Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams: Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool

Wesley S. Ward; Lisa M. Given

doi:10.1002/pra2.2017.14505401048

Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams: Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool

Wesley S. Ward, Lisa M. Given

Swinburne University of Technology

Research output: Book chapter/Published conference paper › Conference paper › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Collaborative research teams working in developing countries rely on information and computer technologies (ICTs), both hardware and software, to overcome barriers to information sharing including, language, distance, time, economic development and politics. However, studies have shown impediments to information sharing between team members from different cultures, nations and institutions. This paper reports on a study in which a model was developed to highlight the most important barriers for communication and information sharing in international research teams, which was the basis for the development of a heuristic evaluation tool. The communication model was created using the results of 30 semi-structured interviews with agricultural scientists working in international research teams based in Australia and Lao People's Democratic Republic. Interview data outline a number of barriers and facilitators for team communication, which informed the development of eight intercultural heuristics. These were combined with Jakob Nielsen's general usability heuristics to form the intercultural heuristic evaluation tool, or I-CHET. The tool was then tested in a pilot study to assess the utility and usability of two ICTs used by international research teams: email and Skype. The initial assessment using I-CHET showed that while email theoretically lacked the richness of cues seen in Skype, email better complied with the needs of international research groups for sharing information and communicating in multicultural teams dispersed over language, cultural and geographic divides.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 80th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology
Subtitle of host publication	Diversity of Engagement: Connecting People and Information in the Physical and Virtual Worlds
Editors	Lydia S. Middleton
Publisher	John Wiley & Sons
Pages	446-454
Number of pages	9
Volume	54
Edition	1
ISBN (Print)	9781532354939
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.2017.14505401048
Publication status	Published - 24 Oct 2017
Event	2017 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science & Technology: 80th ASIS&T Annual Meeting - Crystal City Hyatt, Washington, United States Duration: 27 Oct 2017 → 01 Nov 2017 https://www.asist.org/events/annual-meeting-2017/ (Conference website)

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology
Publisher	John Wiley & Sons
ISSN (Print)	2373-9231

Conference

Conference	2017 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science & Technology
Abbreviated title	Diversity of Engagement: Connecting People and Information in the Physical and Virtual Worlds
Country/Territory	United States
City	Washington
Period	27/10/17 → 01/11/17
Other	2017 is a special year for the Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) as we are reaching an 80-year milestone of our establishment. The theme of ASIS&T 2017 is focused on the diverse ways in which people from different backgrounds, cultures, and disciplines forge connections with each other, discover and use information, and engage with technology. We will address the opportunities and challenges of navigating through physical and digital/virtual realm with computers, tablets or smartphones to interact in work and everyday activities. Within this information environment, there also are those who choose to disengage, and those who have no access to or knowledge of technology, widening the digital divide. ASIS&T 2017 will provide an interactive platform for exploration of these complex and rapidly changing technological and socio-cultural developments. The ASIS&T Annual Meeting is a premier, peer-reviewed international conference that gathers scholars and practitioners from around the globe to share research, innovations, and insights regarding how information and technology mediate the creation and use of knowledge within and across cultures and enhance lives. Paper, poster, panel and workshop submissions that focus on the conference theme, as well as the production, discovery, recording, storage, representation, retrieval, presentation, manipulation, dissemination, use, and evaluation of information and on the tools and techniques associated with these processes are welcome. The conference embraces plurality in methods and theories, and encompasses research and development from a broad spectrum of domains, as encapsulated in ASIS&T’s many special interest groups (SIGs).
Internet address	https://www.asist.org/events/annual-meeting-2017/ (Conference website)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1002/pra2.2017.14505401048

Cite this

Ward, W. S., & Given, L. M. (2017). Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams: Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool. In L. S. Middleton (Ed.), Proceedings of the 80th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Diversity of Engagement: Connecting People and Information in the Physical and Virtual Worlds (1 ed., Vol. 54, pp. 446-454). (Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.2017.14505401048

Ward, Wesley S. ; Given, Lisa M. / Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams : Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool. Proceedings of the 80th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Diversity of Engagement: Connecting People and Information in the Physical and Virtual Worlds. editor / Lydia S. Middleton. Vol. 54 1. ed. John Wiley & Sons, 2017. pp. 446-454 (Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology).

