Computer Network Use and Collaborative Design in Different Engineering Discipline

计算机网络是一项重要的技术，它有助于工程师之间的协作工作，这是一种“知识网络”。这项探索性研究调查了软件工具的技术开发人员和对使用基于计算机的系统的条件和后果感兴趣的研究人员经常做出的一个重要假设：设计和其他领域的知识网络将减少对共同定位的需求。本研究旨在开发一个框架，该框架将深入了解协同定位需求——以及信息技术中介需求——在不同的设计任务中是如何变化的。他的项目的结果将帮助我们更好地理解与信息技术相关的和面向任务的因素，这些因素是共同定位需求的基础。这将帮助研究人员和实践者以大型技术投资为目标，使其发挥最大的作用，并有助于避免鼓励使用无效的，甚至降低生产力的组织信息技术结构，而协同定位是必不可少的。这项研究将基于对五到十家公司的机械和电气工程设计师和软件开发人员的密集访谈。

Computer networks are an important technology that contributes to collaborative work among engineers, which is one type of `knowledge networking'. This exploratory study investigates an important assumption frequently made by both technical developers of software tools, and by researchers interested in the conditions and consequences of using computer-based systems: that knowledge networking in design and other fields will reduce the need for co-location. This research aims to develop a framework that will provide insight into how co-location requirements_and hence requirements for information technology mediation---vary across design tasks. The results of his project will help us to better understand the information-technology-related and task oriented factors that underlay co-location requirements. This will help researchers and practitioners to target large technology investments where they will do the most good, and will help to avoid encouraging the use of ineffective and even productivity-decreasing organizational information technology structures where co-location is essential. The research will be based on intensive interviews with mechanical and electrical engineering designers and software developers in five to ten firms.