Suggestion Schemes and Communication

It is not unusual for a computer based information system to serve more than one purpose. A computer supported suggestion scheme, though designed to promote and control the flow and evaluation of ideas for organisational improvement, may al so provide an upward means of communication within an organisation. By studying this, perhaps unintended, secondary function, it is possible to refine the desig n of the system. This paper is based on fieldwork covering seven suggestion sche mes in current use and one experimental system. It describes the characteristics and significance of suggestion schemes, and discusses them in relation to conce rns about organisational communication. The particular communicative functions t hat suggestion schemes provide are categorised and illustrated with examples fro m the field studies. The paper concludes with a demonstration of the potential r elevance of this secondary communicative function to the design of organisationa l and technical aspects of suggestion schemes. ~