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Thesis (doctoral)--Stockholm University, 2001.
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Submitted to the Department of Computer Science. Copyright by the author. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Stanford University, 1998.
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... Much of the previous literature focuses on methodological techniques for addressing end-user involvement (e.g. Bjerknes et al., 1987;Tollmar, 2001;Iversen et al., 2010) and user satisfaction (Verdegem and Verleye, 2009). Although this is important, it is also important to study end-users' actual needs and the implications of involving end-users in general, as well as in crisis and emergency response and in co-production literature. ...
... Three of the most common are participatory design (PD), usercentered design (UCD), and user innovation (UI), which have different focuses while also featuring similarities. PD has an ideological (democratic and social) dimension as well as a practical dimension (Bjerknes et al., 1987;Tollmar, 2001;Iversen et al., 2010). As the name implies, PD focuses on the design process when developing ICT systems. ...
... In doing so, the thesis adds understanding to the end-user literature whereas most previous end-user literature is focused on user satisfaction (Verdegem and Verleye, 2009), and on methods and techniques for addressing end-user involvement (e.g. Bjerknes et al., 1987;Tollmar, 2001;Iversen et al., 2010). ...
... In the past decades, we have witnessed a new design movement shifting from designing for users to designing with users (Sanoff & Henry, 1990). Participatory design (PD) was initially proposed as a set of approaches to involve workers in the development of technology to increase worker autonomy, skill and task variety (Tollmar & Konrad, 2001). Since many PD approaches put low requirements on users' ability and beforehand knowledge, they have been extended and increasingly adopted in designing with marginalized groups such as older people. ...
... Theoretically, the end-users are expected be involved throughout the whole process. However, many PD studies and practices have long been criticized for extensively dealing with the early phases while putting less emphasis on the later stages, especially the refining process (Tollmar & Konrad, 2001). Most research only slightly mentioned the refinement from a holistic perspective. ...
Designing interactive systems that are pragmatic, attractive and easy to use for older adults is challenging. Participatory design, as an approach to enhance the mutual understanding between designers and end users, has been proved to be useful to improve the quality of design for older people. However, PD research has long been criticized for extensively dealing with the early-phase design while putting less emphasis on the later stages. In this paper, we argue for the importance of collaborative refinement when designing interactive systems for older adults. Through a case study, we describe our experience of co-refining the preliminary design of an interactive system with older participants from three perspectives: function, form and interaction. We also explored to adopt some potential PD methods and conclude by discussing the effectiveness of the chosen approach and methods.
... [2], [3]. Especially in recent years, some traits of PD seem to have become synonymous with a more neutral form of "user-centered" design, concentrating on more local issues of usability and user satisfaction and sometimes bringing in commercial agile methods [4], [5], [6]. ...
... Others claimed that while the approach extensively deals with the early design phases, the later, more technical, stages were less well covered, and that few reports of the concrete use of PD were actually available, e.g. [3]. It was argued that as a result of this, actual implementations in use were infrequent, and those products delivered were almost exclusively small standalone applications [42]. ...
In this study, we address the role of Participatory Design (PD) in emerging public sector governance forms and, more specifically, civic engagement and we-government initiatives. We achieve this by first providing a research overview of the development of PD approaches since they originated in the 1970s, identifying different PD generations and associated concepts, contexts, and challenges, and then relating them to current public sector trends. Next, we link the overview to a practical example by presenting a case of applying PD to a civic engagement project that takes place in the Swedish emergency response system. Our example findings sustain previously identified needs to return to broad change processes and balance this with ICT re-configuration and structuration of the collaborative processes, the related stakeholders, and their needs, this time in a context where work tasks and responsibilities are not yet defined, known or experienced among stakeholders. We then suggest methodological ways to handle this by (1) applying an interdisciplinary PD approach, (2) replacing the traditional design group with a combination of various qualitative methods and PD techniques, e.g., focus groups, modified scenario-based future workshops, exercises, and after-action-reviews, and (3) support PD activities with context-specific frameworks. We argue that applying PD concepts to the governance forms that are emerging in resource-constrained public sector organizations poses a number of challenges, many of them relating directly to the unknown character of the work setting and the practical difficulties of involving civil citizens as end-users. However, if they are addressed and handled adequately, making civic engagement initiatives work processes and ICT support to work smoothly, this can contribute to a re-politicization of PD in terms of space, action, and the empowerment of citizens both by enhancing their skills and by having them represented in design activities.
