In dilema – have several ideas – to proceed

However, manage to get all the LOW COMPETENCY user open categories.

Having said that, I am in the dilema and have several solutions or testing for it:

1) either start with LC users with axial coding, applied paradigm model and propose it (theoretical sampling].

2) proceed with coding (recording dialectic) with basic competency user and high level user – meaning still in the open coding process.

3) or it seems could be done parallel.

4) How to generate theory/proposition base on the data? A problem for me….

Links to theory creation

1) Alan Dix

pdf version

2) Research methodolog in this book – bought it.

Open categories for LC Users

Finished for (I do not know) how many times I redo this Open categories.

Now, I have 60 Open categories for Low competency users. Next steps is:

• comparing with each categories
• draw in visio
• extend with basic and high competency to acquire/amend other categories if exists.
• axial categories
• in between trying to amend the analysis writing.

View this document on Scribd

In visio version:

Task -Open categories for Low ver 1.

OC: Break up more categories – LC

Break up more categories

Category created by user start with the very general label. This category will be used by user when they have enough information about the category or created in advance when they roughly know what will be in the category. The parent category gradually will becoming sub category depending on the criteria assessed by the user. As a result, the task that the user involved will end up with many sub-category or just main category. Once the task finished, the category will become archive status. However, the category is reused depending on the user information need. Seldom, the user after finished with the task will reorganize their category. But it do happen – why it is happen? Why the user take the risk, time, effort to reorganize?

It might be already decided its applicability for future task then easy for future retrieval.

But it might takemore time, to browse one by one sine there is an addition to the original structure.

This might also happen, because the user has increased their maturity/understanding of the knowledge.

OC:Dumping – LC

Dumping or uncategorize

Dumping is the process which user put off their decision about locating their information in a temporary location (in which I classified as an unclassified location or in a default category such as My Document or in a more general category) depending on user context , time and effort. The dumping process does not involve user to decide at the point of keeping of where it should be located. It is a very quick decision where user knows or may be knows with what type of information that they are dealing with at that time.

When interact with the working information.

This action also happen when the user is busy with the task. When the information created have to be in the highly process of updating, amendment and gradually there are many versions in specific category. Without realizing the information have been dumping in the more general category rather than more narrower category. However, when aware of the situation (aware when there are more information — getting messy) the user start to create another category (which have the same label) then keep all the working information under the new category.

OC: Information types relevancy – LC

Information types relevancy

Barreau and Nardi study reveal several types of information when interact with information.

• ephemeral
  
• working
  
• archive

Encountred information is another type of information classified by [Marshall-if I am not mistaken].

In dealing with information, there is a judgement that we should take due to its usefullness, relevancy and significant to the task or to our life in general.

As in general categories we divide into working and personal information.

[Working could be working in personal information - try to come with diferent name]

OC:Ad Hoc Work -LC

Ad Hoc work

Main task/work is either directed by the superior or the role that theh user has.

Parallel when the main task is execute, in between it there is an interruption/distraction (is it distraction/interruption – yes but the user in my study did not describe it as a distraction/interruption).

Properties:

• in between main task
• time
• not in specific category if there is am information related

OC:Organization take place-LC

Organization take place

There are strategies of organizing described earlier in the study by  [ I forgot the name- yes I remember the study]. The study reveals that people start organizing depending on the time and context of their task [check this]. The strategies taken by the users are:

• frequent filer
• no filer
• spring cleaner

User preferences are varied pertaining to their task and frequently used strategies. Most of the time, the approah is the combination either 1 or 2 approaches described.

In anothe study [Vivi , Dix, Kamaruddin et al] find one more strategy employed by users. The strategy is instant filer.Instant filer is the strategy where all files/information find is quickly locate in the category. The category is either already created or located in the default.

In this study, the user keeps/tidy up her directories while she started to do her work. She does not lik eto wait until she finish her task/work to do the tidying up. If the files relavant to the available category, she will keep it in the available category.

OC:Reasons for keeping track -LC

Reasons for keeping track

Techno phobia – admit by BC user.

Afraid it will get loss – When the information get increased, and when the due date is nearer and the stress environmnet that been faced, make you acted weird.

Trusting the hardcopy – base on earlier report.

OC:Mobility of doing task-lc

Mobility of doing task
Delivering task at different place in order to finish their task.
The working venue changed at various locations for example in this case: user works either from home , office or library. Different time but would like to access same document which might be keep at 1 location or more that 1 location. User must know where does they keep their latest /recent work.

[Feb2009]

Mobile to achieve task.

Properties:

• to deliver task
• dateline

OC:Multiple directories to keep working type information-LC

Multiple directories to keep working type information
There are more than one storage locations that user keep/store their working information.  This is  due to mobility of user in performing their task. The user does not express any problems yet with the mobility. However, I find that mobility issues also  distract  or affect categorization and labelling for Low Competency user. The change of location is depending on time and where the task is performed. There are more than 1 computer that user have and in order to achieve their task – working and accessibility at different place and time are prime factor.  As long as user does not confuse which storage that they keep their information.

[Feb,2009]

Does multiple directories create problems in PIM/TIM?