Interactivity and Control: The Case of Dynamic Maps for Navigation in Hypertext

Rich information environments such as online tutorials and web-books pose considerable difficulties for users, of which the most notable is being ‘lost in hypertext’. If these environments are to become commonplace, they must be designed to relieve users of these difficulties. In this paper we study the effects of dynamic navigational maps on orientation and search performance. We designed a conceptual map that tracks the user’s position vis-à-vis the content of the web-book and the history of the user’s visits. We show how these maps improve search performance significantly in terms of efficiency (number of clicks) but only weakly in terms of time or accuracy. We call for more research on how to enhance user control in complex information environments

Improving Performance by Encouraging Users to Consider Different Levels of Action Identification (LAI)

Action Identification Theory proposes that individuals perceive their actions at different levels of abstraction and how this perception can significantly impact their behavior. The paper argues that prompting users to shift between different levels of action identification during their interaction with an information system can improve their performance. The experimental work includes a laboratory experiment and a think-aloud study that explores the effect of users\u27 attention to different levels of action identification and the cognitive fit between on-screen representation and mental models on performance improvement. The discussion analyzes the results and outlines future research plans and expected contributions to the field. This study highlights the importance of considering the user\u27s cognitive processes when designing information systems and suggests potential ways to enhance their performance

The Future Impact of AI on Academic Journals and the Editorial Process

This panel explores the emerging impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on academic journals and editorial processes. Scholarly publishing is on the cusp of transformation, as generative and other AI technologies challenge established norms and procedures. Advancements could either revolutionize or gradually evolve the intricate ecosystems of academic journals, responsible for validating and disseminating knowledge. How might this happen? Panelists will consider how AI could reshape editorial boards, redefine reviewer roles, and influence the academic value chain. The panel will address concerns about AI-driven review processes, biases, training data, and the integration of Human-in-the-loop AI. The panel will also examine the role of academic journals as drivers of research and innovation, with AI\u27s potential to alter communication, quality assessment, and the building blocks of archival knowledge. Highly experienced editors will share insights, concerns and predictions, engage with audience perspectives, and illuminate the challenges and opportunities that AI brings to scholarly pursuits

Can Contextualization Increase Understanding During Man-Machine Communication? A Theory-Driven Study

The Internet offers unlimited possibilities for finding health information. However, the user is often faced with the problem of understanding it. Contextualization has a role to play in enhancing the user’s comprehension. We report on a study which addresses this issue, using a theoretical model of communication whose central theme is that of context. A randomized controlled experimental design was chosen, using as a test-bed the website SeniorGezond we had previously developed. The study was composed of a pre-test, the intervention with the website and a post-test. Participants (n=40) were randomly assigned to exposure or no exposure to contextualization with the website. Results show that contextualization increases understanding for non-knowledgeable users. Furthermore, the participant’s cognitive style was found to be a significant factor on understanding. We also found that participants bring their own contexts such as social context and psychological context to support their understanding

Seeing the big PICTURE: A framework for improving the communication of requirements within the Business-IT relationship

The relationship between the business and IT departments in the context of the organisation has been characterised as highly divisive. Contributing problems appear to revolve around the failure to adequately communicate and understand the required information for the alignment of business and IT strategies and infrastructures. This study takes a communication-based view on the concept of alignment, in terms of the relationship between the retail business and IT within a major high street UK bank. A research framework (PICTURE) is used to provide insight into this relationship and guide the analysis of interviews with 29 individuals on mid-high management level for their thematic content. The paper highlights the lessons that can be derived from the study of the BIT relationship and how possible improvements could be made

A review of the practical relevance of IS strategy scholarly research

While studies suggest that IS strategy is an important topic for practitioners, in-depth explorations of the potential practical relevance of this research area are lacking. In this paper, we develop a multidimensional framework of potential practical relevance and use it to conduct a multimethod descriptive review of 109 IS strategy papers published over the past 10 years in top IS journals. The framework contributes to the IS literature by synthesizing various characteristics that make a research project conducive to being practically relevant. The review highlights how IS strategy research has offered the potential for practical relevance in the past and recommends opportunities to increase this, especially in the digitalization era