... Yet, existing requirements for IS development cannot be considered for Co-Design [16], as they do not consider the changing nature of requirements. Moreover, Co-Design research has been criticised by different scholars [17]. First, it is considered as "expensive" in the design process as it needs numerous meetings and discussions. ...
While Co-Design approaches have been used in designing technology enhanced learning (TEL) by different scholars, research is needed to understand the relationships between technologies, design and practice. This paper presents organisational semiotics (OS) as an approach for Co-Design of Technology Enhanced Learning. This perspective will provide an insight into the Co-Design of technology and learning in higher education.
... Yet, existing requirements for IS development cannot be considered for Co-Design [16], as they do not consider the changing nature of requirements. Moreover, Co-Design research has been criticised by different scholars [17]. First, it is considered as "expensive" in the design process as it needs numerous meetings and discussions. ...
While Co-Design approaches have been used in designing technology enhanced learning (TEL) by different scholars, research is needed to understand the relationships between technologies, design and practice. This paper presents organisational semiotics (OS) as an approach for Co-Design of Technology Enhanced Learning. This perspective will provide an insight into the Co-Design of technology and learning in higher education.
... Participatory design proponents suggest that because social factors important in the implementation process are highlighted in a participatory approach, the resulting system designs are more sustainable compared with those developed using traditional systems development methods [39]. However, participatory methods have also been criticized for neglecting the later technical development stages [40] and being unrealistic with regard to the time investments demanded by practitioners [41]. Techniques such as the Voice of the Customer table and House of Quality [42] are well-established but resource-consuming approaches to the technical system accurateness problem. ...
An online health-promoting community (OHPC) has the potential to promote health and advance new means of dialogue between public health representatives and the general public. The aim of this study was to examine what aspects of an OHPC that are critical for satisfying the needs of the user community and public health goals and service capabilities.
Community-based participatory research methods were used for data collection and analysis, and participatory design principles to develop a case study OHPC for adolescents. Qualitative data from adolescents on health appraisals and perspectives on health information were collected in a Swedish health service region and classified into categories of user health information exchange needs. A composite design rationale for the OHPC was completed by linking the identified user needs, user-derived requirements, and technical and organizational systems solutions. Conflicts between end-user requirements and organizational goals and resources were identified.
The most prominent health information needs were associated to food, exercise, and well-being. The assessment of the design rationale document and prototype in light of the regional public health goals and service capabilities showed that compromises were needed to resolve conflicts involving the management of organizational resources and responsibilities. The users wanted to discuss health issues with health experts having little time to set aside to the OHPC and it was unclear who should set the norms for the online discussions.
OHPCs can be designed to satisfy both the needs of user communities and public health goals and service capabilities. Compromises are needed to resolve conflicts between users' needs to discuss health issues with domain experts and the management of resources and responsibilities in public health organizations.
... Bjerknes et al., 1987;Bjerknes & Bratteteig, 1995;Elovaara & al., 2006;Marti & Bannon, 2009;Tollmar, 2004). CSCW is a designoriented multidisciplinary field which focuses on how to design adequate computer technology in order to support human collaboration and enable interaction between people (Tollmar, 2001). Ethnographic methods have been used in both fields (e.g. ...
