Enterprise search and collective mind: Patterns of information-seeking behavior in organizations

Anne L. Washington

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Enterprise search technology retrieves digital objects and internally generated content within organizations. Unlike other retrieval environments, enterprise search is a community of practice which responds to expected activity at similar times. Collective mind theory (Weick & Roberts, 2003) is similar to retrieval environments where the unplanned movements of multiple people move towards a similar end. An inductive, interpretive (Walsham, 1995) case study (Yin, 2009) was conducted in a government agency to understand enterprise search practices. The method of analysis was analytic induction (LeCompte & Schensul, 1999; Miles & Huberman, 1994; Strauss & Corbin, 1990). Interviews, observations and search interfaces were interpreted through theory and summarized in a process model. The model illustrates relationships between search interfaces and sequences of activity. This study identified the phenomenon of collective information-seeking behavior in organizations. The results provide a unique way to understand the role of search interface design for information systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication17th Americas Conference on Information Systems 2011, AMCIS 2011
Number of pages1
StatePublished - 2011
Event17th Americas Conference on Information Systems 2011, AMCIS 2011 - Detroit, MI, United States
Duration: Aug 4 2011Aug 8 2011

Publication series

Name17th Americas Conference on Information Systems 2011, AMCIS 2011
Volume5

Other

Other17th Americas Conference on Information Systems 2011, AMCIS 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDetroit, MI
Period8/4/118/8/11

Keywords

  • Human-computer interaction
  • Inductive
  • Information retrieval
  • Interpretive
  • Sensemaking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Science Applications
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Information Systems
  • Library and Information Sciences

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