Understanding interaction between office-based professionals for the development of advanced communication and information technologies

Abstract

This paper describes a multi-method exploratory study conducted with the aim of developing a greater understanding of how individuals working in an office environment communicate and manage information. The study is directed towards informing the design of ‘personal information management appliances’ - advanced information and communication products which support the management of electronic communication and information. The study has focused on the relationship between managers and their personal assistants as an instance of collaborating office-based professionals, identifying and categorising the range of tasks which are performed during office-based interaction. It describes the frequency and duration of a common set of tasks, indicating variations in performance of those tasks by managers and assistants, and proposes the implications which this may have on the design of enabling technologies to support such collaborative office-based activities.