A method to analyze visualizations in project management as boundary objects
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| + | NEW TITEL; An analysis of project management visualization 'quality' through the boundary object framework | ||
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==Abstract== | ==Abstract== | ||
| + | Good project management can be | ||
| + | An analysis of PM visualization "quality" through BO framework | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
| + | There are so many different tools and methods for project management some of which can be seen as visualizations. These visualizations obviously works different in different contexts which can make the visualization more or less effective. | ||
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| + | How well a visualization ‘performs’ will in this article be explained as the ‘’quality’’ of the visualization, meaning that visualizations of higher quality performs better for a given situation and certain actors. Arguing that visualizations are of different quality begs the question: What constitutes a visualization of good quality (for the specific context)? | ||
| + | I propose analyzing the quality of project management visualizations with boundary objects as the framework. | ||
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| + | ==Definition of visualization== | ||
In project management different forms of visualizations are widely used e.g. [http://apppm.man.dtu.dk/index.php/The_Gantt_chart_and_the_usage_nowadays gantt] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program_evaluation_and_review_technique PERT] charts. A visualization can be defined as ''"The process of representing abstract business or scientific data as images that can aid in understanding the meaning of the data"''<ref name="visualization-definition">Multimedia and graphics glossary - Visualization. [online] http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/visualization. [Accessed 20. September 2015].</ref>. | In project management different forms of visualizations are widely used e.g. [http://apppm.man.dtu.dk/index.php/The_Gantt_chart_and_the_usage_nowadays gantt] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program_evaluation_and_review_technique PERT] charts. A visualization can be defined as ''"The process of representing abstract business or scientific data as images that can aid in understanding the meaning of the data"''<ref name="visualization-definition">Multimedia and graphics glossary - Visualization. [online] http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/visualization. [Accessed 20. September 2015].</ref>. | ||
In this article I will define a visualization by three minimal criteria <ref name="What is visualization">Visualization and Visual Communication. [online] https://eagereyes.org/criticism/definition-of-visualization. [Accessed 20. September 2015].</ref>: | In this article I will define a visualization by three minimal criteria <ref name="What is visualization">Visualization and Visual Communication. [online] https://eagereyes.org/criticism/definition-of-visualization. [Accessed 20. September 2015].</ref>: | ||
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# The result must be readable and recognizable. A visualization must enable actors to learn something about the data. | # The result must be readable and recognizable. A visualization must enable actors to learn something about the data. | ||
# Produce an image. Seemingly obvious a visualization must produce an image. In addition the visual must be the primary mean of communication, thus it’s not considered a visualization if the image is only a small part of the process. | # Produce an image. Seemingly obvious a visualization must produce an image. In addition the visual must be the primary mean of communication, thus it’s not considered a visualization if the image is only a small part of the process. | ||
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| − | + | ==Boundary Objects== | |
| + | The boundary object framework extent our understanding of visualizations as not just instruments to communicate data through an image, but on the contrary as objects enabling the necessary social interaction and integration of knowledge across boundaries, which in the end enables knowledge sharing and integration of information within an organization (e.g. Chesley and Wegner, 1999; Grant, 2003 – strategy ****reference). This also enable us to understand that these visualizations are not static objects but are being shaped by the political and social context of their use (reference strategy****) | ||
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| + | social worlds | ||
| + | different types of boundaries | ||
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| + | ===What is a boundary object=== | ||
| + | When used effectively a boundary object enable integration of knowledge across boundaries. | ||
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| + | ===Designated versus in use boundary objects=== | ||
| + | Levina and Vaast (2005 reference strategy tools ****) differentiate between designated boundary objects and boundary objects-in-use. Designated boundary objects are ’artefacts that are designated as valuable for boundary spanning, due to their design and properties’ (Levina and Vaast, 2005, 342 – strategy tools ****). Typical, powerful actors such as top managers designate a specific tool to be used in the project, which may or may not become boundary objects-in-use. Boundary objects-in-use are ’artefact that have meaning and are useful for the work practices of different groups of actors, and which acquire a common identity across groups’ (Star and Griesemer, 1989 – reference ****). For example, within a manufacturing plant, Bechky (2003b reference strategy tools****) found that the designated boundary object was the engineers’ blueprint of a machine. However, prototypes of the actual machine became the actual boundary objects-in-use since they had much more meaning and thereby were more useful for the work being done by assemblers and technicians. Whether it becomes a boundary object-in-use is determined by how an artefact is used. Thus, boundary objects are perceived as useful when they are in use. However, the use can appear within different episodes, such as discussion in the project planning or repeating use throughout the entire project. | ||
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Revision as of 20:05, 20 September 2015
NEW TITEL; An analysis of project management visualization 'quality' through the boundary object framework
Contents |
Abstract
Good project management can be
An analysis of PM visualization "quality" through BO framework
Introduction
There are so many different tools and methods for project management some of which can be seen as visualizations. These visualizations obviously works different in different contexts which can make the visualization more or less effective.
