Protocol Title:Visualization Support for Ecosystem Intelligence

Principal Investigator:Rahul C. Basole, Ph.D.

Co-Investigators:Hyunwoo Park, Ph.D., Arjun Srinivasan

You are being asked to be a volunteer in a research study.

Purpose:   

The study is designed to evaluate a prototype tool (called dotlink/x) created for visualizing business ecosystem data. The results of this study will be used to help design future versions of the tool.

Exclusion/Inclusion Criteria: 

dotlink/x targets analysts, corporate executives, software developers, technologists, and venture capitalists. Therefore only people working in these and related professions are included in the study.

Procedures:

If you decide to be in this study, you will be asked to interact with the tool online. A video tutorial will be

shown and you will then be asked to complete certain tasks. You will be asked to complete a brief, online

survey with feedback on your experience. Usage data from the tool, such as mouse clicks, will be recorded. No personally identifiable information will be stored, however.

Risks or Discomforts:

The risks involved are no greater than those involved in interacting with computer software.

Benefits:

You are not likely to benefit in any way from joining this study except contributing to a novel tool that may someday improve efficiency of business analysis activities.

Compensation to You:  

There is no compensation for participation.

Confidentiality:

The following procedures will be followed to keep your personal information confidential in this study: The data that is collected about you will be kept private to the extent allowed by law. To protect your privacy, your records will be kept under a code number rather than by name. Your records will be kept in locked files and only study staff will be allowed to look at them. To make sure that this research is being carried out in the proper way, the Georgia Institute of Technology IRB will review study records. Any data collected will be kept secure, only accessed by researchers investigating this study and password-protected on computers. Once the study ends, these records will be erased after all information is collected from them. The Office of Human Research Protections may also look over study records during required reviews.

Costs to You:

There is no cost to you for participating.

In Case of Injury/Harm:

If you are injured as a result of being in this study, please contact Principal Investigator Rahul Basole, Ph.D., at telephone (404) 385-6269.  Neither the Principal Investigator nor Georgia Institute of Technology has made provision for payment of costs associated with any injury resulting from participation in this study.

Participant Rights:

• Your participation in this study is voluntary. You do not have to be in this study if you don't want to be.
• You have the right to change your mind and leave the study at any time without giving any reason and without penalty.
• Any new information that may make you change your mind about being in this study will be given to you.
• You will be given a copy of this consent form to keep.
• You do not waive any of your legal rights by being in this study.

Questions about the Study or Your Rights as a Research Participant:

• If you have any questions about the study, you may contact Dr. Rahul Basole at (404) 385-6269.
• If you have any question about your rights as a research participant, you may contact the Office of Research Integrity Assurance, Georgia Institute of Technology at (404) 894-6942.

By clicking ‘Continue’, it means that you have read (or have had read to you) the information given in this consent form, and you would like to be a volunteer in this study.