Showing papers on "Computer user satisfaction published in 1986"

An empirical study of the impact of user involvement on system usage and information satisfaction

Abstract: "User involvement" in information system development is generally considered an important mechanism for improving system quality and ensuring successful system implementation. The common assumption that user involvement leads to system usage and/or information satisfaction is examined in a survey of 200 production managers. Alternative models exploring the causal ordering of the three variables are developed and tested via path analysis. The results demonstrate that user involvement in the development of information systems will enhance both system usage and the user's satisfaction with the system. Further, the study provides evidence that the user's satisfaction with the system will lead to greater system usage.

Dialogue-based user models

Abstract: The paper investigates several approaches to user modeling in natural-language dialogue systems. First, reasons are pointed out why user modeling has become so important in the last few years, and definitions are proposed for the notions of "user model" and "user modeling component." Then, techniques for constructing user models in the course of a dialogue are presented and recent proposals for representing a wide range of assumptions about a user's beliefs and goals in a system's knowledge base are surveyed. Examples for the application of user models in systems developed to date are presented, and some social implications are discussed. Finally, unsolved problems like coping with collective beliefs or resource-limited processes are investigated, and prospects for application-oriented research are outlined.

Innovation and re‐innovation: A role for the user

Abstract: Various models of the innovation process, from the “traditional” to the more recent, are examined in this paper which focuses on the implications for the role of the user in the innovation process. The author points out the need for greater recognition of the importance of users as active participants in the innovation process. In many industrial sectors user‐need specification and product development involve more than simply a passive role for the user and innovatory success is associated with active user involvement in product specification, design and development.

Tools for building advanced user interfaces

Abstract: System developers are noticing that their design decisions strongly affect computer usability. The design of the user interface has an important bearing on the knowledge users must have to accomplish work through the user-computer interface. Recognition of this fact is leading to the development of User Interface Management Systems (UIMSs). A UIMS is a design concept for separating the details of user interaction from the details of advanced applications. This paper shows how UIMS research and research into the representation of user process knowledge (i.e., user how-to-do-it skills) can help developers understand issues involving ease of learning and ease of use. This parallel progress in UIMS development and in user modeling makes it easier to build high-quality advanced user interfaces.

An investigation of strategies for supporting and controlling user development of computer applications (management information systems (mis))

Abstract: User development is that part of end-user computing which deals with the development of computer application software by organization members who are not computing professionals. This study investigated how organization policies and procedures for the support and control of user development were related to the success of user development. It also investigated how the background of those performing user development was related to its success. User development success was measured in terms of satisfaction on the part of functional unit managers and their subordinates who perform user development. The study was a nonexperimental field survey of the one-measurement cross-sectional type. Data for the study was collected via three self-administered questionnaires. One questionnaire was used to collect data about the organization's support and control policies from a member of the EDP function. Another questionnaire was used to collect data from functional unit managers about their perceptions of the problems and benefits associated with user development. The third questionnaire was used to collect data about the background of user developers as well as their levels of satisfaction with the training, consulting and computing resources made available to them. There were 23 organizations, 40 functional unit managers and 111 user developers represented in the sample analyzed. The predominate type of user development application was report generation with 40 percent of the development being done using stand-alone personal computers. The findings of this study strongly indicate that user developers and the managers of their functional units were very satisfied with the process of user development. Managers were also very satisfied with the cost and intangible benefits being derived from their units' user development activities. There was also strong evidence that managers perceived less severe problems with user development when their user developers were more satisfied with the user development process. The study found that organizational support policies and procedures were far more influential in determining user development success than were control policies and procedures. User development training and consulting support were most influential, along with the ability to easily access quality data. The background of user developers was also related to user development success. More user development experience was associated with higher levels of satisfaction, but more education and training were generally associated with lower levels of satisfaction.

