A sociocybernetic approach to information systems design

Sammanfattning: This study has focused on the problems associated with the design of computer based managment Information Systems (IS) and especially on how to integrate the design, use and embedded social context into one coherent framework. The term IS is used in this study to broadly refer to areas such as Decision Support Systems (DSS), Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Computer Supported Co-operative Work (CSCW). By viewing design activities as a social interaction process among designers and users and their social context, the study aimed to develop: 1. A socio-cybernetic and social-psychological theory of IS development and to enlighten the relationship between the IS design activities, IS use activities and embedded societal context; 2. A practicable method, called a "feedback learning strategy", for conducting IS design based on socio-cybernetic and social-psychological theory. This study has been conducted by generalisation, theoretical analysis and prototyping. A multiple disciplinary approach has been taken encompassing IS design based on activity theory, cybernetics, sociology, psychology, decision theory, and systems design theory (participatory design, prototyping).