The living lab methodology in technology design emphasizes user involvement throughout the innovation process. This article discusses the execution of this methodology in building a future ubiquitous city in northern Finland. We analyse how the sociomaterial practices of ICT design are constructed in thematic interviews with the designers. Three practices determining the realisation of the ubiquitous city were identified: Funding resources framing user involvement; keeping up the high-tech image of the city; and pursuit of scientific innovation. Then, following feminist technology studies, we discuss how power relations are negotiated, and how the user of new technology is constructed in the design process. In this particular living lab, users were configured as unidentified testers and consumers of the implemented technology rather than innovative co-creators. By reflecting on our position as female anthropologists we also illuminate the situatedness of scientific knowledge.
... Since then, several shortcomings in the practical use of PD as a design method have been pointed out. It has been claimed that the approach deals extensively with early design, while neglecting the later technical stages [7]. It has also been questioned whether its set of principles is actually agreeable with busy co-participants at a workplace [6]. ...
... It was argued that second generation PD resulted in generally more usable systems since these were designed together with the users. Several authors have recently pointed out that even this PD generation is seldom used in large, tangible, productoriented projects and that, once it is applied, it only results in small-scale, stand-alone IT-applications [7,23,24]. As a result, there are few large systems developed by means of PD methods in use [23]. ...
... Occupational disease and sick leave from work are growing health problems that call for solutions developed in cooperation between employers and employees [28]. Trade unions have traditionally supplied an organizational setting for employees to review their working conditions and act for their health and welfare [7]. In this effort, a central task for labor organizations is to provide employees and their representatives with an infrastructure for peer-to-peer empowerment. ...
Participatory Design (PD) methods in the field of health informatics have mainly been applied to the development of small-scale systems with homogeneous user groups in local settings. Meanwhile, health service organizations are becoming increasingly large and complex in character, making it necessary to extend the scope of the systems that are used for managing data, information and knowledge. This study reports participatory action research on the development of a PD framework for large-scale system design. The research was conducted in a public health informatics project aimed at developing a system for 175,000 users. A renewed PD framework was developed in response to six major limitations experienced to be associated with the existing methods. The resulting framework preserves the theoretical grounding, but extends the toolbox to suit applications in networked health service organizations. Future research should involve evaluations of the framework in other health service settings where comprehensive HISs are developed.
... Nevertheless, Participatory Design has also been criticised for lack of formalisation, resulting in increased overall complexity of implementation (Hirschheim, 1983) It has further been stated Participatory Design's conceptual framework is in need of renewal if it is to be applied outside the academic context (Kensing, 2000). It has been claimed that while the approach extensively deals with the early design phases, the later, more technical stages are less well covered, and that few reports of the concrete use of Participatory Design are actually available (Tollmar, 2001). This results in that actual implementations in use are infrequent; and that those products delivered are almost exclusively small stand-alone information technology applications (van den Besselar, 1998). ...
... They tend to want to leave these issues to the expertise and focus on information needs (Doll & Deng, 1999). Also, several authors have pointed out that Participatory Design is actually seldom used in concrete, product-oriented projects; that its principles are not in agreement with the real life industrial context outside academia; and that, once it is applied, it only results in small-scale, stand alone ITapplications (Tollmar, 2001;Trigg, 2000;Kensing, 2000;van den Besselar 1998;Beynon-Davies & Holmes, 1998). ...
Thesis (doctoral)--Linköpings universitet, 2002.
This study presents the MOPT-Systems Development Process, aimed at bridging the gap between ideality and reality. The process is based on an approach to systems development involving a formalised process for developing socio-technical systems. In specific, it integrates a modified Rational Unified Process (RUP) framework with a socio-technical system view and an extended participatory design (PD) perspective using PD techniques and social research methods. It is argued that the integrated approach, by combining the RUP formalisation, modeling tools and coverage of the entire development process, together with the parallel development of methodology, organisation, and personnel, will greatly enhance the chance of solid systems, grounded in the organisation and appreciated by its users. In this respect, the close cooperation with the end-users throughout the development process is supposed to contribute.
