SI 501: Contextual Inquiry and Project Management

Course Overview

Examples of Approved SI 501 Processes for Analysis:

• We are looking towards the SI 501 students to analyze the information and work flows between the various processes that layer our organization, specifically as they pertain to the core pen pal process.  Our core “customers” are the mentors involved and we want to ensure all levels of volunteers are serving them well.  These mentors need to be properly recruited, trained, supervised, communicated to, and provided proper opportunities to be engaged with our elementary students.  Quality and efficiency are paramount goals.  Through various work flows, quality controls, and information dissemination, we hope the team will identify gaps in timing, frequency, training, communication, management, and technology in order to suggest improvements in execution of this core program. (UM Department)
  • View the Client-Project Scope Form (PDF)
  • View the Final Student Presentation (PowerPoint)
  • View the Final Student Report (PDF)
• There's a lot of information to know as a “client aide” at our learning center. In addition to content knowledge (knowing how to use and teach the software and hardware we support), new students must familiarize themselves with daily operational procedures, what types of support we provide, what types of support we don't provide, who on campus to refer people to when we don't provide the support they need, which of the employees on staff know how to handle certain questions (so they can schedule appointments with particular people), etc. The process to be analyzed is the process new hires take to answer questions and follow procedures correctly and efficiently. Which resources do they consult? Who do they interact with? How do they gain the knowledge and skills required of “client aides” at our center and how do they go about finding answers when they don’t already know answers from experience? (Library)
• We have a lot of groups around the company that generate ideas.  Because of the size of our company and the complexities involved, it is not easy for all of the people who need to know about new ideas to actually get that information.  Our group is responsible for generating customer-centric design solutions for our future products, so we are very interested in having access to all of these ideas.  We are very interested in finding a way to harness all of this information (new product concepts) and then make it easy to search so that we can find ideas relevant to our current project.  To illustrate the problem, we sometimes get talking about something that we think is a new idea and then somebody tells us that it is already on a product that we are selling today. (Corporation)
• Our organization is interested in evaluating the reporting process, particularly with the report building and graphics creation.  The students will look at the current flow of the work and determine if there is a better approach to be considered.  They will also evaluate the differences across the various industry groups of how this process works.  The following dimensions of the process will be evaluated and recommendations provided in order to improve each area:  bottlenecks in the flow, efficiency, cost, quality of deliverables, and client and employee/job satisfaction.  The goal of this analysis is determine a recommended approach moving forward that will ultimately drive down costs, improve cycle time and quality of deliverables to our clients. (Corporation)
• Our museum seeks to transform individual and civic life by promoting the discovery, contemplation, and enjoyment of the art of our world.  In order to succeed in our mission, it is import for us to offer a wide range of Exhibitions and Programming for our audience.  Although our main exhibition space is currently closed for renovation and expansion, we are hard at work preparing for our ongoing exhibitions and programs at our offsite space as well as for our reopening in the spring.  Once the Exhibitions and Programs have been crafted it is important for our organization to communicate them to our audience. The four main departments involved are Curatorial, Exhibitions, Education, and Communication.  What we seek to gain from participating with a team from the SI 501 class is a detailed information process map indicating resources needed and deliverables required throughout the process from the creation through completion of an Exhibition or Program. (Museum/Cultural Institution)

Previous Partner Organizations (2007 Clients)

Companies and Corporations

• Accent Reduction Institute (Menlo Innovations Subsidary)
• Campbell-Ewald
• Fry, Inc.
• General Motors
• Market Strategies International (Usability Research & Consulting)
• Proquest
• Quicken Loans
• Station Enterprises, Inc
• Zingerman's

Local Agencies and Schools

• Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation
• Ann Arbor SPARK
• COPE Alternative Education
• EPA – Ann Arbor: USEPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality - Compliance Report
• HIV/AIDS Resource Center

Nonprofit Organizations

• Washtenaw Audubon Society
• Washtenaw Community Health Organization
• Project Grow Community Gardens
• Ann Arbor Art Center
• Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living
• Ann Arbor Learning Community

University of Michigan Departments/Programs

• UM Rackham Graduate School - Graduate Success Summer Institute
• UM Academic Human Resources
• UM Central Power Plant
• UM Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy - Student Services
• UM Graduate Library Instructional Services
• UM Hatcher Knowledge Navigation Center
• UM K-grams, Inc.
• UM Kresge Library
• UM MAIS (Michigan Administrative Information Services)
• UM Ojibwe Language and Literature, Program in American Culture
• UM PHLI / SPH Dean's Office
• UM Rackham Graduate School - Graduate Success - Enroll
• UM University Human Resources Development

The following are not projects that meet the purpose of the course, SI 501:

• Analyzing interpersonal communication methods or skills
• Website or usability analysis
• Research and comparison of technology for future purchases
• Media or public relations analysis or assessment of information flow to the public
• Analysis of the success of publicity or promotion campaigns
• Survey development
• Grant research/writing

However, if you do have a project that falls in this range, it may meet the requirements of another practical-experience based SI course or an internship for a School of Information student.  Contact SI Career Services at si.careers@umich.edu for more information on internships or Kelly Kowatch at kkowatch@umich.edu for more information or a referral to the faculty of other SI-client based courses.