Day 3 – TC520 Technical Communication Systems: Understanding and Improving the Role of Information & Communication Systems (ICS) in Humanitarian Relief Systems (HRS) Professor Mark Haselkorn 14E Loew Hall Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 10–11 AM and by appointment TC 520 Class Notes 1/18—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Overview for Today Develop an understanding of HR system issues and the role of TC systems Presentation/discussion by Christina Maiers More on general HRS issues (Fritz conference presentation) Presentations on content management strategy for Bulletin Board material Discussion of report project—organization & process TC 520 Class Notes 1/18—Haselkorn Winter 2005

HRS Questions What are HR systems? What makes them so complex? How do they compare to systems in industry that accomplish similar tasks? What is the role of TC systems (i.e. EISS) in HRS? How would improving EISS in HR organizations contribute to saving lives and reducing human suffering? How would we go about accomplishing this? TC 520 Class Notes 1/18—Haselkorn Winter 2005

What determines the complexity of a system? Number of elements Interrelationship of elements Interrelationship of system with other systems Interrelationship of system with environment Completeness of system knowledge Completeness of environmental knowledge Extent of human element (unpredictability?) TC 520 Class Notes—Haselkorn Autumn 2004

What does GST tell us about analyzing ICS and HR&DS? Focus on interrelationships among elements (particularly tensions) Focus on interrelationships with environment and other systems (particularly environmental impacts) Focus on the human and organizational elements (particularly missions and goals) TC 520 Class Notes—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Homework Activity: Design Content Plan for Bulletin Board Look at BB entries Categorize into general content theme areas based on systems discussion today and Davenport reading, e.g. –(a) Tensions (e.g. local vs. central, uniformity vs. diversity) –(b) Goals (e.g. increased accountability; better human resources) –(c) Environments (e.g. organizational structure; sector focus) TC 520 Class Notes—Haselkorn Winter 2005

What are we going to do? Participants UsernameUW NetIDLast NameFirst NamePseudonymTotal MessagesAverage per DayFirst MessageLast MessageNew Messages vs. repliesActivity RatingariotrueJAFARZADEHARION/A50.301/06/2005, 13:4301/18/2005, 17:1917.1%atorencetrueTorrenceAnthonyN/A /09/2005, 19:4501/18/2005, 23: %ccowardtrueCowardChristopherN/A10.101/06/2005, 13:3101/06/2005, 13:3111.4%cpkleintrueKleinColinN/A /05/2005, 9:2901/18/2005, 11: %kovariktrueKOVARIKLORI EN/A /05/2005, 12:1201/17/2005, 21: %lbejantrueBejanLusitania LN/A10.101/17/2005, 12:4401/17/2005, 12:4411.4%ltmderrotrueDERROLORNA MN/A70.501/09/2005, 22:1001/16/2005, 23: %markhtrueHaselkornMarkN/A /04/2005, 13:3701/19/2005, 9: %troyhilttrueHiltonTroy EdwardN/A70.501/09/2005, 19:2801/17/2005, 20: % TC 520 Class Notes—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Upcoming Assignments For 1/25 –Review information on BB and IPHR website (depts.washington.edu/iphr) and present an overview of what you find important about HRS for our analysis of ICS in HRS (in-class presentation with handouts/BB post) For 2/1 –Present a plan for our report (in-class presentation with handouts/BB post) For 2/8 –Present outline of report team goals and process plan TC 520 Class Notes 1/18—Haselkorn Winter 2005

What is the overall class plan? Jan. 11 – Develop a theoretical perspective on systems in general and EISS systems in particular Jan. 18 – Develop an understanding of HR system issues and the role of TC systems Jan. 25 –Gain an understanding of the IPHR research conducted thus far and how we are going to use it Feb. 1 – Articulate what we are learning about HR and TC systems from the South Asia relief efforts/plan report/form teams Feb. 8 – Conduct team activities focused on report sections Feb. 15 – Present team progress reports/feedback Feb. 22 – Conduct team activities focused on report sections March 1 – Explore the integration of systems theory, TC systems, HR systems, and the South Asia relief situation/ Practice presentations March 8 – Give oral presentation March 14 – Hand in reports Continually -- Absorb all relevant background information you can. Bring to the attention of the class any resource material that can help us accomplish our goals. TC 520 Class Notes—Haselkorn Winter 2005