Peter Brödner

The Shape of Future Technology

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Towards a paradigmatic shift in IS: designing for social practice

The paper elaborates on the theoretical foundation of Information System understood as a field of design science. Revisiting Hevners et al. seminal paper [44], we elaborate on theoretical and conceptual shortcomings. Theoretically, we state a somehow limited perception of pragmatist thinking. Conceptually, we criticize a limited definition of the IS research field and argue in favour of an (obligatory) evaluation of IT artifacts in real world settings. To develop the design science paradigm beyond these shortcomings, we present a theoretical framework which takes the interrelation of IT artifacts and social practices as a central focus of research. Such an epistemological and ontological opening of the design science perspective leads to methodological implications. We exemplify methodological shifts by taking the Canonical Action Research (CAR) method as a problematic example. Design probes are discussed as a method which holds considerable promises under a reframed paradigm. The consequences of the theoretical and methodological reflections for a socially relevant IS design science are discussed finally.

In search of the computer-aided craftsman

Profound changes in world markets are resulting in conflict between traditional structures of production and new market requirements. The right answers to this challenge are heavily disputed. One option is to replace human work still further by artificially intelligent technology without changing basic structures of production. In contrast to this strategy, alternative production concepts seek to combine the unique human capabilities of perception, evaluation and decision making in unstructured situations with appropriately designed computer systems. Empirical evidence from the use of NC technology indicates that sensual experience and practical knowledge are necessary ingredients rather than disappearing residuals of efficient production. By far their tacit dimension does not allow complete transformation into objectified, scientific knowledge. In the field of metal cutting it is the skilled workers themselves who constitute the primary source of productivity. In order to overcome their traditionally problematic and uncomfortable working situation, shop-floor programming methods have been developed that are adapted to their concrete and graphic mode of thinking and acting. These allow workers to make their own efficient NC programs, thus maintaining their practical competence. This paper illustrates a necessary new perspective in system design: away from developing computer programs for imitating and replacing human expertise and towards designing computers as a useful tool for human experts.

From Taylorism to competence-based production

During the four decades of my professional career, manufacturing has been subdued to a radical change from objectifying to subjectifying work. The evolution of the originally prevailing Taylor model with its functionally divided and highly mechanised work processes culminated in the 1980s in the rise and fall of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) contested by the alternative approach of human-centred production systems. The change process then went through phases of confusion and experimentation, in which competence-based manufacturing strategies and structures have been crystallising in sharp contrast to the majority of less sustainable forms of organisational renewal. The paper reflects on main features of this transformation process as it has been mirrored in my own research work and relates major findings to the work of others.

Grounded Design – a praxeological IS research perspective

In this paper, we propose Grounded Design – a particular design research (DR) approach rooted in a practice-theoretical tradition. It assesses the quality of information technology (IT) design through evaluation of emerging changes in social practices, which result from the appropriation and use of IT artifacts. The paper starts with a systematic analysis of the reasons for persistent limitations of traditional information systems DR, specifically in coping with problems of contingency and self-referentiality. Following this critique, the principles of Grounded Design are presented. Grounded Design is applied in case studies where we reconstruct the social practices observed before and during the design and appropriation of innovative IT artifacts. We call these context-specific research endeavors ‘design case studies.’ In conducting these case studies, Grounded Design builds upon well-established research methods such as ethnographical field studies, participatory design and action research. To support the transferability of its situated findings, Grounded Design suggests documenting increasing numbers of design case studies to create an extended, comparative knowledge base. Comparing cases allows for the emergence of bottom-up concepts dealing with the design and appropriation of innovative IT artifacts in social practice.

The misery of digital organisations and the semiotic nature of IT

Contrary to common belief, IT systems often disappoint the expectations to increase productivity and flexibility of work and value creation processes. Moreover, most IT design and implementation projects still fail or burst time and cost budgets to a high extent. After presenting significant empirical evidence for these phenomena, the paper reflects on the reasons for their persistence by developing a semiotic perspective on the processes of dealing with computer artifacts in organisations. This semiotic view allows understanding the processes of designing, implementing and using IT systems as efforts of structuring social practices in organisations. A typical case of enterprise resource planning system implementation illustrates this. Finally, a number of guidelines for an improved practice of designing and appropriating IT systems for effective use in organisations are derived from the theoretical reflections.

