International Journal of Systems and Society, 2016
Nowadays, organizations pursue their aims in a context of distributed collaboration, creating a n... more Nowadays, organizations pursue their aims in a context of distributed collaboration, creating a need not only for supporting work systems, but for a human-centred focus in which individual and group sense-making and learning are supported by appropriate toolsets. The authors argue that development of such toolsets requires an open systems approach. This paper discusses examples of such approaches, including non-competitive benchmarking (NCB), as a vehicle for knowledge transfer, leading to process improvement and potential for enhanced organizational performance. The paper goes on to discuss tools and techniques that may be used to support desire to reflect upon ‘best practice' in socio-technical design, without losing contextual relevance in design. The authors use these examples to explore ways in which engaged actors may be supported to create and share their contextually-dependent tacit knowledge. The foundation of open systems approaches is discussed, showing how socio-tech...
Medical schools often use simulation as a technique for teaching surgical techniques. Some simula... more Medical schools often use simulation as a technique for teaching surgical techniques. Some simulations are based on bi-valued logic - a binary relationship in computing terms, or a relationship based on simple probability. Here, particular levels of certainty are assumed for development of the simulation, allowing a simple framework for modelling basic scenarios. However, the real world represented in a simulation is unlikely to be bi-valued with two clear, definite solutions. Parameters will be fuzzy; they could be anywhere on a scale between these dual outcomes. Accepting this as a possibility, portrayal in a simulation becomes more complex and demanding. In surgical training, a simulation may need to take account of varying circumstances. It could be realized half-way through a procedure that the surgery is not really needed; or that the patient has unexpected physiological anomalies, so that a different approach is called for. Uncertainty brings more problems for modellers. Outcomes may call for subtler choices than a scale of values, e.g. ‘A or B, or possibly also C’ – modellers cannot be sure because the world is ambiguous. Many simulations fail to allow for situations such as this, which may give trainees a false sense of understanding created by over-simplification. Effectively, simulations based in bi-valued logic reinforce an illusion that there is always a clear solution, or that the solution is known. Human reasoning is not limited in this way. People are capable of assimilating ambiguity: keeping a range of options open or addressing complex issues that are summed up in the phrase ‘it depends’. Using paraconsistent logic, it is possible to envisage development of tools (including simulation software) that reflect human capacity to categorise and create resolutions that are inherently self-contradictory. This paper will set out a basis for simulation using paraconsistent logic that is tolerant of ambiguity.
This chapter reflects on the relationship between various stakeholders in the health-care industr... more This chapter reflects on the relationship between various stakeholders in the health-care industry and intelligent medical systems. It takes into consideration the potential impact that intelligent systems have on health care. The aim of the chapter is to emphasise a set of decisive factors for the successful deployment of intelligent systems in health care including the individual needs of patients and medical staff. The motivation for this study was the publicity and investment that intelligent agents like Watson have benefitted from since the outset of their trial deployments in health-care organisations, which have preceded doctors’ feedback. In this chapter, we discuss some incentives to use intelligent medical systems and the ethical considerations. Potential roles of intelligent systems in health care are explored from a socio-technical perspective. Additionally, potential decision-makers and their responsibilities in assessing the medical personnel’s attitude towards the int...
In this paper we report upon some results of an empirical study involving employees from 32 SMEs ... more In this paper we report upon some results of an empirical study involving employees from 32 SMEs in the UK on how they approach socio-technical principles in the design of their work systems. We are particularly interested in what extent employees are engaged with decision making, change in work practices and job satisfaction. Our findings reveal that employees would prefer more responsibilities, more involvement in the decision making and in change of work practices. Additionally, it seems that recognition and appreciation by management are the most valuable job satisfaction criteria. Therefore, our findings further support the conclusion that socio-technical principles are not outdated. From a socio-technical lens, the debate on the productivity issues should not only consider buying more technology as a crucial part of the design of a work process but additional effort is required to connect it with employees’ capabilities.
This volume contains the papers presented at STPIS'18: 4th International Workshop on Socio-Te... more This volume contains the papers presented at STPIS'18: 4th International Workshop on Socio-Technical Perspective in IS Development to beheld on June 12, 2018 in Tallinn, Estonia.
STPIS 2018 Socio-Technical Perspective in IS Development : Proceedings of the 4th International W... more STPIS 2018 Socio-Technical Perspective in IS Development : Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Socio-Technical Perspective in IS Development co-located with 30th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE 2018)
Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, 2017
This project looks into the perception of the benefits and drawbacks of Internet usage by elderly... more This project looks into the perception of the benefits and drawbacks of Internet usage by elderly people, born from the mid 1920s to the early 1940s, also known as the ‘silent generation’ (Lustria et al. in Health Informatics Journal 17(3):224–243, [1]). As governmental services are gradually becoming online, elderly people are required to use the Internet in order to complete the compulsory task(s). The Internet can be a challenging technology for the silent generation due to their experience and knowledge in using the computer and Internet. At the same time elderly people are anxious about Internet security, as they believe they can be victimised, hence the reason why the generation avoids the technology as much as possible. Participants also believed there was no need to use the Internet, as they have managed without the technology throughout their career. The paper also discusses the key elements by outlining the benefits and drawbacks relating to age-related disabilities, affordability, and privacy/security issues. In addition accessibility, usability and design issues are discussed and how that benefits and affects interaction with the Internet from a socio-technical perspective. During the observations participants were observed on how they interact with the Internet. The research suggests participants’ experienced accessibility, usability and design issues (i.e. using the mouse, keyboard, font-size, and logging-in).