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abstract = "Collaborative research teams working in developing countries rely on information and computer technologies (ICTs), both hardware and software, to overcome barriers to information sharing including, language, distance, time, economic development and politics. However, studies have shown impediments to information sharing between team members from different cultures, nations and institutions. This paper reports on a study in which a model was developed to highlight the most important barriers for communication and information sharing in international research teams, which was the basis for the development of a heuristic evaluation tool. The communication model was created using the results of 30 semi-structured interviews with agricultural scientists working in international research teams based in Australia and Lao People's Democratic Republic. Interview data outline a number of barriers and facilitators for team communication, which informed the development of eight intercultural heuristics. These were combined with Jakob Nielsen's general usability heuristics to form the intercultural heuristic evaluation tool, or I-CHET. The tool was then tested in a pilot study to assess the utility and usability of two ICTs used by international research teams: email and Skype. The initial assessment using I-CHET showed that while email theoretically lacked the richness of cues seen in Skype, email better complied with the needs of international research groups for sharing information and communicating in multicultural teams dispersed over language, cultural and geographic divides.",

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Ward, WS & Given, LM 2017, Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams: Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool. in LS Middleton (ed.), Proceedings of the 80th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Diversity of Engagement: Connecting People and Information in the Physical and Virtual Worlds. 1 edn, vol. 54, Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology, John Wiley & Sons, pp. 446-454, 2017 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 27/10/17. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.2017.14505401048

Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams: Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool. / Ward, Wesley S.; Given, Lisa M.
Proceedings of the 80th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Diversity of Engagement: Connecting People and Information in the Physical and Virtual Worlds. ed. / Lydia S. Middleton. Vol. 54 1. ed. John Wiley & Sons, 2017. p. 446-454 (Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology).

Research output: Book chapter/Published conference paper › Conference paper › peer-review

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T2 - 2017 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science & Technology

AU - Ward, Wesley S.

AU - Given, Lisa M.

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N2 - Collaborative research teams working in developing countries rely on information and computer technologies (ICTs), both hardware and software, to overcome barriers to information sharing including, language, distance, time, economic development and politics. However, studies have shown impediments to information sharing between team members from different cultures, nations and institutions. This paper reports on a study in which a model was developed to highlight the most important barriers for communication and information sharing in international research teams, which was the basis for the development of a heuristic evaluation tool. The communication model was created using the results of 30 semi-structured interviews with agricultural scientists working in international research teams based in Australia and Lao People's Democratic Republic. Interview data outline a number of barriers and facilitators for team communication, which informed the development of eight intercultural heuristics. These were combined with Jakob Nielsen's general usability heuristics to form the intercultural heuristic evaluation tool, or I-CHET. The tool was then tested in a pilot study to assess the utility and usability of two ICTs used by international research teams: email and Skype. The initial assessment using I-CHET showed that while email theoretically lacked the richness of cues seen in Skype, email better complied with the needs of international research groups for sharing information and communicating in multicultural teams dispersed over language, cultural and geographic divides.

AB - Collaborative research teams working in developing countries rely on information and computer technologies (ICTs), both hardware and software, to overcome barriers to information sharing including, language, distance, time, economic development and politics. However, studies have shown impediments to information sharing between team members from different cultures, nations and institutions. This paper reports on a study in which a model was developed to highlight the most important barriers for communication and information sharing in international research teams, which was the basis for the development of a heuristic evaluation tool. The communication model was created using the results of 30 semi-structured interviews with agricultural scientists working in international research teams based in Australia and Lao People's Democratic Republic. Interview data outline a number of barriers and facilitators for team communication, which informed the development of eight intercultural heuristics. These were combined with Jakob Nielsen's general usability heuristics to form the intercultural heuristic evaluation tool, or I-CHET. The tool was then tested in a pilot study to assess the utility and usability of two ICTs used by international research teams: email and Skype. The initial assessment using I-CHET showed that while email theoretically lacked the richness of cues seen in Skype, email better complied with the needs of international research groups for sharing information and communicating in multicultural teams dispersed over language, cultural and geographic divides.

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KW - Information behavior

KW - Intercultural communication

KW - Research collaboration

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Ward WS, Given LM. Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams: Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool. In Middleton LS, editor, Proceedings of the 80th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Diversity of Engagement: Connecting People and Information in the Physical and Virtual Worlds. 1 ed. Vol. 54. John Wiley & Sons. 2017. p. 446-454. (Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology). doi: 10.1002/pra2.2017.14505401048

Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams: Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

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Association for Information Science and Technology (External organisation)

Cite this

Assessing technologies for information sharing in international research teams: Developing an intercultural heuristic evaluation tool

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Activities

Association for Information Science and Technology (External organisation)

Cite this