Reflective Design of Technology for Human Needs

Inspired by an economic interpretation of the Faustus drama allegorically disclosing the ‘alchemical’ nature of modern economy, the paper presents a critical view on the development of technology as concomitant phenomenon of work practices with particular focus on manufacturing. It starts with a theoretical perspective on the dynamics of creating explicit propositional knowledge and its re-appropriation for practical use. This lays the ground for understanding how technical artefacts emerge from and, in turn, affect social practices. It further helps to understand the development of human reflective action competence and working capacity as most relevant forces of production in complex and dynamic market environments. These relationships are exemplified in some detail by looking at the problematic development and use of IT in manufacturing’s value creating processes. The paper finally advocates reflective attitudes and evolutionary procedures as basic principles for designing useful and useable IT systems according to human needs and for protecting oneself from the Faustian omnipotence delusion of endless and effortless wealth creation.

Die strategische Funktion nachhaltig entfalteten Arbeitsvermögens in wissensintensiven Wertschöpfungsprozessen

Seit den 1970er Jahren sind in den Systemen und Prozessen der Produktion und Reproduktion hoch entwickelter Gesellschaften mehrere einschneidende Veränderungen zu verzeichnen, die sich vielfältig überlagern und verschränken. Unter ihnen sind im vorliegenden Zusammenhang insbesondere die Erosion des fordistischen Produktionsregimes, die zunehmende Arbeitsteilung globaler Wertschöpfung und die wachsende Dominanz des Finanzkapitals über das Produktionskapital von herausragender Bedeutung. Häufi g geraten sie freilich in Widerspruch zu den Erfordernissen zunehmend wissensintensiver Wertschöpfung.

Coping with Descartes’ error in information systems

Coming from Hubert Dreyfus’ recent book ‘‘Retrieving Realism” (together with Charles Taylor), the paper presents embodied pre-conceptual perception and representational cognition as two contrasting perspectives on accessing the world. It further characterises the ‘different forms of knowledge emerging from these perspectives and how they dynamically relate to each other. Taking up the Peircean theory of signs and abductive reasoning as methods of discovery, computers are analysed as semiotic machines that formally model and objectify explicit knowledge about social practices and that can be embedded in the sign processes of thereby restructured practices. This practice theoretical perspective allows for both, understanding the limits of AI and pointing to options for productively combining the performance of ‘‘cognitive artifacts” with the tacit skills of knowledge workers.

Vom Finden und Erfinden neuer „Spielregeln“

Unter dem Oberbegriff arbeitspolitische „Spielregeln“ haben wir im RAMONA-Verbund einige Themen zusammengefast, die eng mit den Zielen, Interessen und Wertesystemen sowohl des Unternehmens und seiner Organisationseinheiten als auch der Mitarbeiter und Mitarbeitergruppen zusammenhangen. Es handelt sich um implizite und explizite Regelungen fur An-und Abwesenheit, Entgelt und Leistung, Qualifikation und personliches Fortkommen sowie Ressourceneinsatz und Erfolgsbewertung. Der Grundgedanke, der uns bei der Zusammenfassung dieser Themen geleitet hat, ist einfach: Neu eingeubte Denk-und Verhaltensmuster werden nach und nach wieder verschwinden, wenn die alten Regeln weitergelten. Denn diese „Spielregeln“ lenken Wahrnehmung und Aufmerksamkeit von Fuhrungskraften und Beschaftigten auf die Aspekte von Effizienz, Leistung, Qualifikation und Arbeitszeitverhalten, die in den alten Produktionsstrukturen wichtig waren erzeugen ein Mehr an empfundener Ungerechtigkeit schon dadurch, das die veranderungsbedingten Zumutungen nach diesen alten Regeln in keiner Weise materiell ausgeglichen werden, weil darin keine ausreichenden Bewertungskriterien und -verfahren fur diese Art von Leistung, Belastung, Qualifikation und Prozeseffizienz zur Verfugung gestellt werden.