Sociotechnical principles are now widely used around the world in both information systems and organisational design. First established in the 1940s to examine the effect of mechanised, mass-production systems on workers in the coal mining industry, they are now an important tool for ensuring that people and technology work together to optimal effect within an organisation. One of their main aims is the development of organisations where small groups work independently, handling sets of varied tasks, and managing their own activities.
The main features of this book include: Practical experiences of applying sociotechnical approaches from around the world; Focus on future directions for the topic and modern applications of existing principles; Contributions from leading figures such as Enid Mumford; A Foreword by Frank Land.

Only book to cover the use of sociotechnical principles and practice in IS and organisational design

Inhalt
1 Tracing the Foundations.- 1 Graffiti on the Long Wall: A SocioTechnical Conversation.- 2 Tracing the Roots: The Influence of Socio-Technical Principles on Modern Organisational Change Practices.- 2 The Writing on the Wall.- 3 Technology and Freedom: A Socio-Technical Approach.- 4 Searching for New Grounds in STS: Beyond Open Systems Thinking.- 5 Sociotechnical Perspectives on Emergence Phenomena.- 6 From Socio-Technical to Critical Complementarist: A New Direction for Information Systems Development.- 7 Socio-Technical Systems: Technique or Philosophy?.- 8 Sociotechnical Design and Economic Objectives.- 9 The Role of Socio-Technical Thinking in the Information Systems Curriculum in UK Universities.- 10 Balancing at the Edge of Chaos in a Sociotechnical World.- 3 Re-Design.- 11 Group Dynamics Meet Cognition: Combining Socio-Technical Concepts and Usability Engineering in the Design of Information Systems.- 12 Enhancing IS Quality through Design-Based Documentation Production.- 13 Design: A Better Way for Making Systems.- 4 Transforming the Long Wall.- 14 Information Systems Implementation and Organisational Change: A Socio-Technical Systems Approach.- 15 Virtual Dynamics and Socio-Technical Systems.- 16 Knowledge Sharing in Virtual Organizations: The Effects of Task, Role, Status, and Network Structure.- 17 Adaptive Processes for Achieving Socio-Technical Fit in Computer Supported Co-operative Work Groups.- 18 CoLeARN: Collaborative Learning and Action Research Networkommunications.- 19 Stop Information Technology from Undermining Group Autonomy!.- 20 A Socio-Technical Approach to Social Learning Analysis in the Australian Defence Force.- 21 Technology, Organisation and Qualifications in Software Development.- References.