ECSCW Workshop Paper: Realizing ECSCW Workshop Paper: Realizing and Supporting Collaboration in e-and Supporting Collaboration in e-

ResearchResearchLimerick, IrelandLimerick, Ireland

2424thth September, 2007 September, 2007

Socio-Technical Patterns Socio-Technical Patterns for Collaboration in e-for Collaboration in e-

ResearchResearchJohn C. ThomasJohn C. Thomas

IBM T. T. Watson Research CenterIBM T. T. Watson Research CenterPO Box 218 Yorktown Heights NY 10598 PO Box 218 Yorktown Heights NY 10598

USAUSAjcthomas@us.ibm.comjcthomas@us.ibm.comwww.truthtable.comwww.truthtable.com

Pattern Language ApproachPattern Language Approach

• Christopher AlexanderChristopher Alexander• Architectural “Patterns” that capture Architectural “Patterns” that capture

named recurring problems and solutionsnamed recurring problems and solutions• Organized into a “Pattern Language” – a Organized into a “Pattern Language” – a

lattice of inter-related Patterns.lattice of inter-related Patterns.• Examples: Examples:

– Eccentric Town Center encourages commuter Eccentric Town Center encourages commuter traffic to stop at Town Centertraffic to stop at Town Center

– European PubEuropean Pub– Gradient of Privacy in homes: porch, entry, Gradient of Privacy in homes: porch, entry,

living room, dinning room, kitchen, bedroomliving room, dinning room, kitchen, bedroom

What What is is the right level of the right level of generality?generality?

• Principles of intelligent behavior?Principles of intelligent behavior?• Principles of biological behavior?Principles of biological behavior?• Principles of primate behavior? Principles of primate behavior? • Principles of human behavior?Principles of human behavior?• Principles of human collaborative Principles of human collaborative

endeavors?endeavors?• e-Research?e-Research?• e-Research in physics? e-Research in physics? • e-Research in sub-atomic physics?e-Research in sub-atomic physics?• e-Research in sub-atomic physics projects e-Research in sub-atomic physics projects

that span 2-4 Northern European cultures?that span 2-4 Northern European cultures?

Pattern Languages in Pattern Languages in HCI/CSCWHCI/CSCW

• Behavioral Patterns vs. Design PatternsBehavioral Patterns vs. Design Patterns• Application Areas:Application Areas:

– OO Programming OO Programming – Business Process PatternsBusiness Process Patterns– Human Computer Interaction & Socio-technical PatternsHuman Computer Interaction & Socio-technical Patterns

• CHI ’97 WorkshopCHI ’97 Workshop• Interact ’99 WorkshopInteract ’99 Workshop• CHI 2000 WorkshopCHI 2000 Workshop• CHI 2001 PanelCHI 2001 Panel• DIAC 2002 & subsequent on-line work on Pattern LanguageDIAC 2002 & subsequent on-line work on Pattern Language• CHI 2002 WorkshopCHI 2002 Workshop• CSCW 2002 WorkshopCSCW 2002 Workshop• CHI 2003 Workshop CHI 2003 Workshop DTD for XML DTD for XML• ECSCW 2003 Workshop in HelsinkiECSCW 2003 Workshop in Helsinki• CSCW 2004 WorkshopCSCW 2004 Workshop

– Till Schumer: Till Schumer: http://www.cmi-patterns.org/

Patterns Potentially Relevant to e-Patterns Potentially Relevant to e-ResearchResearch

• Community of CommunitiesCommunity of Communities• Reality CheckReality Check• Radical Co-locationRadical Co-location• Small Successes EarlySmall Successes Early• Who Speaks for Wolf?Who Speaks for Wolf?• Support Conversation at BoundariesSupport Conversation at Boundaries• Social ProxySocial Proxy• Context-setting EntryContext-setting Entry• Answer GardenAnswer Garden• Registered AnonymityRegistered Anonymity• Anonymized Stories for Organizational LearningAnonymized Stories for Organizational Learning• Levels of AuthorityLevels of Authority• Rites of PassageRites of Passage

Who Speaks for Wolf?Who Speaks for Wolf?

Visual by www.PDIimages.com

Application to Dynamic Learning Application to Dynamic Learning EnvironmentEnvironment

• Based on “Learning Objects”, system uses Based on “Learning Objects”, system uses ontology and metadata collaboratively with ontology and metadata collaboratively with user/learner to develop a “custom course” for user/learner to develop a “custom course” for Just-in-time learning.Just-in-time learning.

• Involved researchers in learning, UI, computer Involved researchers in learning, UI, computer science as well as practitionersscience as well as practitioners

• At the beginning of the project, interview many At the beginning of the project, interview many possible stakeholders and ask about other possible stakeholders and ask about other stakeholders (not just users).stakeholders (not just users).

• Involve “catchers” from the beginning as Involve “catchers” from the beginning as partners.partners.

