Ilona Box - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ilona Box

Research paper thumbnail of Cowboy, Cataloguer, Methodist, Magician, and Master: Gestalts of Analysis and Design

PhD Thesis

Business information systems (BIS) projects succeed or fail because of people. A better understan... more Business information systems (BIS) projects succeed or fail because of people. A better understanding of the people who analyse/design BIS could lead to more successes. This study of the qualitatively different ways that analyst/designers’ conceive of and approach their work improves our understanding. Twenty interviews with analyst/designers with varying expertise and years of experience were analysed, interpreted, and described using a research method that evolved from orthodox phenomenography. This evolved method itself contributes to phenomenography. The significant contributions are: 1) GIFTed data analysis, a data analysis technique incorporating Gestalt theory, types of intentionality, and Gurwitsch’s field theory of consciousness; 2) a generic conception-of analytical framework; 3) a generic approach-to analytical framework. The categories resulting from the phenomenographic analysis, and which describe analyst/designers’ awareness of analysis/design, are treated as Gestalts. The categories form two sets: conceptions and approaches. The five conception categories are: 1) Differentiate analysis/design as something other than programming; 2) Catalogue separate analysis/design tasks into a sequential and orderly activity; 3) Idealise analysis/design as how to deliver what the client wants; 4) Contrast actual and ideal analysis—what and design—how; 5) Integrate exploring the organisation and problem with creating an abstract solution. The four approach categories are: 1) An ad hoc process that as quickly as possible delivers something to the client and solves the problem; 2) An atomistic process that produces artefacts to show that some analysis and design took place; 3) A circumscribed process that produces the best artefacts and solution; 4) An adjustable process that shares an understanding of the problem and a vision of the solution to satisfice stakeholders. Ten relationships between conception and approach categories were deemed rational. Five relationships, which are the relationships between the highest approach category to which a conception category is related, were selected for closer examination. These five Gestalts of analysis/design, the cowboy, the cataloguer, the methodist, the magician, and the master are described as parallel Gestalts at the field or theme level of the categories and as development life cycles. All these results reveal at a collective level a number of different ways analyst/designers experience analysis/design, thus contributing to a people-centred foundation for research aimed at increasing BIS project successes.

Research paper thumbnail of Velnet: Virtual Environment for Learning Networking

Proceedings of the sixth conference …, Jan 1, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of The Dimensions of Variation In the Teaching of Data Structures

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Differing Ways That Computing Academics Understand Teaching

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Predictors of Success In a First Programming Course

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of A Virtual Learning Environment for Real-World Networking

Information Science, Jan 1, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of Object-Oriented Analysis, Criterion Referencing, and Bloom

Proceedings of the sixth conference on Australasian …, Jan 1, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Do Map Drawing Styles of Novice Programmers Predict Success In Programming?: a Multi-National, Multi-Institutional Study

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Approaches to Learning In Computer Programming Students and Their Effect on Success

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of The Ability to Articulate Strategy As a Predictor of Programming Skill

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Object Oriented Software Development: Step by Step

Research paper thumbnail of Applying Educational Research to Improve Teaching and Learning In Information Systems

Informing Science and IT Education, Jan 1, 2002

Research paper thumbnail of Improving Software Development: The Prescriptive Simplified Method

… on Information Systems, Coffs Harbour, NSW, …, Jan 1, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of Programmed to Succeed?: A Multi-National, Multi-Institutional Study of Introductory Programming Courses

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing the Assessment: An Empirical Study of An Information Systems Development Subject

Proceedings of the fifth Australasian conference on …, Jan 1, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of Learning Educational Research Methods Through Collaborative Research: the PhICER Initiative

Proceedings of the tenth …, Jan 1, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Using Formative Assessment and the Feedback Process As An Approach to the Learning of Software Development Review and Quality Assurance Skills

Learning for an unknown future: Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of … of the ACE2005--2007 proceedings, with reference to the June 2007 CORE conference and journal …

Proceedings of the tenth conference on Australasian …, Jan 1, 2008

... Reference to the June 2007 CORE Conference and Journal Rankings ... (All tables appear at the... more ... Reference to the June 2007 CORE Conference and Journal Rankings ... (All tables appear at the end of the paper.) 2 Conference Citations and CORE Rankings ...

Research paper thumbnail of A Citation Analysis of the SIGCSE 2007 Proceedings

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, Jan 1, 2008

Abstract This paper identifies the most commonly cited conferences, journals and books among the ... more Abstract This paper identifies the most commonly cited conferences, journals and books among the 1398 citations made in the 122 publications of the SIGCSE 2007 proceedings. The SIGCSE 2007 authors cited a very large array of conferences, journals and books, but the majority are only cited within a single paper. There are only a very small set of journals and conferences cited frequently. Most books cited are concerned with technical information or are textbooks. Only 2% of books are concerned with computer science education and ...

