School of Computing
FACULTY OF Engineering
COMP3470 IS33
People-Centred Information
Systems Development
Week 3 : Lecture 2
Social-Technical Approaches in ISD
Week 4 (1) 2008
IS33 ISD - theories, methods &
techniques
1
The Socio-Technical Philosophy

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Introduced in 1940’s by the Tavistock Institute
(London), http://www.tavinstitute.org/
Acknowledged 2 things:
 The
significance of the social system (i.e. people)
 The difference between the social system and the
technical system

Key principles for design
 Joint
optimisation of technical & social system
 Semi-autonomous work groups
 Participation
 Quality of work life
Week 4 (1) 2008
IS33 ISD - theories, methods &
techniques
2
A recent report by the Tavistock
Institute on impact of IT
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“Our purpose is to contribute to human wellbeing and
development by advancing the theory, methodology and
evaluation of change within and between groups,
communities, organisations and wider society.” Tavistock
Institute web site.
EVALUATION OF THE PEOPLE'S NETWORK AND ICT
TRAINING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF (2002-2004)
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/er_eval_people
s_network_evaluation_book_bytes.pdf (look at
the Evaluation Methodology, ch 2 pp.37-44 of the pdf
file; esp.
- p.38, 3rd para
- p.39 section 2.2
- p.42 table 2.3 )
Week 4 (1) 2008
IS33 ISD - theories, methods &
techniques
3
9 S-T principles for good design – by
Tavistock Institute of Human Relations
1. Compatibility
2. Minimal critical specification
3. The sociotechnical criterion
4. Multi-function
5. Boundary location
6. Information flow
7. Support congruence
8. Design and human values
9. Incompletion
Source: Mumford, E (1987)
Week 4 (1) 2008
IS33 ISD - theories, methods &
techniques
4
Critiques of S-T
Week 4 (1) 2008
IS33 ISD - theories, methods &
techniques
5
ETHICS
One of best known methodologies in S-T
 = Effective Technical and Human
Implementation of Computer-based
Systems
 Enid Mumford has put her book on
Designing Human Systems – the ETHICS
Approach (1983) online at
http://www.enid.u-net.com/C1book1.htm

Week 4 (1) 2008
IS33 ISD - theories, methods &
techniques
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Main strands in ETHICS
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Job satisfaction – good ‘fit’ between
employee’s needs and what the job offers (in
terms of knowledge, psychological, efficiency,
task-structure, ethical)
Development of IS is a change process and
will involve a process of negotiation between
the affected and interested parties. Hence
participation is vital, users can make
decisions on how the use of technology might
improve their job satisfaction – use of
‘steering committee’ and ‘design group(s)’
Source: Avison and Fitzgerald
Week 4 (1) 2008
IS33 ISD - theories, methods &
techniques
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15 Steps in ETHICS
1. Why change
2. System boundaries
3. Description of existing
system
4.5.6. Definition of key
objectives and tasks
7. Diagnosis of efficiency
needs
8. Diagnosis of job
satisfaction needs
9. Future analysis
Week 4 (1) 2008
10. Specifying and
weighting efficiency and
job satisfaction needs
and objectives
11. Organisational design
of new system
12. Technical options
13. Preparation of detailed
work design
14. Implementation
15. Evaluation
IS33 ISD - theories, methods &
techniques
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