Journey Model Research Articles

Keeping up to date: An academic researcher's information journey

Keeping up to date with research developments is a central activity of academic researchers, but researchers face difficulties in managing the rapid growth of available scientific information. This study examined how researchers stay up to date, using the information journey model as a framework for analysis and investigating which dimensions influence information behaviors. We designed a 2‐round study involving semistructured interviews and prototype testing with 61 researchers with 3 levels of seniority (PhD student to professor). Data were analyzed following a semistructured qualitative approach. Five key dimensions that influence information behaviors were identified: level of seniority, information sources, state of the project, level of familiarity, and how well defined the relevant community is. These dimensions are interrelated and their values determine the flow of the information journey. Across all levels of professional expertise, researchers used similar hard (formal) sources to access content, while soft (interpersonal) sources were used to filter information. An important “pain point” that future information tools should address is helping researchers filter information at the point of need.

Stakeholder inclusiveness in sustainability reporting by mining companies listed on the Johannesburg securities exchange

A key requirement for listing on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) Socially Responsible Invest- ment (SRI) index is the publication, by companies, of annual sustainability reports in line with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines that require stakeholders to be included in defining the content of such reports. Despite this requirement, stakeholders appear not to be integrally involved in the process. The primary objective of the study was to determine whether the contents of sustainability reports of the mining companies listed on the JSE SRI index are based on the outcome of robust stakeholder engagement processes undertaken specifically for the purpose of preparing these reports. Against a backdrop of the GRI requirements, a quantitative evaluation was undertaken of recent sustainability reports of 11 South African mining companies. These reports were also qualitatively assessed against the corporate social responsibility (CSR) Journey Model proposed by Mirvis and Googins (2006). The two assessment scores for each mining company were integrated and the companies were plotted ac- cording to a CSR journey that encompasses degrees of stakeholder involvement. The findings highlight that while the companies adhere to the quantitative GRI stakeholder engagement requirements, the contents of the sustainability reports have not been specifically informed by stakeholders. Companies also appear to be in the early stages of the CSR journey. Recommendations include advising mining companies to utilise existing stakeholder engagement platforms to advance stakeholder inclusion in sustainability reporting and for mining companies to engage in developing the business case for CSR, which could promote greater stakeholder involvement.Â

Use of the 'patient journey' model in the internet-based pre-fitting counseling of a person with hearing disability: lessons from a failed clinical trial.

BackgroundPersons with a hearing impairment have various experiences during their ‘journey’ through hearing loss. In our previous studies we have developed ‘patient journey’ models of person with hearing impairment and their communication partners (CPs). The study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using the patient journey model in the internet-based pre-fitting counseling of a person with hearing disability (ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System: NCT01611129, registered 2012 May 14).MethodThe study employed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with waiting list control (WLC) design. Even though we had intended to recruit 158 participants, we only managed to recruit 80 participants who were assigned to one of two groups: (1) Intervention group; and (2) WLC. Participants from both groups completed a 30 day internet-based counseling program (group 2 waited for a month before intervention) based on the ‘patient journey’ model. Various outcome measures which focus on self-reported hearing disability, self-reported depression and anxiety, readiness to change and self-reported hearing disability acceptance were administered pre- and post-intervention.ResultsThe trial results suggest that the intervention was not feasible. Treatment compliancy was one of the main problems with a high number of dropouts. Only 18 participants completed both pre- and post-intervention outcome measures. Their results were included in the analysis. Results suggest no statistically significant differences among groups over time in all four measures.ConclusionsDue to the limited sample size, no concrete conclusions can be drawn about the hypotheses from the current study. Furthermore, possible reasons for failure of this trial and directions for future research are discussed.

The information journey of marketing professionals: Incorporating work task‐driven information seeking, information judgments, information use, and information sharing

Marketing professionals' work activities are heavily reliant on access to and the use of large amounts of quality information. This study aims to examine the information journey experienced by marketing professionals, including task‐driven information seeking, information judgments, information use, and information sharing, from a more contextualized and holistic viewpoint. The information journey presents a more comprehensive picture of user–information interaction than is usually offered in the literature. Using a diary method and post‐diary in‐depth interviews, data consisting of 1,198 diary entries relating to 101 real work tasks were collected over a period of 5 work days. The data were used to ascertain characteristics of the stages of marketing professionals' information journeys as well as the relationships between them. Five stages of the information journey, including determining the need for work task‐generated information, seeking such information, judging and evaluating the information found, making sense of and using the obtained information, and sharing the obtained or assembled information, were identified. The information journey also encompassed types of gaps and gap‐bridge techniques that occurred during information seeking and use. Based on the empirical findings, an information journey model was developed. The implications for information systems design solutions that enable different stages of the information journey to be linked together are also discussed.

Communication Partners’ Journey through Their Partner’s Hearing Impairment

The objective of this study was to further develop the Ida Institute model on communication partners' (CPs) journey through experiences of person with hearing impairment (PHI), based on the perspectives of CPs. Nine CPs of hearing aid users participated in this study, recruited through the Swansea hearing impaired support group. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, the data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis and presented with the use of process mapping approach. Seven main phases were identified in the CP journey which includes: (1) contemplation, (2) awareness, (3) persuasion, (4) validation, (5) rehabilitation, (6) adaptation, and (7) resolution. The Ida Institute model (based on professionals' perspective) was compared with the new template developed (based on CPs' perspectives). The results suggest some commonalities and differences between the views of professionals and CPs. A new phase, adaptation, was identified from CPs reported experiences, which was not identified by professionals in the Ida Institute model. The CP's journey model could be a useful tool during audiological enablement/rehabilitation sessions to promote discussion between the PHI and the CP. In addition, it can be used in the training of hearing healthcare professionals.

