| 1. |
- Ayele, Workneh Y., et al.
(författare)
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Unveiling DRD : A Method for Designing Digital Innovation Contest Measurement Models
- 2018
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 11:1, s. 25-53
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The growing open data market opens possibilities for the development of viable digital artifacts that facilitate the creation of social and business values. Contests are becoming popular means to facilitate the development of digital artifacts utilizing open data. The increasing popularity of contests gives rise to a need for measuring contest performance. However, the available measurement model for digital innovation contests, the DICM-model, was designed based on a single case study and there is a need for a methodological approach that can accommodate for contests’ variations in scope. Therefore, we use design science to construct a nine-step method, the DRD method, to design and refine DICM-models. The DRD-method is designed using goal- and quality oriented approaches. It extends innovation measurement to the application domain of digital innovation contests and provides an improvement of innovation measurement as it offers a new solution for a known problem. The DRD-method provides comprehensive support to practice for designing and refining DICM-models and supports reflection and organizational learning across several contests. For future study, we suggest an ex-post evaluation of the method inconjunction with real contests and systematic efforts to generalize the method within as well as beyond the context of the contest. Finally, we propose to further investigate the potential of topdown and goal oriented approaches to measure open and iterative forms of innovation.
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| 2. |
- Christiansson, Marie-Therese, 1966-
(författare)
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Improving citizens’ ability to find, understand and use e-services : Communicating the social interaction dimension
- 2013
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 7:2, s. 177-204
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper focuses on the ability to communicate public e-Services, as a part of e-Service development. The purpose is to elaborate on the concept “communicability”, and to define elements and criteria useful in the evaluation and improvement of public e-Services. In terms of public e-Services, communication takes place in a context based on an understanding and relation between the public sector and the citizens using the provider’s e-Service solution. Public sectors are increasing their e-Service offers, making communicating e-Services an important part of the service delivery. The citizens’ ability to find, understand, and use the service is a return on investment. This paper combines a business process and a social interac- tion approach to e-Services. The empirical grounding is a Swedish municipality case study with a pilot evaluation, interviews with developers, and an eye tracking usability test on e- Services with citizens partaking in a university course. The research contributions include a first version of a defined concept of communicability in the e-Service context together with a conceptual basis for evaluation purposes. Findings can be used as a basis for developing an evaluation tool and a handbook to improve communicability in public e-Service solutions.
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| 3. |
- Christiansson, Marie-Therese, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Sharpening the knowledge domain transfer in practice research design : The BPM assessment
- 2012
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - Linköping : Sysiac. - 1652-8719. ; 6:1, s. 22-45
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The practice research design described in this paper is based on the common interest of Telge AB and Karlstad University to explore knowledge transfer from research results to their use in practice when applying a Business Process Management (BPM) maturity assessment model. In our case study, we explore how knowledge transfer can become explicit, based on components in the foundation of practice research and a mapping of the practice research process. The main idea is to contribute to the articulation of sharpening the knowledge transfer in practice research design. Our findings show e.g. the importance of enabling practitioners in finding the research results, using an explicit model package to gain understanding and guidance towards the intended way in which the practitioners are supposed to use the knowledge, as well as prerequisites in the knowledge domain. Additionally, the complexity in the BPM maturity concept and challenges in the knowledge domain transfer are findings that can lead to bridging the gap between a BPM maturity assessment model in theory and lessons learned from using the model in practice. Finally, the paper contributes with a knowledge domain transfer loop model to be used in planning and evaluating practice research between practitioners and research stakeholders as well as a snapshot of practice research design to be used to communicate key elements as pre-conditions for the knowledge domain transfer.
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| 4. |
- Eriksson, Owen, et al.
(författare)
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Commitment Management in the Context of Parallel Business Transactions
- 2007
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - : Linköpings Universitet. - 1652-8719. ; 3:1, s. 25-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to maintain market position, one of the critical issues facing companies is how they can improve their commitment management. In this paper, the concept of commitment management is used to understand how suppliers and customers create mutual commitments in business agreements, and how these commitments are fulfilled. In a number of empirical case studies, commitment management problems have been the direct consequence of deficiencies in the infrastructural support. One example of such lacking infrastructural support are IT systems intended to support this commitment management process. This is of particular interest in a context of commitments created in parallel business transactions that compete for the same delivery capacity. The aim of the paper is to describe, analyse and propose solutions to some of these problems. This paper proposes a necessary extension to a framework for business interaction between suppliers and customers. This extension is based on business action theory, workpractice theory and ideas from yield management.
