taylor's model

Taylor's Value-Added Model

USER	Interface	System

Problems which establish the criteria of choice	Display of values added by system to assist user in making choices	Specific processes that add specific value

Source:Taylor, Robert,Value Added-Processes in Information Systems
(Norwood:Ablex Publishing Co.,1984),49.

User Criteria and Values-Added
These six categories have been created to conveniently organize the values added to a system.

User Criteria	Interface (values added)	System (ex. of values added)

Ease of Use	Browsing	Alphabetizing
	Formatting	Highlighting important terms
	Interfacing I(mediation)
	Interfacing II(orientation)
	Ordering
	Physical Accessibility

Noise Reduction	Access I(item ID)	Indexing
	Access II(subject description)	Vocabulary Control
	Access III(subject summary)	Filtering
	Linkage
	Precision
	Selectivity

Quality	Accuracy	Quality Control
	Comprehensiveness	Editing
	Currency	Updating
	Reliability	Analyzing and Comparing Data
	Validity

Adaptability	Closeness to problem	Provision of data manipulation capabilities
	Flexibility	Ranking output for relevance
	Simplicity
	Stimulatory

Time-Saving	Response Speed	Reduction of processing time

Cost-Saving	Cost-saving	Lower connect time price

Source:Taylor, Robert,Value Added-Processes in Information Systems
(Norwood:Ablex Publishing Co.,1984),50.

Definitions of Criteria and Values Added

EASE OF USE- a systemšs elements which tend to reduce difficulty in using the system.

Browsing- the capability of a system to allow a user to scan an information neighborhood.example;classification systems

Formatting- the physical presentation and arrangement of data/information in ways that allow more efficient scanning.example:standardized format in print or terminal display

Interfacing- the capability of the system to interpret itself to the users.

Interfacing I (Mediation)- the means used to assist users in getting answers from the system.example:"see" and "see also" references in indexes;also one on one assistance

Interfacing II (Orientation)- the means used to help the users understand and gain experience with the system and its complexities.example:instruction on how to use a system

Ordering- the value added by initially organizing a body of subject matter by some form of gross ordering such as alphabetization.example:the way an encyclopedia is arranged

Physical Accessibility- the processes that make access to information stores easier in a physical sense.example:remote access of library services

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NOISE REDUCTION- involves 3 processes: exclusion (withholding information), inclusion (supplying information within some boundaries), and precision.

Access- the values added by the intellectual technologies that provide the systematic meanings, based on subject matter, of narrowing the information universe to information which has some probability of containing material that is wanted or needed.

Access I- identification of information by systematic physical description and location.example:being able to search by author or title

Access II- provides subject description through access points such as index terms, descriptors, and names.example:being able to search by subject using key words

Access III- reduces or compresses large amounts of information into compact items, such as summaries, abstracts, mathematical formulae, graphs or charts.example:table of contents

Linkage- provides pointers and links to items, sources and systems external to the system in use.example:on-line homework help sites

Precision- the capability of a system to aid users in finding exactly what they want.example:subject search of electronic catalog

Selectivity- the value added when choices are made at the input point of the system. Choices are based on the appropriateness and merit of the information to the users of the system.example:collection development decisions based on needs and desires of the users

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QUALITY- criterion that has to do with the excellence and truthfulness in labeling.

Accuracy- value added by a system that assures error-free transfer of information as it flows through the system and is eventually displayed to the user.example:especially critical in selection of reference materials

Comprehensiveness- value added by the completeness of coverage of a particular subject or form of information.example:again this is seen in collection development based on the requirements of the users

Currency- value added by a) recency of information acquired by the system and b) the capability of the system to reflect current modes of thinking in its structure, organization, and access vocabularies.

Reliability- value added by the trust the system inspires in its users by consistency of quality performance over time.example:user trusting the reference librarian to point them in the right direction for information

Validity- value added when the system provides signals about the degree to which information presented to users can be judged as sound.example:web authoring

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ADAPTABILITY-measures provided by and investments made by a system which strengthen the responsiveness of the system to problems that users have in their working/living environments.

Closeness to the problem- activities of the system, usually through human intervention, to meet specific needs of user in a particular environment with a particular problem.example:information specialist in an organizatin such as a lawyers office or financial institution

Flexibility- capability of a system to provide a variety of ways and approaches of working dynamically with the information in a file.example:whole language querries using search engines

Simplicity- the value achieved by presenting the most clear and lucid information within quality and validity limits.example:having clear easy to read instructions where needed

Stimulatory- those activities of an information system that may not be directly supportive of its primary mission, but provide the means for gaining visibility of the system to encourage use of the system and/or its staffšs expertise.example:various adult and chidrens programs that libraries provide

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TIME SAVINGS- the perceived value of a system based on the speed of its response time.example:shelf reading making sure all materials are in order for users ease

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COST SAVINGS- the value achieved by conscious system design and operating decisions that save dollars for the user.example:selecting materials for the library in a fiscally responsible manner

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