Contextual analysis: a multiperspective inquiry into emergence of complex socio-cultural systems

This paper explores the concept of organizations as complex human activity systems, through the perspectives of alternative systemic models. The impact of alternative models on perception of individual and organizational emergence is highlighted. Using information systems development as an example of management activity, individual and collective sense-making and learning processes are discussed. Their roles in relation to information systems concepts are examined. The main locus of the paper is on individual emergence in the context of organizational systems. A case is made for the importance of attending to individual uniqueness and contextual dependency when carrying out organizational analyses, e.g. information systems analysis. One particular method for contextual inquiry, the framework for Strategic Systemic Thinking, is then introduced, The framework supports stakeholders to own and control their own analyses. This approach provides a vehicle through which multiple levels of contextual dependencies can be explored and allows for individual emergence to develop

Automating the multiprocessing environment

An approach to automate the programming and operation of tree-structured networks of multiprocessor systems is discussed. A conceptual, knowledge-based operating environment is presented, and requirements for two major technology elements are identified as follows: (1) An intelligent information translator is proposed for implementating information transfer between dissimilar hardware and software, thereby enabling independent and modular development of future systems and promoting a language-independence of codes and information; (2) A resident system activity manager, which recognizes the systems capabilities and monitors the status of all systems within the environment, is proposed for integrating dissimilar systems into effective parallel processing resources to optimally meet user needs. Finally, key computational capabilities which must be provided before the environment can be realized are identified

Adapting structuration theory to understand the role of reflexivity: Problematization, clinical audit and information systems

This paper is an exploratory account of the further development and application of a hybrid framework, StructurANTion, that is based on Structuration Theory and Actor Network Theory (ANT). The use of social theories in general and their use in information systems (IS) research in particular is explored leading to the use of the framework to examine the concept of what are termed humanchine networks in the context of clinical audit, within a healthcare Primary Care Trust (PCT). A particular focus is on the manner in which information systems-based reflexivity contributes to both entrenching a networks’ structurated order as well as contributing to its emancipatory change. The case study compares clinic-centric and patientcentric audit and seeks to further extend the understanding of the role of information and information systems within structurated humanchine activity systems. Conclusions indicate that the use of more socially informed IS methods and approaches can incorporate more emancipatory ideals and lead to greater adoption and usage of more relevant and useful clinical information systems and practices

The Truth-On-The-Market Defense and its Relevance in SEC Enforcement Actions

In this paper we describe an approach for information system design that aims at constructing the social reality in which the system is used. Thus, rather than designing the information system in a given context, the design target is the context itself, including the information system. The expertise knowledge of users and information system designers are jointly utilized in co-constructing the context, which is structured as a particular form of workpractice called the activity domain. In the activity domain, coordinating elements of a practice are integrated into a coherent whole. The the­ory behind the approach – the Activity Domain Theory – originated in the Ericsson telecommunication company where it has been gradually refined over more than a decade by the author. It has profoundly influenced the coordination of the development of the 3rd generation of mobile systems at Ericsson

IT support to product variety management

Offering to customers a high variety of products while guaranteeing competitive prices and reasonable delivery times is an ever-increasing necessity for companies. At the same time, the growing technological content of products contributes further to this complexity, introducing new challenges to management. As for any area of company activity, the creativity of software producers has brought about the development of information science systems, such as Product Configuration Systems, Product Data Management systems (PDM) and Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM), which all promise to alleviate the problems caused by this complexity.Product Variety, Product Configuration Systems, Product Data Management Systems, Customer Relationship Management Systems

Latin American universities and the third mission : trends, challenges, and policy options

