title: The usability of open source software: analysis and prospects

authors: Nichols, David M.

subjects: computer science

abstract: Open source communities have successfully developed many pieces of software although most computer users only use proprietary applications. The usability of open source software is often regarded as one reason for this limited distribution. In this paper we review the existing evidence of the usability of open source software and discuss how the characteristics of open-source development influence usability. We describe how existing human-computer interaction techniques can be used to leverage distributed networked communities, of developers and users, to address issues of usability.

text: The usability of open source software: analysis and prospects Open source communities have successfully developed many pieces of software although most computer users only use proprietary applications. The usability of open source software is often regarded as one reason for this limited distribution. In this paper we review the existing evidence of the usability of open source software and discuss how the characteristics of open-source development influence usability. We describe how existing human-computer interaction techniques can be used to leverage distributed networked communities, of developers and users, to address issues of usability.

year: 2006

title: The Effects of Physical Work Environment Satisfaction and Shared Workspace Characteristics on Employee Behaviors Toward Their Organization: Using Environmental Control as a Mediator.

authors: MacMillan, Chelsea

subjects: Organizational Psychology

abstract: This study investigated personal control of the work environment, at the individual level, and how it may act as a mediator for employee reactions towards their organization based on specific workspace characteristics and physical work environment satisfaction (PWES). Accordingly, this research aimed to contribute to management understanding of the way that providing employees‟ control of their workspace environment could benefit an organization by fostering greater commitment and positive workplace behaviors.
The theoretical model suggests that the three predictor variables (PWES, need for privacy, and social density) would have a direct relationship with a) the four employee behaviors: affective commitment (AC), psychological strain, organizational citizenship behaviors-individual (OCBI), and counterproductive workplace behavior (CWB), and b) with perceived environmental control. The model also suggests that perceived environmental control would mediate the relationships between each of the predictor variables and the employee behaviors.
An online questionnaire was completed by 133 employees working in open plan office environments in New Zealand. PWES was found to have a positive relationship with AC and perceived environmental control. Need for privacy related positively with CWB, and negatively with AC, positive wellbeing, and perceived environmental control. Finally, social density was also found to relate negatively with AC and perceived environmental control. Environmental control was a significant mediator for 5 of the 15 (30%) mediation relationships predicted: PWES and AC, need for privacy and AC, need for privacy and positive wellbeing, need for privacy and CWB, and finally social density and AC. Indirect effects were found for 3 of the 15 (20%) predicted mediation relationships: PWES and AC, need for privacy and AC, and need for privacy and CWB.
The major implications of this research are that it is important for organizations to acknowledge the physical and control aspects of the work environment as well as the social and management aspects. This research shows that open plan organizations in New Zealand could benefit from providing their workforce with greater environmental control. This means finding ways to enhance the work environment through greater privacy design and less socially dense work spaces should be considered by management and organizational psychology professionals in New Zealand as effective steps to organizational success. Further implications of this study and directions for future research are discussed in the final chapter.

text: The Effects of Physical Work Environment Satisfaction and Shared Workspace Characteristics on Employee Behaviors Toward Their Organization: Using Environmental Control as a Mediator. This study investigated personal control of the work environment, at the individual level, and how it may act as a mediator for employee reactions towards their organization based on specific workspace characteristics and physical work environment satisfaction (PWES). Accordingly, this research aimed to contribute to management understanding of the way that providing employees‟ control of their workspace environment could benefit an organization by fostering greater commitment and positive workplace behaviors.
The theoretical model suggests that the three predictor variables (PWES, need for privacy, and social density) would have a direct relationship with a) the four employee behaviors: affective commitment (AC), psychological strain, organizational citizenship behaviors-individual (OCBI), and counterproductive workplace behavior (CWB), and b) with perceived environmental control. The model also suggests that perceived environmental control would mediate the relationships between each of the predictor variables and the employee behaviors.
An online questionnaire was completed by 133 employees working in open plan office environments in New Zealand. PWES was found to have a positive relationship with AC and perceived environmental control. Need for privacy related positively with CWB, and negatively with AC, positive wellbeing, and perceived environmental control. Finally, social density was also found to relate negatively with AC and perceived environmental control. Environmental control was a significant mediator for 5 of the 15 (30%) mediation relationships predicted: PWES and AC, need for privacy and AC, need for privacy and positive wellbeing, need for privacy and CWB, and finally social density and AC. Indirect effects were found for 3 of the 15 (20%) predicted mediation relationships: PWES and AC, need for privacy and AC, and need for privacy and CWB.
The major implications of this research are that it is important for organizations to acknowledge the physical and control aspects of the work environment as well as the social and management aspects. This research shows that open plan organizations in New Zealand could benefit from providing their workforce with greater environmental control. This means finding ways to enhance the work environment through greater privacy design and less socially dense work spaces should be considered by management and organizational psychology professionals in New Zealand as effective steps to organizational success. Further implications of this study and directions for future research are discussed in the final chapter.