Purpose This paper aims to present empirical results exemplifying challenges related to informati... more Purpose This paper aims to present empirical results exemplifying challenges related to information security faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It uses guidelines based on work system theory (WST) to frame the results, thereby illustrating why the mere existence of corporate security policies or general security training often is insufficient for establishing and maintaining information security. Design/methodology/approach This research was designed to produce a better appreciation and understanding of potential issues or gaps in security practices in SMEs. The research team interviewed 187 employees of 39 SMEs in the UK. All of those employees had access to sensitive information. Gathering information through interviews (instead of formal security documentation) made it possible to assess security practices from employees’ point of view. Findings Corporate policies that highlight information security are often disconnected from actual work practices and routines and oft...
This paper discusses potential complications for Forensic Investigations due to the spread of Sol... more This paper discusses potential complications for Forensic Investigations due to the spread of Solid State Disc (SSD) technologies and influence of socio-technical factors. The discussion is drawing upon a study based on interviews with an experienced Forensic Investigator from Hampshire Constabularies Hi-Tech Crime Unit (HTCU), located in the United Kingdom. The goal of this study was to identify examples of what experienced forensic investigators believe the biggest drawbacks with examining SSDs are. Background case studies have been made in assistance to identify specific characteristics and features that may impact forensic investigations. Key characteristics include that SSD features may pose a threat as potential evidence can be rendered inaccessible; possibly impacting the case or project negatively. The main themes discussed in this paper are related to: Hardware-based encryption, Garbage Collection (GC), the TRIM command, Controller technology, SSD Interfaces, and SSD User needs. Socio-technical influences were acknowledged during the interviews with the Investigator, showing uncertainty to alternative Forensic methods. These themes have been scrutinized to identify how they impact and limit investigations.
International Journal of Systems and Society, 2016
Nowadays, organizations pursue their aims in a context of distributed collaboration, creating a n... more Nowadays, organizations pursue their aims in a context of distributed collaboration, creating a need not only for supporting work systems, but for a human-centred focus in which individual and group sense-making and learning are supported by appropriate toolsets. The authors argue that development of such toolsets requires an open systems approach. This paper discusses examples of such approaches, including non-competitive benchmarking (NCB), as a vehicle for knowledge transfer, leading to process improvement and potential for enhanced organizational performance. The paper goes on to discuss tools and techniques that may be used to support desire to reflect upon ‘best practice' in socio-technical design, without losing contextual relevance in design. The authors use these examples to explore ways in which engaged actors may be supported to create and share their contextually-dependent tacit knowledge. The foundation of open systems approaches is discussed, showing how socio-tech...
Medical schools often use simulation as a technique for teaching surgical techniques. Some simula... more Medical schools often use simulation as a technique for teaching surgical techniques. Some simulations are based on bi-valued logic - a binary relationship in computing terms, or a relationship based on simple probability. Here, particular levels of certainty are assumed for development of the simulation, allowing a simple framework for modelling basic scenarios. However, the real world represented in a simulation is unlikely to be bi-valued with two clear, definite solutions. Parameters will be fuzzy; they could be anywhere on a scale between these dual outcomes. Accepting this as a possibility, portrayal in a simulation becomes more complex and demanding. In surgical training, a simulation may need to take account of varying circumstances. It could be realized half-way through a procedure that the surgery is not really needed; or that the patient has unexpected physiological anomalies, so that a different approach is called for. Uncertainty brings more problems for modellers. Outcomes may call for subtler choices than a scale of values, e.g. ‘A or B, or possibly also C’ – modellers cannot be sure because the world is ambiguous. Many simulations fail to allow for situations such as this, which may give trainees a false sense of understanding created by over-simplification. Effectively, simulations based in bi-valued logic reinforce an illusion that there is always a clear solution, or that the solution is known. Human reasoning is not limited in this way. People are capable of assimilating ambiguity: keeping a range of options open or addressing complex issues that are summed up in the phrase ‘it depends’. Using paraconsistent logic, it is possible to envisage development of tools (including simulation software) that reflect human capacity to categorise and create resolutions that are inherently self-contradictory. This paper will set out a basis for simulation using paraconsistent logic that is tolerant of ambiguity.