How well a visualization ‘performs’ will in this article be explained as the ‘’quality’’ of the visualization, meaning that visualizations of higher quality performs better for a given situation and certain actors. Arguing that visualizations are of different quality begs the question: What constitutes a visualization of good quality (for the specific context)? I propose analyzing the quality of project management visualizations with boundary objects as the framework.
Definition of visualization
In project management different forms of visualizations are widely used e.g. gantt or PERT charts. A visualization can be defined as "The process of representing abstract business or scientific data as images that can aid in understanding the meaning of the data"[1]. In this article I will define a visualization by three minimal criteria [2]:
- Based on data. The purpose of a visualization is to communicate data, thus the data arrives from something that is not immediately visible.
- The result must be readable and recognizable. A visualization must enable actors to learn something about the data.
- Produce an image. Seemingly obvious a visualization must produce an image. In addition the visual must be the primary mean of communication, thus it’s not considered a visualization if the image is only a small part of the process.
Boundary Objects
The boundary object framework extent our understanding of visualizations as not just instruments to communicate data through an image, but on the contrary as objects enabling the necessary social interaction and integration of knowledge across boundaries, which in the end enables knowledge sharing and integration of information within an organization (e.g. Chesley and Wegner, 1999; Grant, 2003 – strategy ****reference). This also enable us to understand that these visualizations are not static objects but are being shaped by the political and social context of their use (reference strategy****)
social worlds different types of boundaries
What is a boundary object
When used effectively a boundary object enable integration of knowledge across boundaries.
Designated versus in use boundary objects
Levina and Vaast (2005 reference strategy tools ****) differentiate between designated boundary objects and boundary objects-in-use. Designated boundary objects are ’artefacts that are designated as valuable for boundary spanning, due to their design and properties’ (Levina and Vaast, 2005, 342 – strategy tools ****). Typical, powerful actors such as top managers designate a specific tool to be used in the project, which may or may not become boundary objects-in-use. Boundary objects-in-use are ’artefact that have meaning and are useful for the work practices of different groups of actors, and which acquire a common identity across groups’ (Star and Griesemer, 1989 – reference ****). For example, within a manufacturing plant, Bechky (2003b reference strategy tools****) found that the designated boundary object was the engineers’ blueprint of a machine. However, prototypes of the actual machine became the actual boundary objects-in-use since they had much more meaning and thereby were more useful for the work being done by assemblers and technicians. Whether it becomes a boundary object-in-use is determined by how an artefact is used. Thus, boundary objects are perceived as useful when they are in use. However, the use can appear within different episodes, such as discussion in the project planning or repeating use throughout the entire project.
References
- ↑ Multimedia and graphics glossary - Visualization. [online] http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/visualization. [Accessed 20. September 2015].
- ↑ Visualization and Visual Communication. [online] https://eagereyes.org/criticism/definition-of-visualization. [Accessed 20. September 2015].
