Combining bits and pieces: Information Architecture in a Cultural Context

There are not many studies in the literature of Human Computer interaction that discuss Information Architecture (IA) of websites and cultural dimensions. In this PhD project, we aim to investigate the relationship between national culture and components of information architecture such as presentation, layout and categorization of web contents among the websites of organizations for two different groups. We will analyse how cultural dimensions affects the organization’s website information architecture and if a pattern of website information architecture is associated with a dimension of a culture.

Primary supervisor: Torkil Clemmensen (CBS/INF)

Discussant for the 1. Seminar: Morten Hertzum (RUC)

According to the new rules and regulations PhD students at CBS have to hold a 1. seminar concerning their PhD project within the first six months of their studies. The purpose of the seminar is twofold: (1) it gives the student the opportunity to publically present the PhD work (2) it provides the student with feedback on the work beyond the primary supervisor. The ‘successful’ performance of the seminar will be approved by the student’s primary supervisor and the local PhD co-ordinator.

The format of the seminar is as follows:

The student’s supervisor acts as the facilitator for the meeting.

1 – The student will present her/his project based on a 20 to 25 pages document including the project plan, the research question, any research design, and preliminary results (e.g. results from a literature review which identified a research gap, a research model, etc.). This part takes up to max. 30 minutes!

2 – An assigned discussant who has had the opportunity to read the seminar document provides about 25 minutes of feedback based on the document and the student’s presentation.

3 – The public audience has afterwards the opportunity to provide feedback based on the student’s presentation for about 35 minutes.

Karl Kautz

PhD co-ordinator CBS/INF