From: Elayne Coakes
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 23/01/03 10:14
Subject: cfp for a sociotech stream

I am posting this on behalf of Jenny Ure.  Please reply to her at the
address
in the documentation.

CALL FOR PAPERS

SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS TRACK
 
10th ISPE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COLLABORATIVE ENGINEERING (CE
2003)
www.ispe-net.org/ce2003

July 26-30, 2003
Madeira, Portugal

Peer reviewed publication in book form of all accepted papers, selected
options for journal publication in sponsoring journals.

SOCIO-TECHNICAL ISSUES IN COLLABORATIVE ENGINEERING

Managers are increasingly concerned to map and manage the 'soft'
processes
that impact on the performance of extended enterprise systems such as
the
supply chain. This Conference series has been a major forum for the
international scientific exchange of multi-disciplinary and inter-
organizational aspects of concurrent engineering (CE), and the themes
this
year reflect a growing interest in the socio-technical architecture of
collaborative systems involving people, processes and technologies.

Track Title
ALIGNING, PEOPLE PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGY TO ADVANTAGE.

Collaborative, networked systems, such as extended enterprise systems or

product design teams, work across social, organisational and cultural
boundaries. Cognitive, social, cultural, economic and political
architectures
shape the perceived meanings and preferred actions that will ultimately
define
performance.
 
This track deals with collaborative engineering systems as
socio-technical
complexes, requiring the alignment of people, processes and technology
to
achieve competitive advantage. The aim is to provide an opportunity to
consider the very diverse initiatives in different disciplines -
theoretical,
practical or methodological -which contribute to the mapping and
management of
the human dimension in collaborative networked systems such as
concurrent
engineering

The sessions will include paper presentations raising issues, or
outlining
research, followed by an interactive session with invited experts, to
define
the issues and actions of a Working Group, and a Network of Excellence.
The
nature of the sessions reflects the wish to provide an opportunity for
bridge-
building between diverse groups, disciplinary and organisations
addressing
these issues under different umbrellas, such as socio-technical systems.

SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS NETWORK & EUROPEAN WORKING GROUP

The participants will also be invited to participate in creating a
Socio-
technical Systems 'Network of Excellence' and a proposal for a European
Working Group on this area, to reflect and build on the diversity of
academic
and industrial expertise and resources in the very international
community
associated with the CE Conference Series.

PAPER THEMES

Papers are invited under any of the following themes. Although
collaborative
engineering contexts are of most direct interest, any networked context
requiring the coordination of social, organizational or technical
process
architectures are welcome.

Session 1
MAPPING / MANAGING DISTRIBUTED KNOWLEDGE

This session is for discussion of theoretical frames of reference,
methodologies, strategies, models or languages that can contribute to
understanding, designing or co-ordinating collaborative, socio-technical

systems.

Papers are particularly welcomed on themes such as:

*     representing knowledge as a collective resource for
decision-making
*     managing spaces/interfaces where knowledge is generated or
reconstructed.
*     supporting knowledge-building communities
*     leveraging knowledge to practical advantage in networked
communities

Where possible these should highlight the implications for the
enhancement of
collaborative / concurrent engineering, but any networked context is
acceptable.

Session 2
CROSS-CULTURAL OR INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL COORDINATION

Many of the problems in collaborative engineering systems result from
the
difficulty of operating across communities. This session deals with case

studies of collaborative research, training, design or management
involving
the coordination of people, processes and technology to strategic
advantage in
an inter-cultural or inter-organizational context.

This theme overlaps with the previous one in many regards, but paper
here will
place more emphasis on the issues associated with coordinating
collaborative
work across organizations and across cultures.

Session 3
COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS, COMMUNITIES, ENVIRONMENTS, SYSTEMS

Collaborative, networked systems operate on the basis of knowledge
derived
from distributed, networked communities. Much of this knowledge derives
its
meaning (and value) from semantic, conceptual, social, and cultural
contexts
that are not shared. Real communities have evolved mechanisms for
bridging
these gaps. In extended networked enterprises however, these processes
may
need to be explicitly supported. This session looks at strategies for
sharing
knowledge to advantage by leveraging :-

*     networked communities. (e.g.  creation of shared spaces, shared
conceptual and semantic frames of reference, and also strategic
partnering to
shared ends.
*     networked technologies to enhance the collective representation
interpretation or use of knowledge.

Papers from any networked context are invited, particularly where the
potential relevance for collaborative or concurrent engineering are
indicated.

PAPER SUBMISSION DETAILS

Authors are invited to submit research and application papers, not
exceeding
5000 words, representing original, previously unpublished work.

Submitted papers will be double peer reviewed, and an international
Review
Committee will shortly be published on the Conference site.

Please submit your manuscript to [log in to unmask] for forwarding to
Co-
Chairs and Committee, indicating the Session within this Track under
which you
would prefer your paper to appear.

All accepted papers will be published as an ISBN numbered book with
accompanying CD by A.A. Balkema Publishers and will be printed before
the
conference.

A selection of papers will also be published by the sponsoring journals.

If you are unsure whether a particular theme is relevant, or wish to
suggest a
further area which should be included please do email!

IMPORTANT DATES

March 10, 2003 Deadline to submit full papers
March 31, 2003 Notification of acceptance mailed
April 14, 2003 Deadline for camera ready full paper