Collaborative information seeking environments benefiting from holistic ergonomics
| Pages | 439-459 |
| Date | 21 September 2015 |
| Published date | 21 September 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-06-2015-0062 |
| Author | Anika Meyer,Ina Fourie |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology |
Collaborative information
seeking environments benefiting
from holistic ergonomics
Anika Meyer and Ina Fourie
Information Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore the value of utilising a holistic ergonomic approach,
covering engineering, cognitive and social perspectives, to cultivate beneficial and productive
collaborative information seeking (CIS) systems and environments, specifically with regard to three
main CIS pillars (control, communication and awareness).
Design/methodology/approach –A qualitative research approach, based on a selective corpus of
CIS literature, was utilised to perform a content analysis to note if terms and concepts normally
associated with engineering, cognitive and social ergonomics can be used to eliminate terms reflecting
issues related to three CIS pillars (control, communication and awareness) that can benefit from a
holistic ergonomic approach.
Findings –The content analysis revealed that a fairly extensive amount of holistic ergonomic
terminology is prominent within the CIS literature, therefore establishing a connection between the two
disciplines: CIS and ergonomics. This suggests that CIS system issues could benefit from the insights
of a holistic ergonomic approach.
Research limitations/implications –Since this is an exploratory study the scope of CIS literature
utilised in the content analysis was limited to a selection considered most important by the authors;
this should be supplemented by further research.
Practical implications –Intended to instigate interest in further exploration of the beneficial and
productive implications and practical application of holistic ergonomics in designing CIS systems and
environments.
Originality/value –This is the first research paper in the Library and Information Science literature
that explores the potential of utilising holistic ergonomics to cultivate CIS systems and environments.
Keywords Design, Information science, Analysis, Literature review
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
There has been a growing interest in acknowledging the importance of collaborative
information seeking (CIS) in performing complex tasks (Foster, 2006, p. 333; Shah, 2009,
p. 1). According to Luccock(1961, sp.) “No one can whistle a symphony: it takes a whole
orchestra to play it”. CIS is an interdisciplinary field that has been shaped by several
domains such as human-computer interaction, information retrieval (IR) and computer-
supported cooperative work (Foster, 2006, p. 329). Shah (2013a, p. 1) notes that CIS is
facing a very exciting intersectionin the sense of generating new fields of opportunity to
identifying research gaps. This may require input from a wider spectrum of disciplines,
e.g. ergonomics and acknowledging all dimensions of a CIS environment.
According to Shah (2013a, p. 3), the predominant focus in the IR and Library and
Information Science (LIS) fields used to be on single-user environments. The focus
however has shifted to accommodate multiple participants. Due to this change
issues have appeared such as changing user requirements and a need for evolving
group dynamics within a specific domain (e.g. office environments) (Grudin, 1994, p. 97;
Hyldegård, 2006, p. 277; Shah, 2009, p. 2, 2013a, pp. 3-4). A CIS environment has become
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 33 No. 3, 2015
pp. 439-459
©Emerald Group Publis hing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-06-2015-0062
Received 4 June 2015
Revised 22 July 2015
Accepted 22 July 2015
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
439
Collaborative
information
seeking
environments
very important due to the complex nature of work tasks and interaction (Boehm et al.,
2014, p. 33; Hertzum, 2008, p. 3; Shah, 2013a, p. 1).
Shah (2012, p. 24) clarifies that a CIS environment encapsulates a range of
interactions, processes, users and systems –amongst others, a CIS system with its
three main pillars, namely: control, communication and awareness. Within a CIS
environment individuals can interact in a shared workplace (Case, 2007; Foster, 2006;
Perkop, 2002; Shah, 2009, 2012, 2013a, b). The three pillars feature strongly in Shah’s
work, for example: CIS: the art and science of making the whole greater than the sum of
all (Shah, 2012, pp. 44-50), collaborative information behavior: user engagement and
communication sharing (Shah, 2010, pp. 141-158) and CIS (Shah, 2012, pp. 41-59).
Ergonomics is a field of study that attempts to provide a perfect fit between
individuals and their work environments (Parsons, 2000, p. 581). It can be applied to
nearly every type of environment imaginable (Institution of Ergonomics and Human
Factors, 2014,sp.; O’Neill, 2011, p. 1; Rayner, 2008,pp. 36-39). O’Neill (2011, p. 1) pointsout
that the nature of office work has evolved into a highly collaborative and social activity
requiring an integrated work environment, therefore moving from a traditional “office
ergonomic”approach (i.e. engineeringand cognitive ergonomics) to a “holistic”approach.
The “holistic”approach incorporates the physical (engineering ergonomics), mental
(cognitive ergonomics) dimensions of a work environment, and formal and informal
collaboration and interaction (social ergonomics) between individuals and their shared
workspace (Boff, 2006; Carayon and Smith, 2000; Manuaba, 2007; Wilson, 2000). Knoll, a
design firm, which aims at using “modern design to connect people to their work, their
lives and their world”, propagated the concept holistic ergonomics (KnollInc., 2010, p. 1).
Ergonomics is not explicitly mentioned in the literature of CIS, but through searches in
relevant databases such as Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA), Library and
Information Science Source, Emerald, ISI Web of Science and ScienceDirect on “CIS”,it
appears as if issues discussed can benefit from insights from ergonomics and especially a
holistic ergonomics approach as propagated by O’Neill (2011). The authors are aware that
there are synonyms for “CIS”such as social searching, collaborative exploratory search,
collaborative information behaviour and co-browsing, but as part of an exploratory study
aimed for a manageable collection of documents to use for a first round of analysis. Only
search terms closely associated to “CIS”were utilised: CIS, collaborative IR, collaborative
search and collaborative retrieval. Although Fidel et al. (2000, p. 241, 2004, p. 943) mention
the usage of ergonomic analysis which takes into consideration human interactions and
perception-action capabilities for designing information systems, they do not elaborate.
CIS faces issues such as system design, development and deployment that are
interweaved with environmental issues such as group dynamics, personal and social
interactions, and the successful integration of work practices into shared collaborative
information spaces and environments (Fidel et al., 2004; Foster, 2006; Shah, 2009). The
purpose of this paper is to explore how a holistic ergonomic approach, covering
engineering, cognitive and social perspectives, can help cultivate beneficial and
productive CIS systems and environments, specifically with regard to the three main
CIS pillars (control, communication and awareness), and to instigate interest in further
research. The research question was:
RQ1. How can terminology from holistic ergonomics be used to eliminate issues
in CIS systems that can benefit from a holistic ergonomic approach to
cultivating beneficial and productive CIS systems and environments?
Sub-questions included:
440
LHT
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