Research paper thumbnail of Toward An Understanding of the Variation In Approaches to Analysis and Design

Computer Science Education, Jan 1, 2009

This paper contributes to an understanding of the variation in approaches that information system... more This paper contributes to an understanding of the variation in approaches that information system analysts/designers use to do analysis and design. A qualitative, phenomenographic research method was used. Four categories were constituted from the data: an ad hoc strategy with the intention of solving the problem as quickly as possible; a strategy of producing atomistic analysis and design artefacts with

Research paper thumbnail of Cowboy, Cataloguer, Methodist, Magician, and Master: Gestalts of Analysis and Design

PhD Thesis

Business information systems (BIS) projects succeed or fail because of people. A better understan... more Business information systems (BIS) projects succeed or fail because of people. A better understanding of the people who analyse/design BIS could lead to more successes. This study of the qualitatively different ways that analyst/designers’ conceive of and approach their work improves our understanding. Twenty interviews with analyst/designers with varying expertise and years of experience were analysed, interpreted, and described using a research method that evolved from orthodox phenomenography. This evolved method itself contributes to phenomenography. The significant contributions are: 1) GIFTed data analysis, a data analysis technique incorporating Gestalt theory, types of intentionality, and Gurwitsch’s field theory of consciousness; 2) a generic conception-of analytical framework; 3) a generic approach-to analytical framework. The categories resulting from the phenomenographic analysis, and which describe analyst/designers’ awareness of analysis/design, are treated as Gestalts. The categories form two sets: conceptions and approaches. The five conception categories are: 1) Differentiate analysis/design as something other than programming; 2) Catalogue separate analysis/design tasks into a sequential and orderly activity; 3) Idealise analysis/design as how to deliver what the client wants; 4) Contrast actual and ideal analysis—what and design—how; 5) Integrate exploring the organisation and problem with creating an abstract solution. The four approach categories are: 1) An ad hoc process that as quickly as possible delivers something to the client and solves the problem; 2) An atomistic process that produces artefacts to show that some analysis and design took place; 3) A circumscribed process that produces the best artefacts and solution; 4) An adjustable process that shares an understanding of the problem and a vision of the solution to satisfice stakeholders. Ten relationships between conception and approach categories were deemed rational. Five relationships, which are the relationships between the highest approach category to which a conception category is related, were selected for closer examination. These five Gestalts of analysis/design, the cowboy, the cataloguer, the methodist, the magician, and the master are described as parallel Gestalts at the field or theme level of the categories and as development life cycles. All these results reveal at a collective level a number of different ways analyst/designers experience analysis/design, thus contributing to a people-centred foundation for research aimed at increasing BIS project successes.

Research paper thumbnail of Velnet: Virtual Environment for Learning Networking

Proceedings of the sixth conference …, Jan 1, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of The Dimensions of Variation In the Teaching of Data Structures

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Differing Ways That Computing Academics Understand Teaching

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Predictors of Success In a First Programming Course

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of A Virtual Learning Environment for Real-World Networking

Information Science, Jan 1, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of Object-Oriented Analysis, Criterion Referencing, and Bloom

Proceedings of the sixth conference on Australasian …, Jan 1, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Do Map Drawing Styles of Novice Programmers Predict Success In Programming?: a Multi-National, Multi-Institutional Study

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Approaches to Learning In Computer Programming Students and Their Effect on Success

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of The Ability to Articulate Strategy As a Predictor of Programming Skill

Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Object Oriented Software Development: Step by Step

Research paper thumbnail of Applying Educational Research to Improve Teaching and Learning In Information Systems

Informing Science and IT Education, Jan 1, 2002

Research paper thumbnail of Improving Software Development: The Prescriptive Simplified Method

… on Information Systems, Coffs Harbour, NSW, …, Jan 1, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of Programmed to Succeed?: A Multi-National, Multi-Institutional Study of Introductory Programming Courses

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing the Assessment: An Empirical Study of An Information Systems Development Subject

Proceedings of the fifth Australasian conference on …, Jan 1, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of Learning Educational Research Methods Through Collaborative Research: the PhICER Initiative

Proceedings of the tenth …, Jan 1, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Using Formative Assessment and the Feedback Process As An Approach to the Learning of Software Development Review and Quality Assurance Skills

Learning for an unknown future: Proceedings of the …, Jan 1, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of … of the ACE2005--2007 proceedings, with reference to the June 2007 CORE conference and journal …

Proceedings of the tenth conference on Australasian …, Jan 1, 2008

... Reference to the June 2007 CORE Conference and Journal Rankings ... (All tables appear at the... more ... Reference to the June 2007 CORE Conference and Journal Rankings ... (All tables appear at the end of the paper.) 2 Conference Citations and CORE Rankings ...

Research paper thumbnail of A Citation Analysis of the SIGCSE 2007 Proceedings

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, Jan 1, 2008

Abstract This paper identifies the most commonly cited conferences, journals and books among the ... more Abstract This paper identifies the most commonly cited conferences, journals and books among the 1398 citations made in the 122 publications of the SIGCSE 2007 proceedings. The SIGCSE 2007 authors cited a very large array of conferences, journals and books, but the majority are only cited within a single paper. There are only a very small set of journals and conferences cited frequently. Most books cited are concerned with technical information or are textbooks. Only 2% of books are concerned with computer science education and ...

Research paper thumbnail of Toward An Understanding of the Variation In Approaches to Analysis and Design

Computer Science Education, Jan 1, 2009

This paper contributes to an understanding of the variation in approaches that information system... more This paper contributes to an understanding of the variation in approaches that information system analysts/designers use to do analysis and design. A qualitative, phenomenographic research method was used. Four categories were constituted from the data: an ad hoc strategy with the intention of solving the problem as quickly as possible; a strategy of producing atomistic analysis and design artefacts with