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| 5. |
- Goldkuhl, Göran, 1949-
(författare)
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Beyond Communication Loops - Multi-Responsive Actions in Business Processes
- 2007
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 3:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The paper examines one of the corner-stones of the language/action (LAP) approaches: communication loop modelling. This kind of modelling is used in approaches like Action Workflow and DEMO and it includes the modelling of two fundamental roles; customer and performer. The paper extends earlier critical analysis of two-role models. It introduces the principle of multi-responsiveness, meaning that one organisational action can be a response to several different communication acts. The difference between a present triggering initiative and trans-situational background initiatives are described. The paper uses a reference case, the pizza shop case, well-known in the LAP community through earlier use in many papers
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| 6. |
- Goldkuhl, Göran, 1949-
(författare)
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From ensemble view to ensemble artefact – An inquiry on conceptualisations of the IT artefact
- 2013
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - : Linköping University. - 1652-8719. ; 7:1, s. 49-72
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper investigates the notion of an ensemble artefact. This concept is proposed by Sein et al (2011) in their description of the Action Design Research method. This concept is based on the ensemble view of IT artefacts, which is described by Orlikowski & Iacono (2001) together with four other views. The conceptual journey from ensemble view to ensemble artefact is found problematic and is the impetus for a conceptual inquiry conducted in this paper. The conceptual investigation is supported by the use of a case illustration of an IT artefact in the social welfare sector. The different views from Orlikowski & Iacono are analysed and com-pared. The suggested conceptualisation of IT artefacts based on the ensemble view, made by Orlikowski & Iacono, is also analysed. Based on these analyses an alternative view is articu-lated: A communication tool view of IT artefacts. This view is compared with the ensemble view, especially in a design research context. The notion of ensemble artefact is contested, as is the suggested use of it as a main conceptual basis in design research.
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| 7. |
- Goldkuhl, Göran, 1949-
(författare)
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The IT artefact: An ensemble of the social and the technical? – A rejoinder : An ensemble of the social and the technical? – A rejoinder
- 2013
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - : Linköping University. - 1652-8719. ; 7:1, s. 90-99
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper is part of a discourse on the conceptualisation of the IT artefact. It is commentary paper based on the prior papers of Goldkuhl (2013), Silver & Markus (2013) and Purao et al (2013). It especially addresses the issues of how demarcate the IT artefact and how to concep-tualise it in relation to the social and the technical. As a part of this conceptual inquiry, the paper investigates the notion of the artefact. An artefact has always functions and it has always a context where the use of the artefact and its functions is intended to contribute to some goals. As soon as we speak of an artefact, some use context is implied. Based on these premis-es, the paper articulates a view on the IT artefact to be a social artefact. Social does not mean that there are any humans as part of the artefact; humans appear as the users in the implied context of the artefact. Social means that the IT artefact is a semiotic artefact intended for communication between people. The IT artefact is sociotechnical artefact, which means that it is a combined technical and semiotic artefact and the use of it (by a user) implies combined technical and communicative actions. As a consequence of this view the paper also argues for co-design of IT artefact and work context. This is done in opposition to a techno-centric de-sign of the IT artefact, which will imply a restricted design of context purely through artefact design.
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| 8. |
- Goldkuhl, Göran, 1949-
(författare)
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The research practice of practice research : theorizing and situational inquiry
- 2011
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 5:1, s. 7-29
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An approach to practice research is presented. The main ideas of practice research is 1) to consider the empirical field in terms of practices, 2) to develop knowledge through situational inquiries into local operational practices based on problems and needs in such practices and 3) to contribute with abstract useful knowledge to general practice and research community. This means that practice research is research about practices, research from practices, research for practices, research with practices and usually research in practices. Practice research is divided into two closely related sub-practices: situational inquiry and theorizing. Practice research is also related to three target practices/communities: local operational practice, general practice and research community. The paper also contains ontological assumptions (from practice theories) and epistemological assumptions (from pragmatist epistemology). Three examples of practice research are briefly described as illustrations. The main purpose of the paper is to describe the research practice of practice research.
