Contribution of information professionals in the multidisciplinary world of Web information systems (WIS)

Abstract

This paper presents the results from an analysis of the tasks of information professionals pertaining to Web information systems (WIS). This research was based on information professionals working in seven departments of the Canadian federal government. This study offers a better understanding of the information professionals' role in WIS, in the context of an organization heading toward becoming "digital". A qualitative content analysis was completed on the basis of 32 interviews conducted with information professionals involved in WIS. The results indicate that information professionals are performing tasks that can be grouped in four categories - content, technology, users, graphic interface. The predominant tasks are those related to the content, although the technological tasks and the WIS management task are also very present. Three factors were identified that have an impact on the involvement of information professionals in WIS: (1) the types of WIS, (2) the organizational levels represented by WIS, and (3) the types of positions filled by the information professionals.