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The role of information support systems in the joint optimization of work systems
Author(s) -
Kasvi J. J. J.,
Vartiainen M.,
Pulkkis A.,
Nieminen M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
human factors and ergonomics in manufacturing and service industries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.408
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1520-6564
pISSN - 1090-8471
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6564(200021)10:2<193::aid-hfm5>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - sociotechnical system , redundancy (engineering) , computer science , task (project management) , knowledge management , information system , risk analysis (engineering) , engineering , systems engineering , business , electrical engineering , operating system
Sociotechnical approach preaches the affinity of the social and the technical organization but divides organizations into social and technical subsystems. Thus, it has failed to anticipate the possibilities of new technologies within the social system. The social subsystem of a modern sociotechnical system does not consist of mere human beings but combines people and the technological artifacts they use.In this article, we discuss one such technology, information support, and how it can be used to expand functional redundancy of a sociotechnical system, even the cognitive redundancy of individual people. However, such technologies have often been applied specifically to limit functional redundancy of the sociotechnical system, that is, to reduce communication, learning, and utilization of human talent. The discussion is based on findings from case studies on multimedia‐based interactive task support systems used in lightweight assembly industry in Finland and in Denmark. The case studies provide both justification to the information support approach and questions to be addressed in the future. For example, why did the introduction of so many interactive task support systems fail? © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.