Lessons learned from manual systems: designing information systems based on the situational theory of agency (original) (raw)
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The Foundation Role for Theories of Agency in Understanding Information Systems Design
Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 2002
In this paper we argue that theories of agency form a foundation upon which we can build a deeper understanding of information systems design. We do so by firstly recognising that information systems are part of purposeful socio-technical systems and that consequently theories of agency may help in understanding them. We then present two alternative theories of agency (deliberative and situational), mainly drawn from the robotics and artificial intelligence disciplines, and in doing so we note that existing information system design methods and ontological studies of those methods implicitly adhere to the deliberative theory of agency. We also note that while there are advantages in specific circumstances from utilising the situated theory of agency in designing complex systems, because of their differing ontological commitments such systems would be difficult to analyse and evaluate using ontologies currently used in information system. We then provide evidence that such situational information systems can indeed exist by giving a specific example (the Kanban system) which has emerged from manufacturing practice. We conclude that information systems are likely to benefit from creating design approaches supporting the production of situational systems.
2005
Information systems are part of purposeful socio-technical systems and consequently theories of action may help in understanding them. Current systems analysis and design methodologies seem to have been influenced only by one particular theory of action, which asserts that action results from deliberation upon an abstract representation of the world. Many disciplines have discussed an alternative 'situational' theory of action. There is no design methodology that fully supports designing systems reflecting the situational theory of action. The aim of this paper is to describe the motivation for, and progress to date of research-in-progress developing a design methodology based on concepts from the situational theory of action. This methodology for designing situational information systems is being iteratively refined using a combination of case studies and action research. This project is significant because many information systems fail in pressured routine environments where we would argue that the situational theory of action provides a better description of purposeful activity.
Lessons learned from manual systems
2005
Information systems are part of purposeful socio-technical systems and consequently theories of agency may help in understanding them. Current systems analysis and design methodologies seem to have been influenced only by one particular theory of agency, which asserts that action results from deliberation upon an abstract representation of the world. Many disciplines have, however, discussed an alternative 'situational' theory of agency. There is currently no methodology that fully supports designing systems reflecting the situational theory of agency. The aim of this paper is to develop a firstcut of such a methodology based on concepts from the situational theory of agency, and is supplemented by our exploration of evolved manual situational systems. We intend to iteratively refine this methodology since we believe the situational theory of agency provides a better description of purposeful activity than the deliberative theory and is, therefore, a firmer foundation on which to build successful information systems, especially in pressured routine environments.
Identifying Theories of Agency In Information Systems
2004
Previous research has suggested that systems that are designed according to existing methodology fail in routine contexts whereas others that have evolved in such contexts without a traditional methodology work better. In previous work we have suggested that this is because the theory about purposeful activity that underlies the design of a system has an impact on the success of the system in particular task domains. In order to investigate this empirically we need to establish a method for determining the underlying theory of agency that informs an existing system's approach to purposeful activity. This poses the following question: how do we recognize the theories of agency in systems? To investigate this, we propose a method for extracting the theory of agency from an existing system where we have tentatively assigned an underlying theory of agency to the system but want to definitively categorize it. This is a vital first step in developing an IS design methodology for routine information systems.
Situated information systems: supporting routine activity in organisations
International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2005
Information systems in organisations are built to assist human actors to engage in goaldirected work activity. There is a certain traditional approach to information system design which has become crystallised in the standard Information Engineering Methodologies that are widely promulgated by practitioners, consultants and educators. We argue that this traditional approach is informed by a particular theory about the nature of human goal-directed action which emphasises the role of mental representation and deliberation as mediators of action. This theory of action has recently been criticised for its inability to explain the fluid, unreflective, real-time action characteristic of skilled routine activity. An alternative theory stressing action as a direct response to situations in structured environments has emerged. This paper reports our attempts to theorise an alternative to the traditional conception of information systems, which we call 'situated information systems', and to embody it in an analysis and design methodology based explicitly on this situational theory of action. We also report a system design case in which we applied the methodology in a commercial organisation. The methodology proved effective for identifying enhancements to the company's operational systems and particularly for understanding the nature of existing problems. The case also resulted in several enhancements of the methodology and clarifications of the theory. The work is significant because the unique characteristics of routine action are under-emphasised in the information systems discipline, so a set of analysis and design methods based on an authentic theory of this aspect of work is likely to produce systems that are more effective in organisational setting where work is complex but largely routine.
