PSSM:  Case Professional and Scientific Staff Management (PSSM) is a unique type of temporary staffing agency. Many organizations today hire highly skilled technical employees on a short-term, temporary basis to assist with special projects or to provide a needed technical skill. PSSM negotiates contracts with its client companies in which it agrees to provide temporary staff in specific job categories for a specified cost. For example, PSSM has a contract with an oil and gas exploration company in which it agrees to supply geologists with at least a master's degree for $5,000 per week. PSSM has contracts with a wide range of companies and can place almost any type of professional or scientific staff members, from computer programmers to geologists to astrophysicists. When a PSSM client company determines that it will need a temporary professional or scientific employee, it issues a staffing request against the contract it had previously negotiated with PSSM. When PSSM's contract manager receives a staffing request, the contract number referenced on the staffing request is entered into the contract database. Using information from the database, the contract manager reviews the terms and conditions of the contract and determines whether the staffing request is valid. The staffing request is valid if the contract has not expired, the type of professional or scientific employee requested is listed on the original contract, and the requested fee falls within the negotiated fee range. If the staffing request is not valid, the contract manager sends the staffing request back to the client with a letter stating why the staffing request cannot be filled, and a copy of the letter is filed. If the staffing request is valid, the contract manager enters the staffing request into the staffing request database as an outstanding staffing request. The staffing request is then sent to the PSSM placement department. In the placement department, the type of staff member, experience, and qualifications requested on the staffing request are checked against the database of available professional and scientific staff. If a qualified individual is found, he or she is marked "reserved" in the staff database. If a qualified individual cannot be found in the database or is not immediately available, the placement department creates a memo that explains the inability to meet the staffing request and attaches it to the staffing request. All staffing requests are then sent to the arrangements department. In the arrangements department, the prospective temporary employee is contacted and asked to agree to the placement. After the placement details have been worked out and agreed to, the staff member is marked "placed" in the staff database. A copy of the staffing request and a bill for the placement fee is sent to the client. Finally, the staffing request, the "unable-to-fill" memo (if any), and a copy of the placement fee bill are sent to the contract manager. If the staffing request was filled, the contract manager closes the open staffing request in the staffing request database. If the staffing request could not be filled, the client is notified. The staffing request, placement fee bill, and unable-tofillmemo are then filedin the contract office.   Please answer the following questions in detail for the Professional and Scientific Staff Management (PSSM) case: 1. Drawing upon the design principles presented in Chapter 10, describe the features of the user interface that will be most important to experienced users. 2. Drawing upon the design principles presented in the text, describe the features of the user interface that will be most important to novice users. 3. Develop a set of guidelines that can help a project team to design and select the most appropriate interface evaluation technique for the case.

Understanding Business
12th Edition
ISBN:9781259929434
Author:William Nickels
Publisher:William Nickels
Chapter1: Taking Risks And Making Profits Within The Dynamic Business Environment
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PSSM: 

Case
Professional and Scientific Staff Management (PSSM) is a unique type of temporary staffing
agency. Many organizations today hire highly skilled technical employees on a short-term,
temporary basis to assist with special projects or to provide a needed technical skill. PSSM
negotiates contracts with its client companies in which it agrees to provide temporary staff in
specific job categories for a specified cost. For example, PSSM has a contract with an oil and gas
exploration company in which it agrees to supply geologists with at least a master's degree for
$5,000 per week. PSSM has contracts with a wide range of companies and can place almost any
type of professional or scientific staff members, from computer programmers to geologists to
astrophysicists.
When a PSSM client company determines that it will need a temporary professional or scientific
employee, it issues a staffing request against the contract it had previously negotiated with PSSM.
When PSSM's contract manager receives a staffing request, the contract number referenced on
the staffing request is entered into the contract database. Using information from the database,
the contract manager reviews the terms and conditions of the contract and determines whether
the staffing request is valid. The staffing request is valid if the contract has not expired, the type
of professional or scientific employee requested is listed on the original contract, and the
requested fee falls within the negotiated fee range. If the staffing request is not valid, the
contract manager sends the staffing request back to the client with a letter stating why the
staffing request cannot be filled, and a copy of the letter is filed. If the staffing request is valid,
the contract manager enters the staffing request into the staffing request database as an
outstanding staffing request. The staffing request is then sent to the PSSM placement
department.
In the placement department, the type of staff member, experience, and qualifications requested
on the staffing request are checked against the database of available professional and scientific
staff. If a qualified individual is found, he or she is marked "reserved" in the staff database. If a
qualified individual cannot be found in the database or is not immediately available, the

placement department creates a memo that explains the inability to meet the staffing request

and attaches it to the staffing request. All staffing requests are then sent to the arrangements
department.
In the arrangements department, the prospective temporary employee is contacted and asked
to agree to the placement. After the placement details have been worked out and agreed to, the
staff member is marked "placed" in the staff database. A copy of the staffing request and a bill
for the placement fee is sent to the client. Finally, the staffing request, the "unable-to-fill" memo
(if any), and a copy of the placement fee bill are sent to the contract manager. If the staffing
request was filled, the contract manager closes the open staffing request in the staffing request
database. If the staffing request could not be filled, the client is notified. The staffing request,
placement fee bill, and unable-tofillmemo are then filedin the contract office.

 

Please answer the following questions in detail for the Professional and Scientific Staff Management (PSSM) case:

1. Drawing upon the design principles presented in Chapter 10, describe the features of the user interface that will be most important to experienced users.

2. Drawing upon the design principles presented in the text, describe the features of the user interface that will be most important to novice users.

3. Develop a set of guidelines that can help a project team to design and select the most appropriate interface evaluation technique for the case.

I expect you to look at existing research (e.g. research papers) related to your case to help you support your answers. Please provide sources.

Expert Solution
Step 1

Professional and Scientific Staff Management (PSSM) is a distinctive temporary staffing company that offers highly qualified technical workers on a short-term basis to support specific projects or to supply a required technical skill. From computer programmers to geologists to astrophysicists, PSSM has contracts with a wide range of businesses and can place practically any type of professional or scientific staff member. The contract manager at PSSM examines the terms and circumstances of the contract after receiving a staffing request from a client company to ascertain its legality. If the request is legitimate, it is forwarded to the placement department, which will look for a suitable candidate, and then to the arrangements department, which will finalise the placement specifics.

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Develop a set of guidelines that can help a project team to design and select the most appropriate interface evaluation technique for the case. 

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