Research Lab for the Study of Organizational Behaviour - Analysis, design and use of information technology

What the facility does

Research experiments on the analysis, design and use of information technology.

Areas of expertise

The lab is used for information system analysis, design, and use. Our research aims to help businesses analyze their need for systems, design systems, and use them effectively. We have research programs on 1) systems analysis, 2) systems design, and 3) systems use.

Our research addresses the following questions:
1) How should conceptual models be used in systems analysis? This question is motivated by the importance of conceptual modelling and the scant guidance for how it should be performed.
2) How should recommendation agent software that assists individual consumers and organizations with identifying their product needs and product selection on the internet be designed? This question is motivated by potential for web technologies to help customers access products/services on the internet.
3) What drives effective system usage? This question is driven by the importance of using systems effectively if desired outcomes are to occur.

Research services

Analytics

Sectors of application

Information and communication technologies and media

Specialized labs and equipment

Specialized lab	Equipment	Function
A computer lab (Layout: The lab contains seven rooms with a total size of 26’ x 32’. The seven rooms include: 1) a research assistant and waiting room, 2) a technical assistant and storage room, and 3) five rooms for experimental participants, with one large room (seating up to eight people) and four smaller breakout rooms (seating up to two people). The four two-person rooms have retractable walls so that they can be rearranged into two four-person rooms.	Software for experimental participants, and assistants to create, run, and analyze experiments; Data projector and screen for experiments; PC-connected whiteboard for data collection; Observation cameras and control station	20 laptops (three for research and technical assistants and 17 for participants, two per small room and nine in the main room). Each participant’s room has video cameras and one-way windows to allow researchers to collect observational data and to enable research assistants to monitor each participant, communicate with them, and administer treatments to each one’s computer.

Specialized lab

Equipment

Function

A computer lab

(Layout: The lab contains seven rooms with a total size of 26’ x 32’. The seven rooms include: 1) a research assistant and waiting room, 2) a technical assistant and storage room, and 3) five rooms for experimental participants, with one large room (seating up to eight people) and four smaller breakout rooms (seating up to two people). The four two-person rooms have retractable walls so that they can be rearranged into two four-person rooms.

Software for experimental participants, and assistants to create, run, and analyze experiments;

Data projector and screen for experiments;

PC-connected whiteboard for data collection;

Observation cameras and control station

20 laptops (three for research and technical assistants and 17 for participants, two per small room and nine in the main room). Each participant’s room has video cameras and one-way windows to allow researchers to collect observational data and to enable research assistants to monitor each participant, communicate with them, and administer treatments to each one’s computer.