1.
2.
Bednar, Peter, et al.
(författare)
A Case for Holistic, Multicriteria Benefit Analysis
2013
Ingår i: Organizational Change and Information Systems: Working and Living Together in New Ways. - 9783642372278 ; 2, s. 337-344
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat) abstract
This paper discusses the ways in which a critical systemic approach to systems analysis can provide support for a holistic, multicriteria benefits analysis. It highlights the importance of inquiry into the nature and boundaries of a perceived organizational problem space, taking into account unique perspectives of the living, engaged actors who desire beneficial change in their working systems. The role of the IS professional within a collaborative inquiry is explored, taking into account creation of relevant methodological frameworks (in contrast to uncritical, rigorous application of standardized methods). The paper discusses the ways in which collaborative teams can approach identification of desirable benefits.
3.
Bednar, Peter, et al.
(författare)
Business Systems Analysis as Research
2011
Ingår i: Proceedings of 10th European Conference onResearch Methodology for Business and Management Studies. - 9781908272027 ; , s. 51-59
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
A business analyst who commences an investigation into design requirements for a new work system probably does not ‘label’ her inquiry process as research. However, a research perspective is needed if a productive learning spiral is to be established in which ‘useful’ systems can be created. Systematic, collaborative inquiry adopting an complex, open systems perspective is required in order to establish bases for greater understanding of contextually dependent and individual conceptions of business situations. A professional analyst will recognize that she is attempting to facilitate and engage support for an organizational change process. Similarly, a researcher must recognize that her presence is not ‘neutral’ and take responsibility for the intervention that her actions constitute. This paper discusses the nature of business systems analysis and its relationship(s) to critically informed research processes. It examines research within complex open systems such as business organisations, taking into account the kinds of logic required when researching messy, uncertain problem spaces.
4.
Bednar, Peter, et al.
(författare)
Contextual inquiry and socio-technical practice
2014
Ingår i: Kybernetes. - 0368-492X. ; 43:9/10
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Purpose: During discussions at the ASC 2013 Conference, we were stimulated to consider acting,learning and understanding in the context of organizational change, and in particular the relationship between organizational actors and external analysts. This article therefore seeks to review from a cybernetic perspective how a socio-technical toolbox can help to facilitate organisational change, and to examine issues involved in use of such a toolbox by organizational actors supported by expert analysts. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is conceptual and adopts a critical stance, i.e. to provide support for emancipation of individuals through ownership and control of their own analyses. Findings: Drawing on work by e.g., Bateson, we consider organizations as dynamic and complex human activity systems, and how actors can be helped to develop a productive learning ‘spiral’ of acting and reflecting by means of a proposed sociotechnical toolbox. Acting and reflecting upon action can be seen to form a ‘double helix’ of learning, leading to richer understandings of contextual dependencies. Engaged actors need support to surface their contextually-dependent understandings, individual and collectively and engage in a ‘dance of change’. Practical implications: Change is endemic in organizational life. When engaging with change activity that attempts to address complexity (as opposed to complicatedness), contextual experts need to be the key decision-takers. This means a redistribution not only of responsibility and action but also decision-taking power. Originality/value: The paper suggests augmentation of traditional socio-technical methods to address dynamic complexity.
5.
Bednar, Peter, et al.
(författare)
Crisis! What Crisis?
2010
Ingår i: Information Systems: People, Organizations, Institutions and Technologies. - Heidelberg : Physica-Verlag HD. - 9783790821475 ; , s. 353-360
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat) abstract
Abstract There is a crisis discussed in the discipline of Information Systems. Those who perceive such a crisis to exist are by no means agreed, as to its nature and origins. Our inquiry shows that there are a three distinct “crises” being debated. The first of these relates to the Substance and boundaries of the discipline itself and if it is even a discipline at all. Another “crisis” relates to higher education and a fall in demand for IS courses from new students. Commentators perceive this to threaten the existence of IS departments in Universities, and to have potentially serious consequences for both research strategies and career paths of academics. Thirdly, there is perception of a crisis in the wider world, characterised by fewer vacancies in IS-relevant occupations whilst, at the same time, employers complain of a shortage of suitably skilled applicants for the vacancies available. This paper examines evidence for the three “crises,” real or imagined, suggested above, in the Information Systems field.
6.
Bednar, Peter, et al.
