed mapping exercise of the engineers{\textquoteright} PIM tools and sources, their {\textquoteleft}information world{\textquoteright} is characterised. The research also sheds light on the relationships between informal PIM tools and more formal document types generated as part of the design process. Users{\textquoteright} satisfaction with their current PIM practice is also revealed, together with the seven most commonly cited issues.",

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McAlpine, HC, Tiryakioglu, C & Hicks, B 2011, The digital divide: Investigating the personal information management practices of engineers. in DS 68-6: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 11), Impacting Society through Engineering Design: Vol. 6: Design Information and Knowledge, Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark, 15.-19.08.2011. Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED), The Design Society, pp. 31-42. <https://www.designsociety.org/publication/30397/ds_68-6_proceedings_of_the_18th_international_conference_on_engineering_design_iced_11_impacting_society_through_engineering_design_vol_6_design_information_and_knowledge_lyngby-co>

The digital divide: Investigating the personal information management practices of engineers. / McAlpine, Hamish C; Tiryakioglu, C; Hicks, Ben.
DS 68-6: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 11), Impacting Society through Engineering Design: Vol. 6: Design Information and Knowledge, Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark, 15.-19.08.2011. The Design Society, 2011. p. 31-42 (Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED)).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

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T1 - The digital divide

T2 - Investigating the personal information management practices of engineers

AU - McAlpine, Hamish C

AU - Tiryakioglu, C

AU - Hicks, Ben

PY - 2011/8/1

Y1 - 2011/8/1

N2 - Whilst there exists a significant amount of work exploring the Personal Information Management (PIM) practices of various general groups of people (such as ‘knowledge workers’), or specific PIM tools (such as email, or task management tools) there has been considerably less research focussed on the wider PIM practice of engineers. Furthermore, the revolution in working practices witnessed over the last decade means that previous studies may fail to give an accurate picture of today’s practice.This research therefore presents a detailed investigation into the PIM practice of 27 engineers working in a range of organisations and across various stages of the product lifecycle is presented. Through semi-structured interviews and a detailed mapping exercise of the engineers’ PIM tools and sources, their ‘information world’ is characterised. The research also sheds light on the relationships between informal PIM tools and more formal document types generated as part of the design process. Users’ satisfaction with their current PIM practice is also revealed, together with the seven most commonly cited issues.

AB - Whilst there exists a significant amount of work exploring the Personal Information Management (PIM) practices of various general groups of people (such as ‘knowledge workers’), or specific PIM tools (such as email, or task management tools) there has been considerably less research focussed on the wider PIM practice of engineers. Furthermore, the revolution in working practices witnessed over the last decade means that previous studies may fail to give an accurate picture of today’s practice.This research therefore presents a detailed investigation into the PIM practice of 27 engineers working in a range of organisations and across various stages of the product lifecycle is presented. Through semi-structured interviews and a detailed mapping exercise of the engineers’ PIM tools and sources, their ‘information world’ is characterised. The research also sheds light on the relationships between informal PIM tools and more formal document types generated as part of the design process. Users’ satisfaction with their current PIM practice is also revealed, together with the seven most commonly cited issues.

M3 - Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

SN - 9781904670261

T3 - Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED)

SP - 31

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BT - DS 68-6: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 11), Impacting Society through Engineering Design

PB - The Design Society

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McAlpine HC, Tiryakioglu C, Hicks B. The digital divide: Investigating the personal information management practices of engineers. In DS 68-6: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 11), Impacting Society through Engineering Design: Vol. 6: Design Information and Knowledge, Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark, 15.-19.08.2011. The Design Society. 2011. p. 31-42. (Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED)).

The digital divide: Investigating the personal information management practices of engineers

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