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| 9. |
- Hultgren, Göran, et al.
(författare)
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How to research e-services as social interaction: Multi-grounding practice research aiming for practical theory
- 2013
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - : Linköping University. - 1652-8719. ; 7:2, s. 104-120
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research on e-services represents a move away from a techno-centric view of e-service to seeing them as embedded in social interaction. The consequences of this focus shift are de-scribed in relation to how to conduct such research. The research approach of a large research endeavour, ranging over several years, is described. The research is characterised as practice research with the purpose of creating abstract knowledge aiming for both the practice field (general practice) and for researcher communities (as an addition to scientific body of knowledge). The knowledge result from this practice research has been given the form of a practical theory of e-services, with the intention to be useful for both practitioners and re-searchers. A practical theory is aimed to be useful in investigating and managing some phe-nomenon. The e-service research has also applied the epistemological strategy of multi-grounding. Multi-grounding means a combination of empirical, theoretical and internal grounding. The research principles of practice research, practical theory and multi-grounding are described. How these principles are applied in the e-services research is elaborated. Expe-riences from the use of this research approach are accounted for.
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Islind, Anna Sigridur, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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From Co-Design to Co-Care : Designing a Collaborative Practice in Care
- 2018
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 11:1, s. 1-24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The design of digital artifacts in general and mobile apps in particular has not been investigated fully from a practice perspective. Mobile apps are commonly designed from a distant, armslength relationship where they are developed without taking the users' practices into account.This paper problematizes this notion and takes the point of departure from a collaborative design (co-design) process where the goal was to design a mobile app supporting grocery shopping forthe home care sector. We analyse the role of designing a mobile app as a facilitator for collaboration between the elderly's everyday practice and the caregivers work practice and investigatehow these two practices become intertwined. The research questions are: How can the design process be organized in order to foster the formation of a prospective collaborative care practice? What aspects are important to consider when designing with a boundary practice perspective? The findings of this study indicate that organizing the design activities in a certain collaborative manner empowered the elderly and their caregivers and led to the formation of a common, collaborative care practice (herein called co-care). The focus of the design process thereby shifted from designing the digital artifact (framed as a boundary object) to designing the co-carepractice (framed as a boundary practice). Our contribution is discussed in terms of design considerations,which can be applied for the facilitation of a collaborative boundary practice. The considerations are of particular relevance for settings where two or more practices are to collaborate and where new conditions are to be created for future co-practice.
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| 14. |
- Johannesson, Paul, et al.
(författare)
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Untangling the Web of Practices: Designing Information Systems in Context
- 2017
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 10:1, s. 1-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Practices are intertwined with each other, often in complex and unexpected ways. Therefore, the development of information systems artefacts does not only need to take into account the practices in which the artefacts are to be used, but also related practices. However, identifying and exploring these practices is a non-trivial task, which so far has not received much attention in the literature. Thus, the overall goal of the research presented in this paper is to provide a support for systematically addressing multiple, related practices in information systems design. The solution presented consists of a set of guidelines for context-aware analysis and design based on a classification of practice relationships, distinguishing between interconnected and resembling relationships. The former focus on exchanges of information as well as other resources, and they can be divided into management, asset, and input/output relationships. The latter consider practices that are similar to each other though they may reside in distinct areas or domains. The research presented is an example of design science, and the primary research methodology used is conceptual analysis. In order to preliminarily validate the result of the research, a demonstration has been carried out by applying the guidelines for analyzing an information system for schools.
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| 15. |
- Jonsson, Katrin, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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A Relevant Issue : Establishing Collaborations with Multiple Practitioners
- 2012
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - : Linköping University Electronic Press. - 1652-8719. ; 6:1, s. 6-21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Practice research involves many different stakeholders who contribute to and derive benefit from the research in different ways. While current practice research has already begun to ex-plore practitioner-researcher collaboration we need to further expand our understanding of how this relationship can be established and be made relevant for multiple practitioners. Against this backdrop, the research question addressed in this paper is: how are practice re-search collaborations established so as to be relevant to a multitude of practitioners with dif-ferent motivations and goals? To address this issue, this paper examines practitioner-researcher collaborations in a large-scale regional innovation network, ProcessIT Innovations. Practice research provides good opportunities for fruitful collaborations between practitioners and researchers; however, the approach requires a dedicated effort to ensure engagement and relevance in the long-term. In practice projects it is necessary to expend a great deal of effort on facilitating practitioner-researcher collaboration and on managing the diverse set of agen-das involved. Our results show that in order to make the collaborations relevant to practition-ers it is important to develop the sensing capacity to detect problems and issues in the local practices. In order to enable this capacity in ProcessIT, former practitioners were hired. More-over, our results show that contributions to local as well as general practices can be organised within an innovation system by forming branch clusters and by involving end-user and suppli-er companies in the projects.