Some new factors influencing user information satisfaction: implications for systems professionals

Abstract: MIS researchers and professionals have identified user information satisfaction as a major objective of information systems development and implementation activities. In the absence of better evaluation criteria, user information satisfaction (or customer satisfaction) is often used as a criterion to evaluate the information systems department.In the MIS literature three major factors have been identified which can influence a user's satisfaction with her/his information systems. These factors are: the quality of information products (reports and screens), attitudes towards MIS staff and services, and knowledge and involvement level of user. This paper reports on a pilot study which aims to investigate two additional factors which may be relevant for user information satisfaction.The first additional factor is perceived fairness in the allocation of information systems and related resources to different user groups. Procedural fairness and distributive fairness have been identified as important for an individual's satisfaction in various non-MIS contexts. This study examines the relative role of fairness-related issues in an MIS context as determinants of user information satisfaction.The second factor relates to the impact of information systems design on the work environment of users. Role conflict and role ambiguity in the work environment are explored as a possible factor influencing user information satisfaction.

The Influence of Troubleshooting, Education, and Documentation on Computer User Satisfaction

Abstract: The influence of a number of technical support (TS) independent variables on overall computer user satisfaction is analyzed. The variables troubleshooting, user expectations, and documentation are found to be the most significant variables affecting overall satisfaction, whereas the variables number of computer systems and the microcomputer (as the type of installation) have the least significant effect in the user satisfaction model.

The effects of communication monitors on user satisfaction

Abstract: This study analyzes the influence of communication monitors (CM) on overall computer user satisfaction as determined by multiple regression. The variables user expectations, manufacturers and vendors are found to be the most significant variables affecting overall satisfaction, whereas the variables number of systems represented and not using communication monitors have the least significant effect in the user satisfaction model. The implications for improvements in CM by updates to a database are discussed and analyzed.

Factors affecting the utilization of personal computers by managers and executives (information science)

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of technological, organizational, personal, and implementation process attributes on the utilization of personal computer systems. A mail survey was conducted which utilized a 134 item questionnaire which included personal background information, computer system and use characteristics, and a Jungian personality test. A total of 253 responses were received from two different groups of managers, of which 105 were utilized for analysis. All of the responses which were utilized in the analysis were from managers and executives who used personal computer systems. Twenty-six hypotheses were tested using correlation analysis and analysis of variance. Each hypothesis related a technological, organizational, personal, or implementation process attribute to personal computer utilization. Reported computer usetime was used as the dependent variable. Sixteen of the hypotheses were either supported or contradicted by tests that showed significance at an alpha risk of 0.10 or better. The following effects would appear to be of a general nature in that they were evidenced by both sample groups. Personal computer utilization as indicated through reported usetime is associated: (1) Very strongly with user satisfaction with the system's contribution to job performance. (2) Very strongly with user satisfaction with level of competence with the system. (3) Very strongly with time reported to be spent directly supervising (with those spending more time supervising spending less time using computers). (4) Strongly with the amount of computer training completed. (5) Weakly with user satisfaction with ease of use. Many other effects were found to be significant for only one or the other of the two sample groups. These effects included: user's level in the organization, user's span of control, time spent in competing activities, typing ability, personality type, satisfaction with availability of computer training, system accessibility, satisfaction with the overall computer system, and satisfaction with system accuracy.

What the human resources user wants

Abstract: A group of human resources systems professionals participated in a Nominal Group Technique session seeking to determine the characteristics of management information systems contributing to user satisfaction. The technique illustrates a method of determining user information requirements. The results suggest the importance of timely and flexible retrieval facilities, on-line input, accurately validated data, adequate documentation, security, and organization support.

The Effects of Computer Location on End‐user Satisfaction

Abstract: The question of the location of computers, i.e. whether to have a centralised or decentralised processing system, is of particular concern to managers. A study carried out to measure the impact of computer location on user satisfaction shows that overall satisfaction with computer systems is greatly affected by user expectations, the number of systems and minicomputers. Microcomputers and central processing have a lesser effect on overall satisfaction. This means that additional variables do not contribute significantly to the overall satisfaction of the computer system. The implications of the study are discussed.

Statistical/mathematical software related to computer user satisfaction: An interactive online expert system using diagnostic audit trails through telecommunication networks

Abstract: The selection of a statistical/mathematical software (SMS) system is complicated. The satisfaction derived from a system depends on many variables. This study analyses the influence of SMS predictor variables on satisfaction as determined by multiple regression. The null hypothesis, that multiple correlation coefficient is zero, is rejected. The alternative hypothesis is accepted. This study confirms the theories that suggest that SMS ease of operation, computer reliability, and ease of programming are the major determinants of computer user satisfaction. The factors identified were used in the design of an SMS Expert System based on Artificial Intelligence (ESAI).