RAMSES: A Method for the Design Process of Interactive Information Systems

Abstract

This work presents a method that aims at structuring the design process of interactive information systems (IIS). This method, which takes parts of its ground in the joint cognitive systems approach, formalizes the integration of usage data in the design process of IIS. Data are generated by using methods of activity analysis. The assumption is that for integrating usage data successfully, they must be represented in a formalism close to the development language, while maintaining the formalization language accessible to each domain specialist involved in the design process. The method can be split up into in five steps: (a) data collection of users' needs in different contexts, (b) representation of the collected data, (c) modeling of corresponding knowledge in an implementation formalism, (d) specification of the IIS, and (e) validation of the model by a functional specification aid tool. A functional specification design tool has been developed according to the presented approach, and has been applied to the design of a traveler information system.

Electronic information systems in human service organizations: Using theory to inform future design

“…As Mouloudi et al (2011) explain, much of the research in the field of software development has, historically, focussed on the characteristics and activities of users as they interact with technology, known as human–computer interaction (HCI) (see, for example, Diaper and Sanger, 2006). Subsequently, theory has been drawn from various fields of psychology (cognitive, organizational, industrial) to inform what became cognitive systems engineering (CSE) (Hollnagel and Woods, 1983; Rasmussen et al, 1994).…”

“…CSE was further developed by Erik Hollnagel and David Woods into the JCS approach, which draws from a range of disciplines, including engineering, psychology, cognitive science, information science and computer science. Its aim is to expand the view taken by a system designer in order to see the ‘bigger picture’ (Mouloudi et al, 2011). In short, ‘[t]he JCS approach offers a principled approach to studying human work with complex technology and provides a conceptual framework for analysis with concrete theories and methods for joint system modelling’ (Mouloudi et al, 2011: 110).…”

Information Systems and Human Service Organizations: Managing and Designing for the “Occasional User”

“…As it has developed, this approach, known as human-computer interaction (HCI) (Diaper and Sanger, 2006), has drawn from various fields of psychology, such as cognitive, organizational and industrial, to inform what became cognitive systems engineering (CSE) (Mouloudi et al, 2011;Hollnagel and Woods, 1983;Rasmussen, Pejtersen and Goodstein, 1994). A cognitive system is defined as a system that is "able to control its behavior using information about itself and the situation, where the information can be a prior information (knowledge, competence), situation-specific information (feedback, indicators), and constructs (hypotheses, assumptions)" (Hollnagel, 1998, p. 160).…”