La ricostruzione degli stili di vita a partire dai consumi

If marketing has one goal, it’s to reach consumers at the moments that most influence their decisions. Consumers are moving outside the purchasing funnel changing the way they research and buy products. The funnel concept fails to capture all the touch points and key buying factors resulting from the explosion of product choices and digital channels, coupled with the emergence of an increasingly discerning, well-informed consumer. A more sophisticated approach is required to help marketers navigate the new consumer decision journey model; marketers must move aggressively beyond purely push-style communication and learn to influence consumer-driven touch points; they have to start a shift in thinking their “cornerstones”: from Transactions to Relationships.Marketing focusing on an Integrate – rather than Enterprise – Marketing Management, has the potential to work as a Hub for a decentralized social-application to provide coordination in multichannel customer-facing interactions. Companies must adapt to collect data on target customers’ online personas, which are many, self-created, networked and incomplete. Sophisticated analysis of circumstantial data can open up new channels and applications that can make the company relevant to the customer and can build relationships, no matter how individuals choose to represent themselves, or where they choose to interact with the company.

Knowing Self Through the Journey: Graduate Students’ Experiences of Self-Knowledge Development

This article explores graduate students’ experiences of a self-knowledge development course that is framed by the Heroic Journey model. Through a consideration of several theorists’ perspectives and through the voices of 13 study participants, this article examines the nature of this self-study experience and its impact on participants’ lives. In light of feminist critiques of the traditional Heroic Journey model, the author pays particular attention to the experiences of women in this course. The author identifies three major findings: First, when the Heroic journey model is understood as a process and not just a theoretical construct, it gains significant power as an inclusive tool for fostering self-knowledge development. Second, self-knowledge development is not solely an individual endeavor. Self-knowledge is socially constructed through interaction with others. Third, self-knowledge development has critical spiritual dimensions, and this deeper level of knowing can lead to significant, long-lasting growth and change.

Information Systems and Healthcare XXVIII: The Information Needs of Family Carers in Collaborative Healthcare

While the important role of family carers has been increasingly recognized in healthcare service provision, particularly for patients with acute or chronic illnesses, the family carer’s information needs have not been well understood or adequately supported by health information systems. In this study, we explore the information needs of a family carer by analyzing the extensive online diary of a Vietnamese family carer supporting his wife, who was a lung cancer patient. The study provides a deep understanding of the information needs of the family carer and suggests a four-stage information journey model including identification, searching, interpretation and information sharing, and collaboration. A number of themes emerge from the study including the key role of the carer, information filtering by the carer, information sharing and collaboration, and the influence of Vietnamese culture. The paper concludes with a discussion of the requirements for health information systems that meet the needs of family carers.

The JOURNEY active network model

Faster processors are quickly enabling a new class of computationally intensive applications that actively transform information flows. Performing such computation at the terminal end is contrary to current trends toward low-power terminal devices. Moreover, scalability and efficiency concerns are also encouraging service providers to outsource computation when operating under loaded conditions. To address the problem of deploying such applications, we introduce the JOURNEY network model, which provides computation as an integrated network service. Contrary to other distributed computing models, JOURNEY does not attempt to guarantee that a given computational job will indeed be completed. Instead, the JOURNEY model trades off such hard guarantees in favor of architectural simplicity, and hence scalability. In order for the JOURNEY model to be applicable to real-time multimedia flows, we introduce the notion of soft quality-of-service (QoS) that provides a probabilistic bound on the unprocessed packet rate (UPR). Based on this notion, we describe a packet-processing admission control algorithm that additionally takes into consideration a flow's real-time constraints. We also propose a computing router architecture that is based on cluster technology. This architecture can track technology advances in both routing and computing independently. We further present a motivating multimedia application that employs a semantically driven video transcoding service within the JOURNEY framework we implemented, and describe our experience along with performance measurements.

Thermal behaviour of an eighteenth-century Athenian dwelling

Augmented Reality (AR) has received increased attention over the last years, both from managers and scholars alike. Various studies in the marketing discipline have tackled fragmented aspects of AR, such as its impact on sales or brands. Yet, a holistic approach to AR remains scarce. Therefore, the authors define “Augmented Reality Marketing” as a novel, strategic, and potentially disruptive subdiscipline in marketing. In conjunction, they discuss a nuanced customer journey model for AR Marketing strategy and propose the BICK FOUR framework (branding, inspiring, convincing, and keeping) as a tool to organize corresponding goals. Another contribution is the introduction of several fundamental differences between AR Marketing and traditional digital marketing concepts, such as redefining the reality concept (reduced reality, normal reality, and augmented reality in a metaverse context). Insights from 127 managers further enhance the current and future practices of AR Marketing. Finally, a discussion of ethical and legal considerations completes the assessment.