In regards to information design, research provides high-level suggestions on how to learn and interact with customers to obtain their desired... Show moreIn regards to information design, research provides high-level suggestions on how to learn and interact with customers to obtain their desired requirements; but specifics on an approach to eliciting and controlling measurable requirements throughout the development process are not explored. In other areas of design, such an approach already exists: Quality Management, which has successfully improved processes and provided measurements for improvement in order to decrease errors and increase productivity. This dissertation analyzes the applicability of quality management tools to the process of developing information products.
The methodology involved two phases. In the initial phase, the researcher had the task of improving a company's benefits enrollment package for two groups. A Traditional Group used the currently accepted best practices in technical communication, performing a heuristic evaluation and a usability test to determine what changes to make in the existing package. This group focuses on the existing benefits enrollment package. In contrast, a Quality Management Group developed a benefits enrollment package using quality management tools, gathering quantifiable functional requirements early in the design and continuing throughout the process. The researcher prepared a revised benefits enrollment package for both groups, and the results of the studies were compared.
According to the usability analysis, the Traditional Group showed considerable improvement from the original package to the redesigned package. However, the Quality Management Group showed even greater improvements in several areas, suggesting the potential viability of this method in information design.
Future studies should focus on testing the effectiveness of this process on other types of information products. For the products that are successful, information designers could greatly benefit in learning how to use quality management tools to provide more precise and measurable information products. Show less
This research paper presents a case to establish a central location for multimedia usage, resources and services for both the IIT community... Show moreThis research paper presents a case to establish a central location for multimedia usage, resources and services for both the IIT community and external communities on the campus of Illinois Institute of Technology. Though a two phased research process, I worked to established baseline multimedia resource data from 10 separate university schools which in turn helped me to collect current multimedia resources information on all service providers on IIT campuses. The final step was to create and implement a detailed survey assessment of current IIT students and alumni, faculty and staff, community users, on campus service providers and partners on the impressions current impressions and needs of multimedia services on campus.
I concluded that through more communication and collaboration between existing campus multimedia service providers and partners, plus open communication with the clients, IIT could better allocate current multimedia resources on campus for all respective clientele. By combining both financial and human resources and centralizing the efforts to one location, the campus can begin the current and growing need for more multimedia resources and services on campus. However, more in-depth research and assessment of current and future client needs are required to help support the case, while paying particular attention to current faculty skill set, incoming student skill set, and the surrounding community development in the area of technological skill set.
Hypothesis and Objectives
My hypothesis is that centralized multimedia resources and services on IIT's campuses would provide clients with more cost-effective, efficient services than the decentralized multimedia resources and services that are currently provided. Additionally, I plan to make recommendations for the role, staffing, facility usage, and placement of a new centrally located multimedia facility.
The objectives of this research are to obtain insights, determine needs, and list accomplishments for multimedia facility usage currently provided on IIT campuses. I am also collecting information from faculty, students, and staff regarding current usage and projected multimedia needs. Information collected from the research will also help to establish future recommendations for the development of a Multimedia and Instructional Technology (MIT) facility on campus, (currently known as the Digital Media Center), and determine recommendations for current computer and technology resources on campus utilized by participants in the survey. Show less
Hand-colored laser print of Bill Murray and an unidentified companion in the stands at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, home of the minor league... Show moreHand-colored laser print of Bill Murray and an unidentified companion in the stands at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, home of the minor league Charleston RiverDogs. Show less
Hand-colored laser print of the outfield and bleachers at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Visible behind the stadium are the B&O... Show moreHand-colored laser print of the outfield and bleachers at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Visible behind the stadium are the B&O Warehouse and Emerson Bromo-Seltzer Tower. Show less
Hand-colored laser print of the Qualcomm Stadium trolley station and Qualcomm Stadium (formerly San Diego Stadium, Jack Murphy Stadium) in the... Show moreHand-colored laser print of the Qualcomm Stadium trolley station and Qualcomm Stadium (formerly San Diego Stadium, Jack Murphy Stadium) in the background. Show less
In statistics, we ask whether some statistical model ts observed data. We use a Markov chain proposed by Gross, Petrovi c, and Stasi to... Show moreIn statistics, we ask whether some statistical model ts observed data. We use a Markov chain proposed by Gross, Petrovi c, and Stasi to perform exact testing for the p1 random graph model. By comparing it to the simple switch Markov chain, we prove that it mixes rapidly on many classes of degree sequences, and we discuss why it is sometimes better suited than the simple switch chain, and try to easily introduce the concepts from the general theory along the way. M.S. in Applied Mathematics, May 2016 Show less