year: 2012

title: Āta whakarongo: Understanding whānau experiences of audiology early intervention

authors: Dargaville, Cynthia Michelle

subjects: Māori

abstract: For tamariki with hearing loss, early intervention is of critical importance in maximising speech and language, socio-emotional and academic development outcomes. Better hearing outcomes can be achieved by minimising diagnosis delays and initiating intervention treatment as soon as possible. Preliminary data from Waikato District Health Board indicated an equity gap at the point of diagnosis with persisting inequities for tamariki Māori during the delivery of early intervention services. High rates of appointment non-attendance within this group (27% Māori vs. 8% for non-Māori) are a cause for concern when approximately 50% of total appointments are for tamariki Māori. This research seeks to understand the experiences of Māori whānau accessing Waikato’s Audiology Early Intervention Service in order to identify changes the service can make to improve Māori engagement in the future. This study uses qualitative methodologies within a kaupapa Māori framework to investigate the access experiences of Māori whānau of tamariki identified with hearing loss. Interviews with six whānau from Hamilton city and rural Waikato provided rich narratives to inform changes to the Audiology Service to improve the hearing outcomes of tamariki Māori. Whānau shared systems and practical barriers that contributed to challenges with attending appointments including the location, appointment timing, travel and parking. From entering an unwelcoming waiting area, whānau described the added stress experienced to the depth of their emotional response to the hearing loss diagnosis. All shared positive interactions with staff and detailed what could have made their health experience better. After leaning into the kōrero and connecting to the whānau experience, a Manaaki-based pathway is proposed to support Māori ways of being, to ease whānau through the barriers and to combat the alienating experiences of engaging with the health system.

text: Āta whakarongo: Understanding whānau experiences of audiology early intervention For tamariki with hearing loss, early intervention is of critical importance in maximising speech and language, socio-emotional and academic development outcomes. Better hearing outcomes can be achieved by minimising diagnosis delays and initiating intervention treatment as soon as possible. Preliminary data from Waikato District Health Board indicated an equity gap at the point of diagnosis with persisting inequities for tamariki Māori during the delivery of early intervention services. High rates of appointment non-attendance within this group (27% Māori vs. 8% for non-Māori) are a cause for concern when approximately 50% of total appointments are for tamariki Māori. This research seeks to understand the experiences of Māori whānau accessing Waikato’s Audiology Early Intervention Service in order to identify changes the service can make to improve Māori engagement in the future. This study uses qualitative methodologies within a kaupapa Māori framework to investigate the access experiences of Māori whānau of tamariki identified with hearing loss. Interviews with six whānau from Hamilton city and rural Waikato provided rich narratives to inform changes to the Audiology Service to improve the hearing outcomes of tamariki Māori. Whānau shared systems and practical barriers that contributed to challenges with attending appointments including the location, appointment timing, travel and parking. From entering an unwelcoming waiting area, whānau described the added stress experienced to the depth of their emotional response to the hearing loss diagnosis. All shared positive interactions with staff and detailed what could have made their health experience better. After leaning into the kōrero and connecting to the whānau experience, a Manaaki-based pathway is proposed to support Māori ways of being, to ease whānau through the barriers and to combat the alienating experiences of engaging with the health system.

year: 2023