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| 16. |
- Lagsten, Jenny, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluating an IT Governance model-in-use
- 2015
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - Linköping : Linköping University. - 1652-8719. ; 9:1, s. 93-112
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- IT Governance models represent ideals for how a collection of practices or mechanisms shall enhance the achievement of IT/business alignment in the organisation. In practice IT Govern-ance (ITG) models are interpreted and adapted to get the work done. In this paper we suggest an evaluation method for comparing an ideal ITG model (the model-in-concept) with the cor-responding use of the model in daily operations (the model-in-use). Theoretically we have approached the development of the ITG evaluation method from a deployment perspective meaning that a model first is developed and described by model developers and thereafter interpreted, adapted and used in the organisational context. Further, we have applied the con-cept of model rationale in order to express the logic of the model-in-concept as intended by the model developers. In our action research study we show how we have developed and test-ed the ITG evaluation method as part of an evaluation of the deployment and use of an ITG model in a large healthcare organisation. Our findings suggests that the evaluation method give support for in depth evaluation, dialog and learning concerning the complex logic of an ITG model-in-concept and model-in-use.
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| 17. |
- Lind, Mikael, et al.
(författare)
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Using Pragmatic Concepts for Exploring Interactivity in Service Encounters
- 2013
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - : Linköpings Universitet. - 1652-8719. ; 7:2, s. 205-226
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A service encounter is conceived as an interactive process between a service provider and a service receiver. It has however largely been analyzed as a non-interactive phenomenon which leads to a superficial and incomplete understanding of the dynamics of service encounters as an interactive process. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether a pragmatic approach could form a foundation for the conception of service encounters as an interactive phenomenon. The results show that in order to capture the essence of interaction in service encounters from a pragmatic view, researchers should turn to the concept of action. In order to avoid a one-side view (the customer or the company/company representative) of the service encounter, the inter-related actions need to be taken into consideration.
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| 18. |
- Lychnell, Lars-Olof
(författare)
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An event-based approach for the “intermediate step” in process studies of IT-related organizational change
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs and Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 5:1, s. 84-99
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to understand and explain IT-related organizational change, information systems researchers have adopted several practice-oriented theories from sociology, and science and technology studies. These “grand theories” are often complex and operate on a high level of abstraction, thus, making them suitable for collecting rich process data while following multifaceted empirical phenomena over time. As a consequence, it may be challenging to organize and analyse the abundant process data in order to create a foundation for theory building, while also being loyal to the “grand theory” as well as to the logic of process research. The purpose of this paper is to propose a systematic approach in order to facilitate this “intermediate step” of sensemaking between data collection and theory building. The suggested approach comprises three interrelated and iterative processes for organizing and analysing process data in order to build a foundation for theorizing: process data are chronologically organized and a thick case history is written; the case history is interpreted as a narrative informed by the “grand theory” and coded as events; chains of events are bracketed together and graphically represented in terms of episodes, separated by critical events that challenge the path forward. In this way, comparable units of analysis are created facilitating the analysis of patterns within and among episode, as well as the identification of underlying mechanisms. By making explicit the “intermediate step”, the approach bridges the gap between data collection and theory building in a way that is substantiated by empirical data, the “grand theory”, and the logic of process research. The paper demonstrates how the approach can be employed by examples from an in-depth longitudinal case study.
