Home // International Journal On Advances in Software, volume 17, numbers 1 and 2, 2024 // View article
Authors:
Kanayo Ogura
Ryotaro Hoshi
Keywords: informal information sharing; electronic bulletin board; analog bulletin board; user study
Abstract:
In this study, based on the hypothesis that incorporating an analog information sharing environment, such as a station bulletin board, into a digital information sharing environment would enable casual and informal information sharing across small communities within a large organization, we conducted about 2 months of observation of whiteboard usage behaviors. Based on the results, we designed and implemented an electronic bulletin board through a large display that has functions to promote messages, improve their quality, and process them according to their importance, and allows users to post and view messages while conversing. We then conducted a user study for about 5 months to evaluate the effectiveness of the features of our electronic bulletin board based on the findings from our whiteboard observations and to test our hypothesis. As a result, we found that there were an average of 3 to 10 posts per day, including new posts and replies. In terms of reading, the survey found that about 90% of the 307 respondents (about 15% of all students) had read the bulletin board, confirming that our electronic bulletin board is being used daily as an information sharing tool. In addition, the "I saw it" reaction button was used for about 30% of all new posts and replies (552 posts), and the "Delete it" button was used for about 10%. Analysis of the message content in conjunction with the reaction buttons showed that they contribute to maintaining the quality of posts and judging the importance of posts, confirming the effectiveness of the implemented functions. Furthermore, the survey found multiple responses indicating that information sharing across departmental boundaries was possible, confirming that the hypothesis that by incorporating an analog information sharing environment, such as a station bulletin board, into a digital information sharing environment, it would be possible to achieve casual and informal information sharing across small communities within a large organization, is correct.
Pages: 129 to 142
Copyright: Copyright (c) to authors, 2024. Used with permission.
Publication date: June 30, 2024
Published in: journal
ISSN: 1942-2628