November 6, 2004 ISECON, Newport, RI

A Method of Measuring Fitness of Learning Tasks to Blackboard Technology

Richard OrwigSusquehanna University

ISECON, Newport, RI

Research in progress

Motivation Literature Theory building Data gathering task Initial results Future work

ISECON, Newport, RI

Motivation: Task-Technology Fit

From an organizational perspective, intuitively… Task: Organization-wide integration

General Motors, Intel, Dell, … Large consulting (Accenture, EDS, …),

Large law firm, University Tech: ERP Technology Roots

SAP – Manufacturing Peoplesoft – Human Resources/Service

ISECON, Newport, RI

Motivation: Task-Technology Fit

From an organizational perspective, intuitively… Task: Organization-wide integration

General Motors, Intel, Dell, … Large consulting (Accenture, EDS, …),

Large law firm, University Tech: ERP Technology Roots

SAP – Manufacturing Peoplesoft – Human Resources/Service

ISECON, Newport, RI

Literature

TTF: Goodhue (1995, 2002) Business Alignment

Extensive: Luftman (Align in the Sand, 2003)

BPR/Workflow More extensive: Hammer & Champy,

etc., Orwig (HICSS, 1998)

ISECON, Newport, RI

TTF

The “Fit” is the degree to which technology supports business activities

Assumptions: “Socio” issues (power, culture, …)

addressed in the process of obtaining consensus upon a business activity model

Activities NOT equal to Processes

ISECON, Newport, RI

Theoretical Perspective

Business Analysis

Zachman

ISECON, Newport, RI

Theory: Theory in use

Organizational Vision/Mission/Goals/Objectives

As Is To BeStrategy

Tec

hn

ical

Tas

k

Reengineer

Migration

Business Activities Business Activities

Legacy Systems DoD Supported Systems

Conceptual Framework

Con

text

ISECON, Newport, RI

Theory: Business Activity Model Consensus upon business activity

definition is difficult but feasible Managers think in terms of outcomes

of problem solving tasks (not in terms of classes and objects of their activities)

Problem solving consists of: Defining the problem (what) Describing the process of solving it (how)

ISECON, Newport, RI

Theory: “IDEF0”ish Viewpoint

Manage Hazardous Substances

Life cycle management of hazardous substances.

A0HW Disposal ShipmentsRedistributed MaterialReports to ...Purchase RequestsStrategy/Planning

Approved Budget Audit Findings Economics & Trade-offs Personnel Qualifications/Training Regulations/Policies/Directives Technical Documentation

HM Rqmnts for ProcessesInstallation Master PlanMaterial/MSDSMobilization RqmntsP2 Impl. DirectivesWaste

Contractors Facilities/equipment Funds Information SystemsPersonnel

Inputs

Mechanisms

Controls

Outputs

ISECON, Newport, RI

Theory: “IDEF0”ish Viewpoint

Produce Transcript

CaptureSpeech

Deliver

Dictate Type

… … … … …… … …Transcribe

Proofread&

Correct

ISECON, Newport, RI

Theory: “IDEF0”ish ViewpointProduce

Transcript

CaptureSpeech

Deliver

Translate

PrintEdit

… … … … … …… … …Transcribe

Proofread& Correct

ISECON, Newport, RI

Theory: Hypotheses

We should be able to map activities to functions that support them

Supporting high-level activities have a greater risk-return relationship

Task-Technology Fitness is about: Making outputs better (effectiveness) Reducing overall costs of activities

(efficiency)

ISECON, Newport, RI

Data

33 Student-built Activity Models Model learning activities associated with

completing MIS 448 – IT Project Mgmnt Models must be at least 3-levels of

abstraction Merge 33 Models into one Global

model Identify Functions of Blackboard

ISECON, Newport, RI

Initial Results

68 activities identified 42 activities supported by Blackboard

in some manner Group activity modeling is needed to

better refine the model

ISECON, Newport, RI

Future Work

Define learning activities in collaborative session instead of individual assignments

Identify more specific functions of Blackboard that address specific activities

Attempt to quantify benefits/costs from the student perspective

ISECON, Newport, RI

Questions

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