Aspectos sociotécnicos da computação: contextualizando o desenvolvimento de sistemas de computação com o modelo Mikropolis

O presente artigo discute a necessidade da consideração de aspectos sociotécnicos na prática científica e profissional em computação. Para tanto, uma breve retrospectiva histórica e o panorama atual da pesquisa de aspectos sociotécnicos dentro da área de computação são apresentados. Posteriormente, discute-se um exemplo de pesquisas nessa área: o modelo Mikropolis, desenvolvido com a intenção de oferecer orientação para a prática das atividades do profissional de computação em relação aos aspectos sociais dessas atividades. Além disso, são levantadas questões sobre como aproximar esse modelo da realidade no Brasil, com o intuito de obter instrumentos analíticos e didáticos particularmente apropriados ao contexto brasileiro.This paper discusses the need of considering sociotechnical aspects in the scientific and professional practice of computing. In the pursuit of this goal, the paper firstly places the research on sociotechnical aspects of computing in a historical context and outlines the current research scenario in the area. Subsequently, the Mikropolis Model is explained—a model developed to provide orientation to the practical activities of the computing professional in respect to the social aspects of these activities. Furthermore, the paper discusses how to bring the model closer to the particular Brazilian context, in order to achieve analytical and didactic instruments especially suited to the reality in Brazil

Flexibility and modeling in business processes: a multi-dimensional relationship

Over the last few years, Business Process Management (BPM) has achieved increasing popularity and dissemination. An analysis of the underlying assumptions of BPM shows that it pursues two apparently contradicting goals: on the one hand it aims at formalising work practices into business process models; on the other hand, it intends to confer flexibility to the organization - i.e. to maintain its ability to respond to new and unforeseen situations. This paper analyses the relationship between formalisation and flexibility in business process modelling by means of an empirical case study of a BPM project in an aircraft maintenance company. A qualitative approach is adopted based on the Actor-Network Theory. The paper offers two major contributions: (a) it illustrates the sociotechnical complexity involved in BPM initiatives; (b) it points towards a multidimensional understanding of the relation between formalization and flexibility in BPM projects

Spatial practices in digital work : calling for a spatial turn in information systems research

The growing use of digital media in the workplace is shifting work to digital platforms, this study explores the role of the physical office space in modern organisations where digital work is the norm. We capture the way in which digital media modulates the production of space by tracing the physical and digital interactions of a software development team in a global IT company. Taking a performative and ontogenetic view of space we conceptualise two types of spatial practices that form distinct modulations and assemblages of features of the physical and digital environment. The first spatial practice modulates space to support recurrent work activities, while the second spatial practice modulates space to support ephemeral and focused work activities. This study contributes to the IS literature with a conceptual basis to study the interconnected nature of physical space in digital work in modern workplace settings. It calls for greater attention to space as a performative and constitutive element of digital work in information systems research

Análise estática de código para detecção de certas condições de corrida

programação concorrente se mostra cada vez mais presente em diversas áreas da computação. Junto com o crescimento dessa área, a presença de ferramentas capazes de auxiliar no aprendizado e no desenvolvimento de aplicações concorrentes se mostra cada vez maior. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo criar uma ferramenta direcionada aos alunos da disciplina de Computação Concorrente (DCC/UFRJ), capaz de auxiliá-los na identificação de possíveis condições de corrida com variáveis globais e estáticas. A partir de uma análise estática do código fornecido pelo aluno, a ferramenta se propõe a identificar quais são as variáveis passíveis de sofrer uma condição de corrida e retornar essa informação ao aluno. Com esse conhecimento em mãos, espera-se que o aluno reveja o código com olhos mais críticos, prestando atenção especial às variáveis citadas, de forma a fortalecer os conhecimentos de lógica de programação de forma geral, e, em particular, dos mecanismos de sincronização usados na programação concorrente

Crafting workspaces by entangling physical and digital environments

Digital working is often seen to be replacing office-based work practices. This study captures the opposite, the entanglement of features of both physical and digital by software development teams in a multinational IT company. We observed how these software development teams crafted three types of entangled workspaces, characterised by different modulations of digital and physical features of their environment. We take an ontogenetic view of space that sees space as performative and constantly in the making to study the crafting of these entangled workspaces which transcend both physical and digital environments. This sociospatial view provides a novel conceptual basis to study the role of space in digital working

Slum health mapping as catalyst for a collaborative agenda for research, practice, local citizens and volunteers

