Development of an activity theory-based framework for the analysis and design of socio-technical systems

Carolin Durst, Fabian Wiser, Sebastian Luber and Nilmini Wickramasinghe

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2020, vol. 23, issue 3, 261-293

Abstract: The design of socio-technical systems is a challenging task due to diverse stakeholders and complex processes that have to be mapped into software. Following a socio-technical approach for information system analysis and design results in more user-friendly systems accompanying various benefits for associated stakeholders. However, there is a lack of theories and methods which consider technical, social and organisational factors. Researchers recommended activity theory as a rich framework to study socio-technical systems. While the benefits trigger increased use of activity theory, there seems to be a shared heritage of disadvantages linked to its nature and hence its application. This article introduces a novel conceptual activity theory framework to resolve these problems and evaluates it within a case study in the context of innovation management. For the development of the framework a design science research methodology approach is followed.

Keywords: activity theory; socio-technical systems; system design and analysis; design science. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijnvor:v:23:y:2020:i:3:p:261-293

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