Document Control Study Results
Here are the results from my Document Control study.
As you know, I’ve been vocal about my disdain for a lack of document control skills and tools available at UOP. So, I commissioned a short study of my classmates. Truth be told, this was an assignment that I linked to a keen interest of my own and something that ought to be of importance to UOP.
The results boil down to the following:
- 100% has duplicated edits made by other team members
- 100% of the respondents had made edits at the same time as other team members
- 75% of students had edited an older version of team document when a current one was available
- 62.5% of respondents indicated that they make editing announcements in a post vs. in the document
- 37.5% of students had approved a team document without reading the current version
These are stark numbers. However, the sample population is remarkably small, some 10 students of 11 others in the class and of over 300,000 at University of Phoenix. However, these survey respondents are doctoral students. Meaning that they come to the class with advanced career positions, training, academics, and general skills. It could be extrapolated that if they have trouble in the arena of document control then others will have the same or more trouble.
I think this is a good study and warrants some investigation on behalf of University of Phoenix. Document Controls, even in the simplest sense could help. Joel at nxtOracle asked about Google Docs once in a comment. I’ve used Google Docs with a self-proclaimed novice and it went very well.
What prevents working with Google Docs? UOP policy dictates that all team communication must take place in the classroom forums. Anything outside the forums must be documented and reported. While this is not an outright ban on collaborating in Google Docs, it could be an issue brought up and cause undue frustration. I am going to investigate using it further, and with my next team. Maybe it will help without hurting.
Read the report here: Document Control: Data analysis
Read more about the survey assignment:
Your comments are most welcome.
—————-
Now playing: U2 – All I Want Is You
via FoxyTunes
[...] Document Control Study Results [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] Document Control Study Results [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Those numbers are indeed “stark”. Being only in my second year of undergrad studies, I haven’t had much opportunity to work in a team. On the few projects I have, I’ve been disappointed by the Web 1.0 interface that UoP offers. It’s very difficult to work effectively under those constraints.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Right you are Joel. The whole interface is behind the times.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hi Mike,
I was wondering about your survey questions that went along with this analysis. The analysis looks good but I expected to see a survey attached in the Appendix.
Amanda.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Amanda,
Thanks for dropping by. The report and questions are available in the post, look for the line: “Read the report here: Document Control: Data analysis”
For quick reference, here are the questions:
1. Please indicate your gender
2. Please indicate your program of study
3. I have duplicated edits with other team members on team documents
4. I have edited documents at the same time as other team members
5. I know what edits were made in a team document most recently
6. I have given my approval on documents without reading the current document
7. I can track changes in team documents throughout the development process
8. I feel frustrated when group edits on team documents are being posted quickly
9. I announce my edits in a post rather than make edits in the document
10. I willingly take the role of coordinating others’ work on learning team assignments
11. I can locate the current working document on team assignments
12. I have edited older (not current) versions of a team document
As for the survey, I used an eSurvey from a tool on my website. As this point, I archived it so it is not public any longer. You can surmise the survey by understanding that I used a Lickert Scale (Never..Very Often) for Q3-12.
Good idea though, to put a copy in an appendix, I thought it was covered in the table, but an appendix would be nice. I’ll add that to my paper next time. Thanks!
Mike
Like or Dislike:
0 
0