Research Approach & Methodology

CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH

This chapter describes the methodology and approach applied in the research project. This research will use five major steps to design the communication interaction for UiTM alumni system. It consists of architecture pattern finding (lr), problem identification (motivation), requirement gathering (observe & interview), requirement analysis (srs), and design (sdd). For review, the objectives of this research project are

·        To identify the communication interaction channel in alumni system à(LR)

·        To identify the requirements for communication interaction channel of alumni system in UiTM à(Req Analysis SRS)

·        To design the collaborative of communication interaction in the alumni system à(Design SDD)

1.      Architecture Pattern Finding

a.       Aim to achieve first objective

b.      By doing LR

c.       Expected deliverables are the criteria of communication interaction channel in social network or alumni system is determined and collaborated it to implement in the design of new enhance UiTM alumni system, architecture of the criteria and module in alumni system.

2.      Problem identification.

a.       Aim to find the problem in current UiTM alumni system

b.      By doing the reasearching, and determine what the problem and deliver the aim, objectives, scope and important of the research the expected deliverableasfproject.

c.       Expected deliverable is chapter 1 consist of problem, aim, objective,scope and significance of the project.

3.      Requirement gathering

a.       Aim to collect the data about the problem and identify what is expected to do about the problem

b.      By doing through primary data which is  interview with the stakeholder of of the system, and secondary data by reading, research and finding of the criteria and module for alumni system through article, journal, book, and so on.

c.       Expected deliverable is list of the problem, requirement from the stakeholder, data needed in social communcation network or alumni system

4.      Requirement analysis

a.       Aim to achieve the second objective

b.      By doing the analysis of data gathered, analysis of architecture pattern finding of the criteria  of communication interaction in alumni system, determine criteria of communication interaction channel needed to included in the module of the alumni system

c.       Expected deliverable is SRS and module of communication interaction channel of the alumni system planned.

5.      Design

a.       Aim to achieve the last objective

b.      By doing the design of the new enhance UiTM alumni system by implementing collaboration (association of criteria) of the communication interaction architecture criteria  in the current module of the UiTM alumni system

c.       Expected deliverable is the design of the new communication interaction channel module in UiTM alumni system and SDD and project prototype demostration

Literature Review

1.       Alumni system

1.1.    Definition

No.	Type	Author / Source	Key terms	Description	Opinion
1.	Web design	Blackbaud Inc, 2011 “http://www.blackbaud.com/internet/occ.aspx”	Online campus community	-enables student, alumni, faculty, lecturers, administrator and supporter to build and strengthen relationship through online community by offering services that help alumni and the others stay connected with each other and help maintain their own connection with them and foster a lifestyle affinity to your campus
2.	Web design	Webaloo LLC, 2007 “http://www. webaloo.webdesign.com/alumni_system.aspx”	Alumni builder system	-brings classmate together by providing one place where they can exchange information and ideas and stay connected with each other and with their school and virtually all of the information can be added or updated by alumnae through secure pages.
3.	Discussion document	McKinsey & Company, Kaurthause Ittisen, 2009	Alumni management system	-alumni webpage is used as communication and information platform between each of alumni
4.	Articles	Michael Koch, 2002	Virtual community	-internet has served as a virtual meeting place for people sharing common interest, electronically supported interested and networked computer is used to support direct communication and indirect information exchange
5.	Journal	Wasserman & Faust, 1994 “Hyperlink network analysis- A New Method for study of social structure on web”	Social Network	-set of nodes (people, organization and other social entities) that connected by a set of relationship such as friendship, affiliation or information exchange

1.2.    Features and criteria and framework of alumni system design

No.	Alumni / Title	Author / Source	Architectural design	Opinion
1.	Alumni builder system	Webaloo LLC, 2007 “http://www.webaloo.webdesign.com/alumni_system.aspx”	-alumni class page -alumni profile -alumni search -alumni forum -alumni notes -alumni secure login blocks -profile changes report -missing alumni page
2.	Alumni association management	National institute of technology Tiruchrapalli, 2007 “management information modules for e-Govennence”	-auto registration -report of faculty wise -report of entrepreneurship / employer -report of the location -auto enlistment to different chapter -provision to inform job opportunities to ongoing student -provision to upload photo -provision to upload note
3.	Online campus community	Blackbaud Inc, 2011 “http://www.blackbaud.com/internet/occ.aspx”	-profile updates -email forwarding -weblog, blogs -class notes -online directories -standard progress -career center -personalized online giving option (donation) -event calendar -registration -personal pages
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1.3.    Comparison of other alumni system framework communication design

No	Alumni Name	Communication architectural design framework
		Forum	Message	Chat	Email	Comment	Blog	Social network	e-Aduan	e-Cadangan
1.	UiTM Alumni System	×	×	×	√	×	×	×	×	×
2.	Universiti Cambridge-Malaysia Alumni System	√	√	×	√	√	×	×	×	×
3.	Monash Alumni system	×	√	×	√	×	√	√	×	×
4.	Alumni USM System	×	√	×	√	×	×	√	√	√

2.       Communication interaction

2.1.    Definition

No.	Type	Author / Source	Key terms	Description	Opinion
1.	Article	Petra Schubert, Koch 2002 “collaboration platform for virtual student community”	Communication platform	-web platform and electronic commerce system are equipped with annotation functionality and various communication features -provides an information spaces centered around lifestyle events which can be filled up by the members
2.	Journal case study	Carola Salvioni, “feedback & communication:: the central role of user during lifecycle of techniqal product”	Feedback & communication	-consist in an intranet platform that integrates heterogeneous and support to learning in presences of remote cooperative teamwork, creating virtual workspace for an innovative approach to working organization and learning environment.
3.	Conferences press	Roger & Kincaid, 1981	Communication network	-network composed of interconnected individuals who are linked by patterned flows of information.
4.	Journal case study	Carola Salvioni, “feedback & communication:: the central role of user during lifecycle of techniqal product”	Feedback & communication	-creating a virtual place to promoting the process of knowledge spread and acquisition and consequently not only the personal growth, but especially the co-sharing and building of the institutional know-how.
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2.2.    Type of communication interaction

2.3.    Advantages

3.       Collaboration platform

3.1.    Definition

No.	Type	Author / Source	Key terms	Description	Opinion
1.	Conference article	Nebeth, 2008 “A social network platform for vocational learning in worldwide network”	Social network platform	-collaboration platform has been designed whose function is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and information between the learner and courses, and further on in an alumni learning community that is contributing to a better assimilation of content that delivered to them
2.	Article	Petra Schubert, Koch 2002 “collaboration platform for virtual student community”	Collaboration support	-web platform or electronic commerce system are equipped with annotation functionality and various communication feature. -includes all method for supporting communication and coordination in a group of people -closely related to the application areas of knowledge management, user relationship management, change management and deal mainly with support of communication in a loosely coupled group of people.
3.	Article	Kock, Davison 2001 “e-Collaboration system designed to improve learning process”		-effort of bringing together two or more people in order to be more creative by using electronic tools. -include such activities such as computer mediated software, group support system, digital asset management, groupware and so on.

3.2.    Advantages