Imposing structures: Narrative analysis and the design of information systems

Understanding how designers of information and communication technologies conceptualize and perform their work can contribute to the larger goals of more effective design environments and more effective information systems. This article discusses the narrative analysis method in the context of a digital library design project related to environmental science and suggests that useful insights can be gained when both the design product and the design process are framed in narrative terms. When designers embraced the narrative aspects of the system, indicators of communication, information sharing, and integrative work increased. Narrative analysis supplemented social network analysis and demonstrated more explanatory power regarding the outcomes of the usability study and was an effective research method insofar as it mirrored the participants' evolving views of the design environment, suggesting that a reflexive approach to narrative data collection and analysis is warranted.