Media: Computer Weekly looks at the Background to a Report of Bad Practice

"Staff entered false data to get around CSA controls" is at tale of woe and workarounds at the UK Child Support Agency. Charged with sorting out payment to the supporting parent in cases where partners have split, the agency has drawn attention in the past by running with a substantial backlog. This Computer Weekly story reveals that inflexible IT systems have not been helping.

'Poorly trained, demoralised staff at the Child Support Agency have knowingly entered false information into IT systems, deleted cases for no good reason, and stockpiled claims, not putting them on the systems for years, according to a new report.'

In the past, government ministers have claimed that problems at the CSA were mainly due to difficulties with the IT systems. 'But disclosures in a report commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions show that the agency's problems are systemic, not just technological.' says the magazine.

Associated Link: CW: Staff entered false data to get around CSA controls

New Report: Innovative Marketing in the Digital World
Source: E-consultancy, 7 October 2008
 
A new report from E-consultancy provides a distillation of ideas and suggestions provided by digital marketing experts.

Linking Industry with Academia
Source: unknown, 6 October 2008
 
Customer experience research consultancy, fhios, based in London, has just launched an innovative internship programme, aimed primarily at postgraduate students.

Online Travel Booking: What influences Consumers?
Source: Webcredible, 4 October 2008
 
What influences consumers when booking a holiday? How can travel companies offer the best user experience?

Getting the Word out
Source: UN, 3 October 2008
 
I SAID, I'M ON THE TRAIN... Voice recognition technology can now translate all those pesky garbled voicemails into manageable text messages.

Mobile hardware outpaces Software and User Capabilities
Source: ComputerWorld, 2 October 2008
 
The main issue dissuading users from employing all the capabilities of their mobile devices is the complexity involved in operating them.

Gesturing, not Drowning
Source: UN, 1 October 2008
 
The newly launched Gyration Air Mouse with MotionSense technology is designed to work in the air or on a flat surface.

Usability as an ERP Selection Criteria
Source: TechWorld, 30 September 2008
 
What careth big hairy Enterprise Resource Planning for usability? More than you might imagine.

Expert Q&A: The Latest Thinking on Computer-Related Pain
Source: NY Times via Ergonomics in the News, 29 September 2008
 
Controversy continues over whether typing on a computer could cause repetitive strain injuries of the hand, arm and shoulder. Has that debate been settled?

Talking Websites could Improve Sales and Accessibility
Source: BusinessInBerkshire, 27 September 2008
 
An IT Analysis report says that making websites talk improves accessibility and sales.

Documentation: the Hidden Challenge of Mobile Interface Design
Source: UN, 26 September 2008
 
Multiple functions per key, animation, gesture, and industry regulation. Fantastic for the end-user, but what about the poor information architect?