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- Journal ArticlePushing the Distribution Model to its Limits: Distributed “listening” in a Helpline(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 0, 2006) Licoppe, ChristianOur case study explores the extent to which a “Distributed Cognition”-like ethnographic approach can be used to analyze situations which are not at first sight compatible with the precepts of computational cognition. In the first part of the paper, we analyze the collective listening of phone calls in a helpline. We show why collective listening can be considered a “distributed collective practice”, with a mode of coordination based on repeated verbal re-enactments of difficult phone calls, rather than upon the discrete computational steps normally assumed in the standard model. In the second part of the paper, we analyse the organizational and interactional learning which takes place when collective listening is re-mediated by using e-mail exchanges rather than telephone conversations to communicate distress. Our conclusion discusses critically the viability of the distribution model in a context of collective listening.
- Journal ArticleInformation Infrastructures for Distributed Collective Practices(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 0, 38869) Turner, William; Bowker, Geoffrey; Gasser, Les; Zacklad, Manuel
- Journal ArticleModern Information Infrastructure in the Support of Distributed Collective Practice in Transport(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 0, 2006) King, John LeslieTransport is one of the oldest and most important forms of distributed collective practice. This paper traces the role of information and communication technologies in the transformation of transport-based distributed collective practice, focusing on the evolution of technologies that place control of the transport infrastructure in the hands of end users. Examples of this shift are provided, including an analysis of the events of September 11, 2001 as forms of distributed collective action.
- Journal ArticleSpecial Issue: Collaboration in e-Research(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 4, 38930) Jirotka, Marina; Procter, Rob; Rodden, Tom; Bowker, Geoffrey C.
- Journal ArticleMultidisciplinary Medical Team Meetings: An Analysis of Collaborative Working with Special Attention to Timing and Teleconferencing(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 0, 39052) Kane, Bridget; Luz, SaturninoIn this paper we describe the process of a multi-disciplinary medical team meeting (MDTM), its functions and operation in colocated and teleconference discussions. Our goal is to identify the elements and mechanics of operation that enhance or threaten the dependability of the MDTM as a “system” and propose technologies and measures to make this system more reliable. In particular, we assess the effect of adding teleconferencing to the MDTM, and identify strengths and vulnerabilities introduced into the system by the addition of teleconferencing technology. We show that, with respect to the system’s external task environment, rhythms of execution of pre-meeting and post-meeting activities are critical for MDTM success and that the extension of the MDTM to wider geographic locations with teleconferencing might disrupt such rhythms thereby posing potential threats to dependability. On the other hand, an analysis of vocalisation patterns demonstrates that despite difficulties related to coordination and awareness in video-mediated communication (evidenced by increased time spent in case discussion, longer turns, decreased turn frequency and near lack of informal exchanges) the overall case discussion structure is unaffected by the addition of teleconferencing technology into proceedings.
- Journal ArticleSeamless Integration: Standardisation across Multiple Local Settings(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 0, 39052) Ellingsen, Gunnar; Monteiro, EricThe pressure towards tighter or “seamless” integration of health information systems is a recurring issue with both practical and analytical relevance. It taps into a discourse in the IS literature in general and organisation and management science in particular. Unfortunately, the prevailing perception of integration in the IS literature is as a predominantly technical issue. The CSCW literature, however, is attentive to the socio-technical aspects of integration. Building on this – but supplemented with recent elaborations in science studies – we aim at exploring the unintended consequences of information systems integration. A user-led perspective implies emphasising the tailoring to local needs based on in-depth studies of the micro practices. We argue, however, that the condition for such an approach is radically undermined by politically motivated, regional changes towards integration with implicated standardisation. Enforcing order in the form of standards across multiple local settings, seemingly a prerequisite for tight integration, simultaneously produces disorder or additional work in other locations for other users. Empirically, our study is based on a large, ongoing integration effort at the University hospital of Northern Norway, specifically studying work practices and perceptions across multiple laboratories.