Background and purpose. Following the paradigmatic examples of the use of OSM for crisis mapping, there have been sustained efforts to use OSM for mapping preventively vulnerable communities in the global South. This includes, for instance, participatory mapping in the slums of sub-Saharan Africa (Hagen, 2017) and the Missing Maps project. Researchers have also started to study these mapping activities (e.g. Albuquerque et al. 2016; Herfort et al. 2017). However, a collaborative agenda in this area is missing that is able to reflect views and needs of researchers, OSM volunteers, humanitarian organisation practitioners and local communities. Methodology and Findings. After a brief review of existing methods used for mapping disadvantaged communities and slums, we introduce the approach and report on preliminary results from an ongoing large-scale project (NIHR Global Health Unit on Improving Health in Slums), which uses OSM for mapping slums in five cities: Dhaka (Bangladesh), Karachi (Pakistan), Nairobi (Kenya), Ibadan and Lagos (Nigeria). Our methods are based on the combination of satellite imagery digitisation with ground-truthing and participatory mapping. The maps produced will result in enhanced information regarding environmental features of the slums and the location of healthcare facilities, which will also be used as a basis for the health-science surveys of the project. In this manner, our approach is aimed at achieving a threefold goal: (a) participation and inclusion of local stakeholders as a strategy to build resilience; (b) worldwide collaboration, connecting to the global Humanitarian OSM network and student mapping societies; (c) quality evaluation mechanisms for generating high-quality data that can also be used for scientific research. Final discussion/Impact. We would like to discuss the approach and results of our project as a basis to invite OSM researchers, practitioners and volunteers to join us in defining a collaborative agenda towards improving methods and practice for mapping vulnerable communities in OSM. This should include challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective that account for technical, methodological, social and ethical issues. As a result, we would like to contribute to the emergence of an OSM research agenda that goes beyond solely using OSM geographic data for research, but also includes ways of engaging the OSM community and local communities in the research process

Mobile Platform for Financial Inclusion: the Case of an Unsuccessful Pilot Project In Brazil

This paper presents an investigation of a pilot project that implemented a mobile payment platform in a poor community in Brazil. This project involved the creation of a network of organizations that includes a local microfinance institution, a large retail bank, a mobile phone operator, an international credit card company, and an acquirer, as well as small local merchants. The paper describes the process in which this platform was created and how it was maintained until it failed, one year after starting. Two conceptual approaches were combined for developing a theoretical understanding of this pilot project first to describe the process of interorganizational network establishment and second to analyze its evolution during its first year of operation. The study points to the critical role played by governance processes, the environmental dynamics and how it can compromise the success of establishment and maintenance of such inter-organizational networks

Exploring the use of IoT data for heightened Situational Awareness in centralised monitoring control rooms

This paper traces the expansion of a network of IoT sensors to improve the effectiveness of a centralised control room in Brazil in anticipating natural hazards. This centralised model relies on using IoT data by highly qualified experts replacing previous smaller local structures. We draw on the notion of Situational Awareness to carry out the study. Results show that although the operators were not always familiar with the characteristics of locations, the use of IoT data heightened their situational awareness in the centralised control room by improving perception and comprehension. However, they still relied on local knowledge and learned experiences to support projection and anticipation of risks. The study highlights that although data analytics systems are capable of expanding operators’ perception of local elements, they must be complemented by local richer forms of information, needed to anticipate risks and make critical decisions with major impact on local population

Exploring the use of IoT data for heightened situational awareness in centralised monitoring control rooms

This paper traces the expansion of a network of IoT sensors to improve the effectiveness of a centralised control room in Brazil in anticipating natural hazards. This centralised model relies on using IoT data by highly qualified experts replacing previous smaller local structures. We draw on the notion of Situational Awareness to carry out the study. Results show that although the operators were not always familiar with the characteristics of locations, the use of IoT data heightened their situational awareness in the centralised control room by improving perception and comprehension. However, they still relied on local knowledge and learned experiences to support projection and anticipation of risks. The study highlights that although data analytics systems are capable of expanding operators’ perception of local elements, they must be complemented by local richer forms of information, needed to anticipate risks and make critical decisions with major impact on local population

How volunteered geographic information can be integrated into emergency management practice? : first lessons learned from an urban fire simulation in the city of Coimbra

In the past few years, volunteered geographic information (VGI) has emerged as a new resource for improving the management of emergencies. Despite the growing body of research dedicated to the use of VGI in crisis management, studies are still needed that systematically investigate the incorporation of VGI into practical emergency management. To fill this gap, this paper proposes a research design for investigating and planning the incorporation of VGI into work practices and decision-making of emergency agencies by means of simulation exercises. Furthermore, first lessons are drawn from a field study performed within a simulation exercise of an urban fire in Coimbra, Portugal, implemented together with local civil protection agents. Emergency management practitioners identified a high potential in the pictures taken in-situ by volunteers for improving situational awareness and supporting decision-making. They also pointed out to challenges associated to processing VGI and filtering high-value information in real-time