From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Ragna Zeiss
Sent: 02 February 2004 11:07
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: UNDERSTANDING SOCIOTECHNICAL ACTION




CALL FOR PAPERS

WORKSHOP ON UNDERSTANDING SOCIOTECHNICAL ACTION

Napier University, Edinburgh, UK. 3-4 June 2004


Co-sponsors:
Social Computing Group, Napier University, Edinburgh
School of Computation, UMIST

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IMPORTANT DATES:
Submission Deadline: 22 March 2004 (4 pg. extended abstracts)

Notification to authors: 26 April 2004

Workshop: 3/4 June 2004


OVERVIEW:
Where problems arise with computerization projects it is often because
those
involved have failed to grasp the complexities of sociotechnical action
involving ICTs. For us, the lack of a hyphen in the term sociotechnical
is
significant, reinforcing the mutually constitutive nature of aspects
that
might otherwise have been viewed as related, but ontologically distinct.

Existing approaches to design and implementation are constrained in a
number
of different ways. These constraints often arise as a result of the ways
in
which such approaches try to address (or not, as the case may be)
sociotechncal aspects - or more likely, technical, and possibly some
social
dimensions. In some cases, action is modelled as a series of disembodied
socially neutral tasks, articulated as a set of activities and goals (or
as
organisational processes) that are defined by a designer working with
the
metaphor of the 'systems life cycle'. Such approaches often assume a
development that involves a 'system' being built from scratch, and yet
increasingly, it is pre-developed 'packages' of technology that have to
be
configured in, and with, institutional settings.

Furthermore, in so far as they are considered, social dimensions are
often
addressed in terms of multiple points of view that take account of local
circumstances. However, the time frame of inquiry is often limited, and
emergent effects cannot be explored. Other approaches are more
comprehensive
and accommodate social awareness, and organisational history and
geography,
though these, by virtue of their richness, are difficult to apply in
design
and implementation work as they are concerned with ongoing configuration
of
ICTs in working life, rather than life 'cycles'. Similarly, while there
are
many metaphors (e.g. intertwining, web, shaping, patterns, soft
systems.)
employed to encourage an understanding of the way in which social and
technical aspects are 'related', it is debateable as to whether they add
anything in practice.

One way of improving this situation would be to adopt a truly
sociotechnical
approach to understanding action - i.e. not merely looking at the
'social'
and the 'technical', but endeavouring to address the mutually
constitutive
nature of 'sociotechnical' action. The questions we pose as a focus for
this
workshop relate to whether the concept of sociotechnical action has
validity, is feasible, and has any utility, both for researchers and
practitioners.

With this in mind, we seek contributions to a two-day workshop from
active
researchers who are engaged in empirical work with a critical focus that
will explore the complexities of researching sociotechnical action and
the
validity of different approaches

Co-Chairs: Keith Horton and Elisabeth Davenport (both: Social Computing
Research Group, Napier University).

This Workshop will be limited to a maximum of 30 participants.
After the workshop selected authors will be invited to submit a full
paper
for review and publication in a book.

Confirmed speakers:

Prof. Liam Bannon (University of Limerick)
Dr. Geraldine Fitzpatrick (University of Sussex)
Dr. Howard Rosenbaum (Indiana University)
Prof. Robin Williams (University of Edinburgh)
Prof. Trevor Wood-Harper (UMIST & Univ. of South Australia)

  Outline Programme

The workshop is scheduled for Thursday 3rd June 2004 and Friday 4th June
2004.
The venue will be at Napier University, Edinburgh, UK.


Submission of proposed papers:

4 page extended abstracts are requested.
Abstracts should be A4, single spaced in a 12 point font (Arial).
Abstracts
should be submitted as an email attachment in MSWORD or RTF format by
22 March 2004. Author names and other attributions should be omitted
from
the abstract but should accompany the email.
The abstracts should be sent to Fiona Dick ([log in to unmask]).

Peer Review:
Abstracts will be blind reviewed by two people.
Authors submitting to the workshop may be asked to review up to three
papers.

Workshop url: http://www.dcs.napier.ac.uk/~keith/usta04.htm
  

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