Teaching the Bloomberg Financial Information System Using Online Videos: An Action Research Study

There are many attempts to explain success and failure in information systems. Many of these refer to a purported socio-technical gap. In this paper we develop an alternative approach that does not impose such a strong dichotomy, but regards social and technical rather as dimensions along which to study workpractices. The developed theory involves not only the “social” and “technical” constructs but also other generic ones, namely “instrumental”, “semiotic” and “pragmatic”. We call this theory socio-instrumental pragmatism. To illustrate the theoretical concepts introduced, we use an example brought from an extensive action research study including the development of an information system in eldercare, developed through a participatory design approach.

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IT Artefacts as Socio-Pragmatic Instruments

Human Computer Interaction ◽

10.4018/978-1-87828-991-9.ch156 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 2341-2354

Author(s):

Göran Goldkuhl ◽

Pär J. Ågerfalk

Keyword(s):

Information System ◽

Information Systems ◽

Action Research ◽

Participatory Design ◽

Research Study ◽

Design Approach ◽

Theoretical Concepts ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

The Social ◽

Action Research Study

There are many attempts to explain success and failure in information systems. Many of these refer to a purported sociotechnical gap. In this article we develop an alternative approach that does not impose such a strong dichotomy, but regards social and technical rather as dimensions along which to study workpractices. The developed theory involves not only the “social” and “technical” constructs, but also other generic ones, namely “instrumental,” “semiotic,” and “pragmatic.” We call this theory socio-instrumental pragmatism. To illustrate the theoretical concepts introduced, we use an example brought from an extensive action research study including the development of an information system in eldercare, developed through a participatory design approach.

Download Full-text

IT Artefacts as Socio-Pragmatic Instruments

End-User Computing ◽

10.4018/978-1-59904-945-8.ch129 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 2252-2264

Author(s):

G. Goldkuhl ◽

P. J. Agerfalk

Keyword(s):

Information System ◽

Information Systems ◽

Action Research ◽

Participatory Design ◽

Research Study ◽

Design Approach ◽

Theoretical Concepts ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

The Social ◽

Action Research Study

There are many attempts to explain success and failure in information systems. Many of these refer to a purported sociotechnical gap. In this article we develop an alternative approach that does not impose such a strong dichotomy, but regards social and technical rather as dimensions along which to study workpractices. The developed theory involves not only the “social” and “technical” constructs, but also other generic ones, namely “instrumental,” “semiotic,” and “pragmatic.” We call this theory socio-instrumental pragmatism. To illustrate the theoretical concepts introduced, we use an example brought from an extensive action research study including the development of an information system in eldercare, developed through a participatory design approach.

Download Full-text