(författare)
Critical systemic thinking as a foundation for information systems research
2012
Ingår i: Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society. - : Emerald. - 1758-8871 .- 1477-996X. ; 10:3, s. 144-155
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore a particular philosophical underpinning for Information Systems (IS) research – critical systemic thinking (CST). Drawing upon previous work, the authors highlight the principal features of CST within the tradition of critical research and attempt to relate it to trends in the Italian school of IS research in recent years, as exemplified by the work of Claudio Ciborra but also evident in work by, e.g. Resca, Jacucci and D’Atri. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper which explores CST, characterised by a focus on individual uniqueness, and socially-constructed, individual worldviews as generators of human knowing. Findings – The paper draws on work by Heinz Klein in which he elaborated three constitutive stages in critical research: interpretive, genealogical and constructive. The authors introduce a fourth, reflective stage and discuss five categories of critical research, reflecting different perspectives on emancipation, culminating in emergent expressionism, associated with Ciborra and the Italian school more generally. Research limitations/implications – This paper discusses approaches to CST and how they might have practical implications in IS development. The distinction between approaches founded in logical empiricism and those founded in hermeneutic dialectics are considered and the development of critical and systems strands are discussed. Practical implications – The paper addresses CST as an approach to development of information systems. Such approaches enable users to explore their individually unique understandings and create a constructive dialogue with one another, which emancipates and empowers users to own and control their own development processes and hence build more productive and usable systems. Social implications – A focus on research which is oriented towards emancipation in the tradition of critical social theory. Originality/value – The paper draws on extensive theoretical research carried out by the authors over a period of more than ten years in CST and synthesises the practical implications.
7.
Bednar, Peter, et al.
(författare)
Personalized Support with ‘Little’ Data
2014
Ingår i: Creating Value for All Through IT. IFIP WG 8.6 International Conference on Transfer and Diffusion of IT, TDIT 2014, Aalborg, Denmark, June 2-4, 2014. Proceedings. - 1868-4238. - 9783662434581 ; 429, s. 355-358
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat) abstract
In this paper we look at opportunities to support the creation of value for all through the use of end-user-owned Virtual Personal Assistant. We use a chat-bot as example of technology with a possibility for transferring and diffusing new functionality, features and capabilities. This category of software can create potential value through its AI and natural language processing combined with emulation and imitation of emotional engagement which is personal, private and as such allows for intimate contextual relevance to be developed.
8.
Bednar, Peter, et al.
(författare)
Professional desire, competence and engagement in IS context
2010
Ingår i: Management of the Interconnected World. - Heidelberg : Physica-Verlag HD. - 9783790824032 ; , s. 359-366
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat) abstract
This paper attempts to address the failings of a predominant paradigm in IS research and practice that emphasises technological determinism. This paradigm makes use of a false belief in the power of rationality in organizational decision-making, and a mythology in which organizational actors can be viewed as passive ‘users’ of technology. We wish to create a discussion of the nature and role of professionalism as an expression of more than technical competence. Both system analysts and organizational stakeholders (e.g. ‘users’) are to be viewed as professionals. We discuss desire, exercise of will and their role in professional judgment in relation to transcendent values espoused within communities of practice. We go on to relate this to the environments of Information Systems research and practice. It is pointed out that many researchers, over a number of years, have dealt with these issues in relation to effective management of technological development and organizational change. The paper attempts to encourage renewed attention to interpretivist perspectives on IS development and organizational change, including recognition of the importance of contextual dependencies.
9.
Bednar, Peter, et al.
(författare)
Recognising the Challenge: How to Realise the Potential Benefits of ICT Use in SMEs?
2011
Ingår i: Information Technology and Innovation Trends in Organizations. - Heidelberg : Physica-Verlag HD. - 9783790826319 ; , s. 507-514
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat) abstract
There is evidence to suggest that small businesses often start with innovative business ideas but fail within the first 3 years because the proprietors lack the expertise to make them thrive. In this context, it has been suggested that SMEs would benefit from support to select suitable ICTs that can help them to make the most of their business potential. Such suggestions tend to overlook a need to design a system for use of these ICTs within the context of a particular business. Technology alone solves no problems. Managers need to develop relevant expertise to exploit all the assembled resources available to them, and design of an Information System that will be experienced as useful is a prerequisite for successful development of business opportunities. While the technical aspects of e.g. data processing and storage can be consigned to a contractor, responsibility for a customer’s experience in interacting with the business cannot. It is necessary to design business processes and technologies in synergy, paying as much attention to design of effective use of ICTs as to the technologies themselves. The authors believe it is vital for the proprietors of small to medium-sized enterprises to consider what may be the unintended consequences of investment in ICTs and to devote due time and effort to development of effective systems for use.
10.
Bednar, Peter, et al.
(författare)
Storytelling and Listening: Co-creating Understandings
2013
Ingår i: Cybernetics & Human Knowing. - 0907-0877. ; 20:1-2, s. 13-21
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
As sentient and social beings, we live in hope that we can be understood when we try to communicate with each other but we also know that we might be wrong. We strive for better understandings, engaging in an on-going ‘dance’ of collective sense-making. This paper considers how communication among individuals involves co-creation of meaning by exploring narratives – those expressed by a speaker and those created internally by listeners in efforts to achieve understanding. We note that the extent of these efforts varies from reliance on prejudice at one extreme to deep listening at the other, and that organizational barriers may exist which inhibit co-creation of meaning. We suggest that an open systems approach, which enables individuals to explore and share their contextually dependent understandings, will be helpful. We propose a framework that supports and guides participants in endeavors to co-create understandings of problem spaces through storytelling and listening.