Universities in Latin America are increasingly considered instruments of social and economic development and face rising expectations in regard to supplying relevant skills, undertaking applied research, and engaging in commercial activity. The paper discusses trends and challenges within Latin American universities, as well as policy options available for strengthening their contributions to social and economic development. The so-called third mission of universities is often equated with knowledge transfer narrowly defined as licensing and commercialization of research. The paper adopts a broader approach and explores how the new role of universities affects all aspects of academic practice in Latin America, including advanced education and research. It concludes that policymakers and university managers in Latin America face an important challenge of defining a legal framework, sound management procedures, and notably, incentive systems that stimulate outreach and entrepreneurship among students and staff while recognizing and preserving the distinct roles of universities.Tertiary Education,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Rural Development Knowledge&Information Systems,ICT Policy and Strategies,Secondary Education

A Complexity-Based Taxonomy of Systems Development Methodologies

For the last two decades systems developers and researchers have largely assumed that the process of developing business information systems is a wellstructured, project-oriented, once in a lifetime undertaking. However, present business models that are intensively reliant on information technology are rendering this perception obsolete. There has been a growing propensity toward increasingly iterative, fastpaced, user-driven systems development methodologies such as Rapid Application Development, Unified Modeling Language, Joint Application Development and the Relationship Management methodology (Hans- Werner1997; Isakowitz, 1995; Shapiro, 1997; Vessey, 1994). At the same time the discipline of information systems has witnessed an increasing awareness of the importance of systems maintenance - with the general proposition that systems development is an everproceeding activity (rather than a project-based activity) - becoming the norm (Howard 1990). The majority of empirical research on systems development, to date, has tested the contributions of different types of knowledge to effective systems development. Much research has also been done on how different methodologies for systems development impact the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of resultant business information infrastructure. The studies suffer from one or more of the following limitations: (1) They largely perceive information systems evolution via systems development as generally being a slow, linear, structured and continuous process. Current events in the information systems and electronic commerce sectors indicate that systems development is highly dynamic, discontinuous and adaptive in nature – the defining traits of a complex system. (2) Though most of the past studies recognize that systems development is a knowledge intensive activity, rarely is it seen as a primary mechanism by which a firm embeds knowledge into its business information infrastructure’s technologies, databases and automated operating procedures. Because almost all business functions and transactions within an electronic commerce enterprise is achieved via the firm’s business information infrastructure, enhancement of business knowledge and information within such a firm is expected to be heavily dependent on the enhancements made to that infrastructure via specific systems development approaches. In rapidly evolving environments as characterized by present day electronic commerce, methodologies become a primary means by which the firm continuously updates its knowledge resources hence sustaining or leveraging its competitive advantages. The theory of complexity may contribute to the perception and re-classification of systems development methodologies in such a manner as to provide a clearer understanding of which methodologies are best suited for directing the development and enhancement of business information systems in today\u27s electronic commerce economy. By viewing business information systems as emergent complex adaptive systems, the methodologies employed to derive these systems can be seen as being synonymous to the natural rules that govern the behavior of all natural phenomenon. Thus it enables us to explain what methodologies best match a specific systems development or enhancement tasks allowing for the development of better quality business information systems, especially for electronic commerce applications

Evidence for complex integration and dynamic neural regulation of skeletal muscle recruitment during exercise in humans

A model is proposed in which the development of physical exhaustion is a relative rather than an absolute event and the sensation of fatigue is the sensory representation of the underlying neural integrative processes. Furthermore, activity is controlled as part of a pacing strategy involving active neural calculations in a “governor” region of the brain, which integrates internal sensory signals and information from the environment to produce a homoeostatically acceptable exercise intensity. The end point of the exercise bout is the controlling variable. This is an example of a complex, non-linear, dynamic system in which physiological systems interact to regulate activity before, during, and after the exercise bout

Information Systems and Web Information Systems: A Methodological Perspective

International audienceThe Development of Information Systems (ISD) is a complex activity that requires methodological support. Current ISD methods are predominantly following an object driven paradigm that allows us to capture the static as well as the dynamic dimensions of real world objects into information objects. However, Web Information Systems have facets such as information presentation, user profile, navigation structure etc. which pose new challenges to ISD methods. The keynote talk will provide an overview of current ISD methods and discuss the new challenges raised by the development of Web Information Systems. This paper is a brief overview of the key points developed in the talk