Information Retrieval in a Work Setting: A Case Study of the Documentation Part of Chemists’ Work

TY - GEN

T1 - Information Retrieval in a Work Setting: A Case Study of the Documentation Part of Chemists’ Work

AU - Hertzum, Morten

PY - 1993

Y1 - 1993

N2 - The purpose of this study is to gain insight into a group of chemists’ documentation work in a large, international enterprise. The main concern is how filing is organized to support subsequent retrieval without overloading the primary work. The chemists’ documentation work is based on individual, partial systems, such as piles with urgent things. Mostly, the final documentation work where documents are made part of the archive is delegated to the secretaries who act as intermediaries between the chemists and the archive. Recently, a comprehensive computer-based filing and retrieval system was implemented, primarily supporting the final documentation work. However, to some extent it is also the intention that the chemists shall use this system. The study identifies certain problematic issues in providing computer support for documentation work, but technical solutions are not offered.

AB - The purpose of this study is to gain insight into a group of chemists’ documentation work in a large, international enterprise. The main concern is how filing is organized to support subsequent retrieval without overloading the primary work. The chemists’ documentation work is based on individual, partial systems, such as piles with urgent things. Mostly, the final documentation work where documents are made part of the archive is delegated to the secretaries who act as intermediaries between the chemists and the archive. Recently, a comprehensive computer-based filing and retrieval system was implemented, primarily supporting the final documentation work. However, to some extent it is also the intention that the chemists shall use this system. The study identifies certain problematic issues in providing computer support for documentation work, but technical solutions are not offered.

M3 - Article in proceedings

SP - 786

EP - 798

BT - Proceedings of the 16th IRIS Information Systems Research Seminar in Scandinavia

PB - University of Copenhagen

ER -