The work-reflection-learning cycle - Department of Computer and ...

Results
archives are found to contain data that may shed light on the team‟s collaboration with
project stakeholders, which often entails challenges. The contents of email archives are
generally considered as formal documentation of the project, and it is reasonably easy to
search and retrieve contents related to some topic or stakeholder relationship. Some
tools are less adequate for use in retrospective reflection, partially due to lack of
features for systematic and efficient retrieval of the data and partially because they are
considered informal. For instance, the case studies of the thesis show that the instant
messaging logs of members of a project team may contain information with a potential
to shed light on important issues in the project (P3, P7). However, instant messaging in
the context of project work is considered a substitute for informal face-to-face
interaction and frequently interwoven with communication related to other activity
(school and private). The resulting IM logs are not intended or expected to be reexamined
by people other than their owners.
Figure 13: Retrospective reflection as distributed cognition. From P7.
On this background, P7 presents a model of retrospective reflection, taking into account
that different collaboration tools may contain historical data potentially shedding light
on different aspects, or sub-trajectories, of the project process. The model is based on
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