European Journal of Information Systems, 2011
In a number of organisational settings where work is highly skilled but substantially routine, certain entrenched manual systems have resisted digitisation. These systems include card-based systems in emergency despatch, the paper flight progress strips system used in air traffic control, the Kanban system and whiteboard systems used in hospital wards. Research to understand or replace these systems has frequently regarded them as decision support systems (DSS). We report here a detailed case study of a manual whiteboardbased bed allocation system in the ICU of a large general hospital, which shows that the support it provides for users' action choices cannot be validly conceived as decision support. This system and other effective manual systems may be better understood as a 'situated choice support system' (SCSS). Whereas DSS provide actors with a model of the action environment in order to support reasoning about the consequences of alternative actions, SCSS provide actors with structured work environments that reduce possible actions and cue-providing information resources to support a reactive choice between these limited alternatives. The findings warn of the danger of uncritically applying the DSS design paradigm to supporting action choice in skilled routine work, and provide an alternative design theory, which can potentially inform new ICT-based designs.
Some philosophic foundations for an environment for system building
Proceedings of the 1985 ACM annual conference on The range of computing : mid-80's perspective mid-80's perspective - ACM '85, 1985
This paper considers the philosophic foundations for a system which automatically produces interactive information systems (IIS). Based upon an interpretation of the software process, a review of the knowledge domains used during the process, a description of the models represented by the process, and a consideration of the biases imposed by the cognitive process, two assertions are made: (1) it is possible to build a knowledge base that completely specifies an IIS application, and (2) it is possible to generate an operational IIS from that knowledge base automatically. A research system dedicated to demonstrating this -the Environment for Building Systems -is then briefly described.
A Social Action Model of Information Systems Design
The aim of this paper is to examine the nature of information systems (IS) design as situated in its organizational context. Much of the IS literature takes a fragmented perspective of the nature of IS design, examining methodological issues, social issues, or political issues in isolation from the context of the design initiative. Recent work in situated action and social cognition provides a basis for a more integrated understanding of situated IS design.Findings from a participant observation study of situated IS design are discussed, to form the basis for an integrative, social action model of IS design. Findings from the study demonstrate how innovative IS design activity is situated in its organizational context. It is argued that the form and nature of an organizational design "problem" is inseparable from its context and that design knowledge is distributed among a design team rather than shared intersubjectively. The situated nature of design requires design skills to be learned through simulated design contexts, rather than the communication of abstract models (as in many formal education programs). The situated model rejects the predefined goal-structures assumed by decompositional models of design, such as the "waterfall" model. It is suggested that design goal-definition must proceed recursively through the processes of design, which requires new approaches to the design and development of organizational information systems.
Context, situations, and design agents
Knowledge-Based Systems, 2009
The terms "context" and "situation" are often used interchangeably or to denote a variety of concepts. This paper aims to show that these are two different but related concepts and it reifies their difference within the framework of design agents. The external world of an agent is described as the aggregation of all entities that the agent could possibly sense or effect, where context is from its external world that an agent interacts with and is aware of. The interpreted world of an agent is described in terms of the experiences of that agent, where situations are processes that direct how interactive experiences proceed. Situations determine what part of the external world are in the current context, and situations influence interaction and so influence what and how common ground is acquired.
Sociotechnical principles for system design
2000
This paper o!ers a set of sociotechnical principles to guide system design, and some consideration of the role of principles of this kind. The principles extend earlier formulations by Cherns (1976, Human Relations, 29, 783}792; 1987, Human Relations, 40, 153}162). They are intended to apply to the design of new systems, including those incorporating new information technologies and a range of modern management practices and ways of working. They attempt to provide a more integrated perspective than is apparent in existing formulations. The principles are of three broad types: meta, content and process, though they are highly interrelated. They are for use by system managers, users and designers, and by technologists and social scientists. They o!er ideas for debate and provide devices through which detailed design discussions can be elaborated. The principles are most likely to be e!ective if they are relatively freestanding, but supported by relevant methods and tools. The principles are necessary but not su$cient to make a substantial contribution to design practice.