Comparison of two approaches to the funding and production of multimedia interactive computer resources – A case study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hopkins, Teresa E. | Bailey, J.M.

Affiliations: CAL Group, Textile Department, University of Manchester, Institute of Sience and Technology, Manchester M60 1QD, UK. Tel.: +44 161 200 8749; Fax: +44 160 955 8123; E-mail: teresa.hopkins@umist.ac.uk

Abstract: Funding, organisation and outcomes of two multimedia production projects are compared and contrasted. It was found that the objective of the funding body has a profound effect on the final product, as does the terms of such funding. The question of how to motivate and reward contributors to projects such as these needs clarification. There are methods in place to credit academics for excellence in teaching, but not for CAL production. In particular, e-mail communication creates problems, because of lack of urgency in responding to relatively informal appeals for material. Another handicap in one project was the expensive administrative effort needed to produce detailed financial accounts. It was concluded that, although valuable CAL resources had been produced during both projects, over-reliance on e-mail is injudicious, and all objectives in a projects must be given due attention.

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-2000-20405

Journal: Information Services & Use, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 211-218, 2000