::The Model

Taylor's Value-Added Processes Model

In developing his information theory model, Robert Taylor chose to examine and evaluate information systems from the user's viewpoint. He noted that previous research on information systems studied aspects such as efficiency, retrievability and precision, but all concentrated on the system, rather than the user. Taylor recognized that, while it was necessary to understand information systems, that knowledge should be merely the basis for designing a user-centered information system. In Taylorís Model, he explains that people work in information environments, and part of those information environments is problem-solving, or struggling with problems and questions that naturally occur in every day life. Taylor concludes that both these questions or ìproblem dimensionsî as well as the information systems involved should not be regarded as fixed points, but rather share certain characteristics that cause them to evolve along a specific path. The process of searching for information in response to a question or need, creates additional, more specific, higher level questions and requires more advanced responses from the information system being used. Therefore, both the userís problem dimensions and the traits of the information involved in solving the problem create the ìinformation worldsî within which groups of users work.

How well an information system accomodates an individual or groupís Information Use Environment and meets their needs is determined by the users themselves and is the sole measure of its success. If an information system doesn't meet the users' needs within their information use environment, it has no value for them.

Taylor recognized that the most successful information systems would be designed from the user's point of view and within their context. He realized that users make decisions about which information system they will use and how they will use it. Therefore, he first identified six criteria that guide those choices and decisions and by which users judge every information system:

1. Ease of Use - reducing any difficulty when using information resources and services
2. Noise Reduction - excluding or withholding information, supplying information within some boundaries and specific data.
3. Quality - selecting and filter and to focus on accuracy, comprehensiveness, currency, reliability.
4. Adaptability - meeting specific needs of a person in a particular environment with a particular problem.
5. Time Saving - reducing user time and effort to make choices and get relevant information, communication and services.
6. Cost Saving - designing information systems and operating decisions to save money for the user.

These six criteria serve as the foundation for decisions about the design of any information system. Taylor noted that all information system designers add enhancements and services - i.e. add value - to the information collection in order to benefit the intended users. Libraries are an information system and continually develop and improve numerous processes, methods, procedures and systems for adding value to an information collection in order to benefit their users. Taylor identified twenty-three such library-oriented values and classified them according to the user criteria they best served. These are presented and discussed in The Solution section of this report. The usefulness of these added values is also evaluated by the users and managers of information systems should regard user feedback as necessary to the system's continued success. >>top

[The Story] | The Problem | The Model | [Biography] | The Rationale | The Solution | [Bibliography]