One of the most valuable sources of help that I had in the work I delivered around collaboration in my time at Imagination was from a student studying for his MSc in Human Computer Interaction from UCL. I should declare an interest – the chap running the module that that student was taking is someone I know quite well… my Dad.
Well, Dad’s continuing to run that module (in Soft Systems Methodology – SSM) and is currently planning a case study for the next intake. As a result, he’s looking for around four volunteers to help.
The case study subject is around the concept of “Bring your own device to work” (BYOD). SSM takes an approach that isn’t born of the problem/solution paradigm that dominates the world of computing – rather thinking of the world in a more interlinked way, examining the opportunities that technology might bring to help (or hinder) in human and social situations.
What the volunteers need to do is as follows:
- have something of an open (or undecided mind) about what BYOD might mean for their own organisation;
- be able to donate a couple of hours of time in January 2012 to meet the students in London and give some context;
- be able to donate a further couple of hours in March (again in London) to hear the results.
The students generally come from quite diverse background – some from corporate IT, some from the world of Web, some with Computer Science academic backgrounds – and from the experience I have had are all terrifyingly smart. Most of the people who have been involved in similar exercises in the past (including myself) have been impressed with the output.
If you are interested, tweet me at @ballantine70, or contact through the comments below.
mmitII 
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