- Journal ArticleThe Wireless Nursing Call System: Politics of Discourse, Technology and Dependability in a Pilot Project(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 0, 2006) Jensen, Casper BruunThis paper discusses a research project in which social scientists were involved both as analysts and supporters during a pilot with a new wireless nursing call system. The case thus exemplifies an attempt to participate in developing dependable health care systems and offers insight into the challenges of developing and supporting such systems. The analysis proposes that while dependability is not simply a technical issue, neither is it something, which can be improved merely by adding a social dimension. Instead, it argues that dependability is a relative concept, which may mean different things conditional on how it is specified in practice and who gets to do this. This relativity makes it important to relate the question of how to support dependable health care systems to an analysis of both the politics of technology within specific projects and to the politics of discourse, through which the researcher becomes involved in such projects.
- Journal ArticleRemote Collaboration Over Video Data: Towards Real-Time e-Social Science(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 4, 2006) Fraser, Mike; Hindmarsh, Jon; Best, Katie; Heath, Christian; Biegel, Greg; Greenhalgh, Chris; Reeves, StuartThe design of distributed systems to support collaboration among groups of scientists raises new networking challenges that grid middleware developers are addressing. This field of development work, ‘e-Science’, is increasingly recognising the critical need of understanding the ordinary day-to-day work of doing research to inform design. We have investigated one particular area of collaborative social scientific work – the analysis of video data. Based on interviews and observational studies, we discuss current practices of social scientific work with digital video in three areas: Preparation for collaboration; Control of data and application; and Annotation configurations and techniques. For each, we describe how these requirements feature in our design of a distributed video analysis system as part of the MiMeG project: our security policy and distribution; the design of the control system; and providing freeform annotation over data. Finally, we review our design in light of initial use of the software between project partners; and discuss how we might transform the spatial configuration of the system to support annotation behaviour.
- Journal ArticleAchieving Dependability in the Configuration, Integration and Testing of Healthcare Technologies(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 0, 39052) Martin, David; Hartswood, Mark; Slack, Roger; Voss, AlexThis paper presents two case studies, which highlight the practical work involved in developing and deploying dependable healthcare systems. It shows how dependability is a thoroughgoingly practical, contexted achievement. We show how dependability is an outcome of the reasoning and argumentation processes that stakeholders engage in, in situations such as design and testing. What becomes relevant during these interactions stands as the dependability criteria that must be achieved. Furthermore, we examine the way in which different dependability criteria need to be managed, and even relatively prioritised, before finally discussing the types of work this provokes at the boundaries of organisations, particularly when integrating work and technologies.
- Journal ArticleLoose Coupling and Healthcare Organizations: Deployment Strategies for Groupware(Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Vol. 15, No. 0, 39052) Pinelle, David; Gutwin, CarlHealthcare organizations are often organized in a modular, loosely coupled fashion where separate and semi-autonomous work units specialize in different areas of care delivery. This partitioning allows each unit to adapt to emerging practice standards in its area of expertise and to adjust to its local work environment. However, organizational loose coupling can limit the flow of information within organizations and can make it difficult to coordinate services when patients’ care is dependent on professionals from more than one unit. Groupware systems have the potential to improve coordination and information access in healthcare organizations. However, modularity and loose coupling make it difficult to introduce new systems when they span more than one unit, since authority is not always centralized and since perceptions and frames of reference on new deployments differ across units. In this paper, we define a groupware deployment framework for loosely coupled healthcare organizations that has two parts: a set of deployment challenges and a set of deployment strategies. The deployment challenges include: difficulties centralizing deployments, perceptions of inequity, role conflicts, and problems achieving critical mass. The deployment strategies outline a preliminary set of approaches for addressing the difficulties of deploying CSCW systems in loosely coupled healthcare organizations. We illustrate the framework by presenting a case study of a groupware deployment in a home care setting.
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