Writing with Collaborative Hypertext: Analysis and Modeling

This work explores a novel approach to the analysis and ported cooperative work. For instance, this challenge is modeling of computer supported collaborative writing. highlighted by the situated actions paradigm, which emThe aim of this dynamic modeling approach is to capture phasizes the contingent nature of the organization and the structure of user behavior as they interact with a evolution of highly interactive work with computers computer system. Markov chains models are derived (Suchman, 1987). The dynamic and adaptive nature of from the empirical data on the use of the system. These models are compared so as to highlight how the dyhuman–computer interaction has been regarded as a key namic structure of collaborative writing is affected by to an understanding of collaborative work and to the sucfactors such as the level of users’ experience with the cess of systems design (DeSanctis & Poole, 1994). Invessystem and workspaces for different writing projects. tigators are searching for appropriate and efficient apA workspace is associated with a collaborative writing proaches to tackle the challenge (Zigurs, 1993). project in terms of both its structure and content. The study shows that the patterns of interactive behaviors Olson, Herbsleb, and Rueter (1994) have noted that of the users were clearly influenced by the system dethe effects of technology on work tend to be investigated sign. Users’ experience and workspaces both signifiin terms of the quality of the work done, the satisfaction cantly affected the structure of interactive behaviors of those using the technology, or the long-term organizain collaborative writing. Users intensively used the system for exploration, organization, and composition tional acceptance of the technology, whereas fewer studtasks in collaborative writing, whereas the use of colies have focused on the details of the process of interlaboration facilities of the system was transient in naacting with the technology or on how the organization of ture. The descriptive–prescriptive nature of the apthe work itself is affected. Interactive technologies are proach has the advantage of reducing the complexity of computer supported collaborative writing down to likely to influence the structure of interactive behaviors a more manageable level at which investigators can of users, and a dynamic model is a major source of clues concentrate more directly on the essence of the dyfor researchers to understand how the work is affected namics. The experience from the study suggests that by the technology. this approach is worth pursuing, and it may be fruitfully Collaborative writing presents a significant challenge generalized by integrating with other process modeling techniques and the mainstream practice of softto the design and use of information technologies for ware engineering. group work (Kraut, Galegher, Fish, & Chalfonte, 1992;