This chapter reflects on the relationship between various stakeholders in the health-care industr... more This chapter reflects on the relationship between various stakeholders in the health-care industry and intelligent medical systems. It takes into consideration the potential impact that intelligent systems have on health care. The aim of the chapter is to emphasise a set of decisive factors for the successful deployment of intelligent systems in health care including the individual needs of patients and medical staff. The motivation for this study was the publicity and investment that intelligent agents like Watson have benefitted from since the outset of their trial deployments in health-care organisations, which have preceded doctors’ feedback. In this chapter, we discuss some incentives to use intelligent medical systems and the ethical considerations. Potential roles of intelligent systems in health care are explored from a socio-technical perspective. Additionally, potential decision-makers and their responsibilities in assessing the medical personnel’s attitude towards the int...
In this paper we report upon some results of an empirical study involving employees from 32 SMEs ... more In this paper we report upon some results of an empirical study involving employees from 32 SMEs in the UK on how they approach socio-technical principles in the design of their work systems. We are particularly interested in what extent employees are engaged with decision making, change in work practices and job satisfaction. Our findings reveal that employees would prefer more responsibilities, more involvement in the decision making and in change of work practices. Additionally, it seems that recognition and appreciation by management are the most valuable job satisfaction criteria. Therefore, our findings further support the conclusion that socio-technical principles are not outdated. From a socio-technical lens, the debate on the productivity issues should not only consider buying more technology as a crucial part of the design of a work process but additional effort is required to connect it with employees’ capabilities.
This volume contains the papers presented at STPIS'18: 4th International Workshop on Socio-Te... more This volume contains the papers presented at STPIS'18: 4th International Workshop on Socio-Technical Perspective in IS Development to beheld on June 12, 2018 in Tallinn, Estonia.
STPIS 2018 Socio-Technical Perspective in IS Development : Proceedings of the 4th International W... more STPIS 2018 Socio-Technical Perspective in IS Development : Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Socio-Technical Perspective in IS Development co-located with 30th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE 2018)
Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, 2017
This project looks into the perception of the benefits and drawbacks of Internet usage by elderly... more This project looks into the perception of the benefits and drawbacks of Internet usage by elderly people, born from the mid 1920s to the early 1940s, also known as the ‘silent generation’ (Lustria et al. in Health Informatics Journal 17(3):224–243, [1]). As governmental services are gradually becoming online, elderly people are required to use the Internet in order to complete the compulsory task(s). The Internet can be a challenging technology for the silent generation due to their experience and knowledge in using the computer and Internet. At the same time elderly people are anxious about Internet security, as they believe they can be victimised, hence the reason why the generation avoids the technology as much as possible. Participants also believed there was no need to use the Internet, as they have managed without the technology throughout their career. The paper also discusses the key elements by outlining the benefits and drawbacks relating to age-related disabilities, affordability, and privacy/security issues. In addition accessibility, usability and design issues are discussed and how that benefits and affects interaction with the Internet from a socio-technical perspective. During the observations participants were observed on how they interact with the Internet. The research suggests participants’ experienced accessibility, usability and design issues (i.e. using the mouse, keyboard, font-size, and logging-in).
Purpose This paper aims to present empirical results exemplifying challenges related to informati... more Purpose This paper aims to present empirical results exemplifying challenges related to information security faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It uses guidelines based on work system theory (WST) to frame the results, thereby illustrating why the mere existence of corporate security policies or general security training often is insufficient for establishing and maintaining information security. Design/methodology/approach This research was designed to produce a better appreciation and understanding of potential issues or gaps in security practices in SMEs. The research team interviewed 187 employees of 39 SMEs in the UK. All of those employees had access to sensitive information. Gathering information through interviews (instead of formal security documentation) made it possible to assess security practices from employees’ point of view. Findings Corporate policies that highlight information security are often disconnected from actual work practices and routines and oft...
This paper discusses potential complications for Forensic Investigations due to the spread of Sol... more This paper discusses potential complications for Forensic Investigations due to the spread of Solid State Disc (SSD) technologies and influence of socio-technical factors. The discussion is drawing upon a study based on interviews with an experienced Forensic Investigator from Hampshire Constabularies Hi-Tech Crime Unit (HTCU), located in the United Kingdom. The goal of this study was to identify examples of what experienced forensic investigators believe the biggest drawbacks with examining SSDs are. Background case studies have been made in assistance to identify specific characteristics and features that may impact forensic investigations. Key characteristics include that SSD features may pose a threat as potential evidence can be rendered inaccessible; possibly impacting the case or project negatively. The main themes discussed in this paper are related to: Hardware-based encryption, Garbage Collection (GC), the TRIM command, Controller technology, SSD Interfaces, and SSD User needs. Socio-technical influences were acknowledged during the interviews with the Investigator, showing uncertainty to alternative Forensic methods. These themes have been scrutinized to identify how they impact and limit investigations.
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Papers by Peter Bednar