Welcome to the InfoSci Platform
Different Levels of Information Systems Designers' Forms of Thought and Potential for Human-Centered Design

Different Levels of Information Systems Designers' Forms of Thought and Potential for Human-Centered Design

Hannakaisa Isomäki
Copyright: © 2009 |Pages: 17
ISBN13: 9781605660882|ISBN10: 1605660884|EISBN13: 9781605660899
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-088-2.ch005
Cite Chapter Cite Chapter

MLA

Isomäki, Hannakaisa. "Different Levels of Information Systems Designers' Forms of Thought and Potential for Human-Centered Design." Selected Readings on the Human Side of Information Technology, edited by Edward J. Szewczak , IGI Global, 2009, pp. 74-90. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-088-2.ch005

APA

Isomäki, H. (2009). Different Levels of Information Systems Designers' Forms of Thought and Potential for Human-Centered Design. In E. Szewczak (Ed.), Selected Readings on the Human Side of Information Technology (pp. 74-90). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-088-2.ch005

Chicago

Isomäki, Hannakaisa. "Different Levels of Information Systems Designers' Forms of Thought and Potential for Human-Centered Design." In Selected Readings on the Human Side of Information Technology, edited by Edward J. Szewczak , 74-90. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2009. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-088-2.ch005

Export Reference

Mendeley
Favorite

Abstract

This article describes a study clarifying information systems (IS) designers’ conceptions of human users of IS by drawing on in-depth interviews with 20 designers. The designers’ lived experiences in their work build up a continuum of levels of thought from more limited conceptions to more comprehensive ones reflecting variations of the designers’ situated knowledge related to human-centred design. The resulting forms of thought indicate three different but associated levels in conceptualising users. The separatist form of thought provides designers predominantly with technical perspectives and a capability for objectifying things. The functional form of thought focuses on external task information and task productivity, nevertheless, with the help of positive emotions. The holistic form of thought provides designers with competence of humancentred information systems development (ISD). Furthermore, the author hopes that understanding the IS designers’ tendencies to conceptualise human users facilitates the mutual communication between users and designers.

Request Access

You do not own this content. Please login to recommend this title to your institution's librarian or purchase it from the IGI Global bookstore.