Computer Network Use and Collaborative Design in Different Engineering Discipline

计算机网络是一项重要的技术，有助于协作 工程师之间的工作，这是一种“知识网络”。 这项探索性 研究调查了技术开发人员经常做出的一个重要假设 软件工具，并由研究人员感兴趣的条件和后果， 利用计算机系统：设计和其他领域的知识联网将 减少了对协同定位的需求。 本研究旨在建立一个框架， 深入了解共址要求以及 信息技术中介-在设计任务中各不相同。他的项目的成果 将有助于我们更好地了解信息技术相关和任务导向 影响共址要求的因素。这将有助于研究人员和从业人员 将大型技术投资的目标锁定在它们将发挥最大作用的地方，并将有助于 避免鼓励使用效率低下甚至降低生产率的组织 信息技术结构，在这些结构中，合用同一地点至关重要。这项研究将 基于对机械和电气工程设计师的深入采访， 5到10家公司的软件开发人员。

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.