User Centered Cognitive Maps

Two kinds of influence graphs are commonly used in artificial intelligence to modelize influence networks: bayesian networks [Naïm et al., 2004] and cognitive maps [Tolman, 1948]. Influence graphs provide mechanisms to highlight the influence between concepts. Cognitive maps represent a concept by a text and an influence by an arc to which a value is associated

Information Technology and Aesthetics: Passive and Active Dimensions

This paper is concerned with examining and recognizing aesthetics in an Information System (an organization incorporating both humans and information technology). Aesthetics emerge from the wholeness of things, not from specific parts or components. As such, aesthetics may naturally be considered in “systems”, and we propose that an effective manner of thinking of aesthetics is to think in terms of “themes”. Humans have an extraordinary capacity to capture events thematically. In other words, human beings have a natural sense of aesthetics. To examine aesthetics in an information systems context, we argue that one must consider not only aesthetics that may be perceived by the senses (a passive dimension), but also aesthetics that may be conceived in the mind (an active dimension). This paper draws the conclusion that the benefits of aesthetics in relation to the study of Information Systems, has characteristics similar to the nature and importance of ethics in IS. Also, the study of aesthetics in IS has greater implications than simply recognizing and appreciating beauty and art. The very human capacity for recognizing and appreciating beauty and art is also the same capacity for effective creativity and happiness: the active aesthetic dimension. It follows that if an information system encouraged and provided the enabling circumstances for the human capacity of thematic recognition (as found in the human appreciation of art and beauty) it thereby also provides the ground and the necessary thematically recognizable stimulus for effective creative and visionary organizational management

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND AESTHETICS: PASSIVE AND ACTIVE DIMENSIONS

This paper is concerned with examining and recognizing aesthetics in an Information System (an organization incorporating both humans and information technology). Information Systems designers need to consider the aesthetics of their systems. To do this, they need some conception of what aesthetics is and is not. This paper constructs such a concept. IS designers must avoid thinking of a specific system component such as a graphical user interface as defining the aesthetic dimension of their work. Aesthetics emerge from the wholeness of things, not from specific parts or components. As such, aesthetics may naturally be considered in “systems”, and we propose that an effective manner of thinking of aesthetics is in terms of “themes”. We also argue that one must consider not only aesthetics that may be perceived by the senses (a passive dimension), but also aesthetics that may be conceived in the mind (an active dimension). We also consider the important differences between “definitions ” (passive dimension) and “themes ” (active dimension). Finally, the study of aesthetics in IS has greater implications than simply recognizing and appreciating beauty and art. The very human capacity for recognizing and appreciating beauty and art, the active aesthetic dimension, is also the same capacity for effective creativity and happiness. It follows that if an information system encouraged and provided the enabling circumstances for the human capacity of thematic recognition (as found in the human appreciation of art and beauty) it thereby also provides the grounds for effective creative and visionary organizational management

Inquiring Organizations: Moving From Knowledge Management To Wisdom

Inquiring Organizations: Moving from Knowledge Management to Wisdom assembles into one volume a comprehensive collection of the key current thinking regarding the use of C. West Churchman\u27s Design of Inquiring Systems as a basis for computer-based inquiring systems design and implementation. Inquiring systems are systems that go beyond knowledge management to actively inquire about their environment. While self-adaptive is an appropriate adjective for inquiring systems, they are critically different from self-adapting systems as they have evolved in the fields of computer science or artificial intelligence. Inquiring systems draw on epistemology to guide knowledge creation and organizational learning. As such, we can for the first time ever, begin to entertain the notion of support for wise decision-making. Readers of Inquiring Organizations: Moving from Knowledge Management to Wisdom will gain an appreciation for the role that epistemology can play in the design of the next generation of knowledge management systems: systems that focus on supporting wise decision-making processes. © 2005 by Idea Group Inc. All rights reserved