• Join other efforts to develop and use Learning Join other efforts to develop and use Learning Objects; e.g., MERLOTObjects; e.g., MERLOT

Reality CheckReality Check

Small Successes EarlySmall Successes Early

Application to Dynamic Learning Application to Dynamic Learning EnvironmentEnvironment

• Start with small, contained (but real) Start with small, contained (but real) domain of usagedomain of usage

• Start with materials that were owned Start with materials that were owned by IBMby IBM

• Start with users who worked for IBMStart with users who worked for IBM

Support Conversation at Support Conversation at BoundariesBoundaries

Why Patterns? Why Patterns?

• ““Pre-compiled” plans at moderate level of Pre-compiled” plans at moderate level of specificityspecificity– Golf analogyGolf analogy– Gait analogyGait analogy

• Helps Helps find, formulate and forestall find, formulate and forestall problems, problems, not just solve themnot just solve them

• Potentially, a Potentially, a lingua franca lingua franca for stakeholdersfor stakeholders• What does What does language itself language itself buy you? In buy you? In some some

cases, a worse approach to maximizing cases, a worse approach to maximizing rewards! Mistaking map for landscape! rewards! Mistaking map for landscape! Categories can interfere with cross-cutting Categories can interfere with cross-cutting contingencies! Oversimplified interpretations contingencies! Oversimplified interpretations and attributions! and attributions!

References:References:

• Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S., Silverstein, M., Jacobson, M., Fiksdahl-King, I, Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S., Silverstein, M., Jacobson, M., Fiksdahl-King, I, and Angel, S (1977). and Angel, S (1977). A Pattern Language.A Pattern Language. New York: Oxford University New York: Oxford University Press.Press.

• Bayle, E., Bellamy, R., Casaday, G.,Erickson, T., Fincher, S., Grinter, B., Bayle, E., Bellamy, R., Casaday, G.,Erickson, T., Fincher, S., Grinter, B., Gross, B., Lehder, D., Marmolin, H., Potts, C., Skousen, G. & Thomas, J. Gross, B., Lehder, D., Marmolin, H., Potts, C., Skousen, G. & Thomas, J. (1997). Putting It All Together: Towards a Pattern Language for Interaction (1997). Putting It All Together: Towards a Pattern Language for Interaction Design. Summary Report of the CHI '97 Workshop. SIGCHI Bulletin. New Design. Summary Report of the CHI '97 Workshop. SIGCHI Bulletin. New York: ACM.York: ACM.

• Coplien, J. Schmidt, D. (1995) (Eds.) Pattern Languages of Program Coplien, J. Schmidt, D. (1995) (Eds.) Pattern Languages of Program Design, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA. Design, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.

• Farrell, R., Thomas, J. Rubin, B., Gordin, D., Katriel, A., O’Donnell, R., Fuller, Farrell, R., Thomas, J. Rubin, B., Gordin, D., Katriel, A., O’Donnell, R., Fuller, E., and Rolando, S (2004).. Personalized just-in-time dynamic assembly of E., and Rolando, S (2004).. Personalized just-in-time dynamic assembly of learning objects. E-learning 2004.learning objects. E-learning 2004.

• Thomas, J. C., Kellogg, W.A., and Erickson, T. (2001) The Knowledge Thomas, J. C., Kellogg, W.A., and Erickson, T. (2001) The Knowledge Management puzzle: Human and social factors in knowledge management. Management puzzle: Human and social factors in knowledge management. IBM Systems Journal, IBM Systems Journal, 4040(4), 863-884. Available on-line at (4), 863-884. Available on-line at http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj40-4.htmlhttp://www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj40-4.html

• Thomas, J. C. (2001). An HCI Agenda for the Next Millennium: Emergent Thomas, J. C. (2001). An HCI Agenda for the Next Millennium: Emergent Global Intelligence. In R. Earnshaw, R. Guedj, A. van Dam, and J. Vince Global Intelligence. In R. Earnshaw, R. Guedj, A. van Dam, and J. Vince (Eds.),(Eds.), Frontiers of human-centered computing, online communities, and Frontiers of human-centered computing, online communities, and virtual environmentsvirtual environments. London: Springer-Verlag. . London: Springer-Verlag.

• Thomas, J.C. (2001) Collaborative Innovation Tools, in T. Terano, et als. Thomas, J.C. (2001) Collaborative Innovation Tools, in T. Terano, et als. (Eds.) (Eds.) JSAI 2001JSAI 2001 Workshops, LNAI 2253, 27-34. Workshops, LNAI 2253, 27-34.

• Thomas, J. C., Danis, C. & Lee, A. (2002) Who Speaks for Wolf? Thomas, J. C., Danis, C. & Lee, A. (2002) Who Speaks for Wolf? IBM IBM Research Report Research Report RC22644, IBM Research Division, Yorktown Heights, NY.RC22644, IBM Research Division, Yorktown Heights, NY.