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| 19. |
- Nordström, Malin, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
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Practitioners’ motives as a key issue in organizing practice research collaboration
- 2011
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - : Linköping University. - 1652-8719. ; 5:1, s. 133-146
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Practice Research has evolved as a fruitful research paradigm in Information Systems (IS). In practice research case studies and other forms of intervention in local practices are central. Such studies require cooperation with practitioners. A researcher’s motives for conducting case studies are primarily to collect and analyze data for research purposes. A practice researcher also aims to develop scientific contributions of practical value. This article elaborates on the practitioners’ motives for participating in practice research using the case of a knowledge initiative (KI) concerning IS maintenance and evolution as an empirical example. KI has been arranged as a professional community in which practitioners (as KI members) and researchers have worked together to develop knowledge. By analyzing patterns of the KI members’ statements and engagements, we identify some tentative motives for practitioners to participate in practice research. The results show that their main motives are to influence research, increase their competence, being a part of a social community, and solve specific problems. With this in mind we are able to arrange for practice research cooperation that meets both researchers’ and practitioners’ motives. The article is concluded with key issues for organizing successful practice research collaboration
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| 20. |
- Purao, Sandeep, et al.
(författare)
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Ensemble artifacts : from viewing to designing in action design research
- 2013
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 7:1, s. 73-81
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Action Design Research (ADR) is a research method for generating design knowledge through building and evaluating ensemble artifacts. In this paper, we respond to Goldkuhl’s critical review of the conceptualization of IT artifact in ADR. In particular, the review problematizes the so-called “conceptual journey” from an ensemble view to ensemble artifact, and suggests that this journey restricts the use of ADR. We recognize Goldkuhl’s critique as a valuableopportunity to clarify our thinking and elaborate the rationale behind ensemble artifact. We maintain that the notion of ensemble artifact in ADR is appropriate because it highlights the forward-looking orientation of designing artifacts and stresses the importance of the context for the evolution and use of the resulting artifact. It stands in contrast to the retrospective orientation of the ensemble view nomenclature from Orlikowski and Iacono that we borrowed and extended for ADR. Finally, we endorse Goldkuhl’s proposed communicative view as auseful addition to the toolkit of ADR researchers who can study the design of communicative tool artifacts.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Sjöström, Jonas, et al.
(författare)
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Investigating Communicative Features of User Interfaces
- 2005
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 1:1, s. 80-102
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The concept of usability has evolved in different research communities and the focus of research has varied. During the last couple of years, research has been oriented towards acknowledging more appropriately the social context of IT system use. The purpose of this paper is to investigate further the usefulness of a communicative perspective on user interfaces, as a means to understand the IT artefact as part of social and organizational context. Such a perspective seems to be important to promote designs that are both use-able and act-able.
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| 24. |
- Styvén, Maria Ek, et al.
(författare)
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To use or not to use : Road bumps for citizens’ adoption of e-services
- 2014
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 8:1, s. 25-42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to increase usage of e-government services, there is a need for better understanding of factors driving citizens’ use of such services. This study addresses two main objectives: (1) to assess the influence of trust, perceived sacrifice, and optimism bias on citizens’ intentions to use public e-services; (2) to assess the moderating influence of previous use on the relation-ships between trust, perceived sacrifice, optimism bias and intention to use public e-services. A model of e-service adoption is proposed and tested on a random sample of 422 Swedish citizens. The model confirms the influence of trust and optimism bias; however, trust seems to play a considerably more important role for non-users than for users. Results also suggest that perceived sacrifice in terms of time and effort can be a strong predictor of behavioral inten-tions. Furthermore, the negative effect of perceived sacrifice on the intention to use e-services is much stronger for those who have used service-related information on municipal web sites than for those who have not. For these citizens, the perceived sacrifice is not decreased by the degree to which they perceive themselves as more competent than the average Internet user. Hence, it will be difficult to retain users who have experienced an e-service as complicated and inefficient, even if these citizens are skilled Internet users. In turn, this may hamper the adoption of other e-services.
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| 25. |
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| 26. |
- Vallo Hult, Helena, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Reconfiguring professionalism in digital work
- 2021
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Ingår i: Systems, Signs & Actions. - 1652-8719. ; 12, s. 1-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Information Systems (IS) research and practice face ever more complex challenges as Information Technology (IT) for work expands beyond organizations and merges into everyday life. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has amplified the need to understand digital work and its implications for professionalism. This study addresses that gap in the literature. The focus is on blended IT, referring to the fact that professionals today use personal and organizational IT interchangeably for work, while they also face a new situation of increased citizen involvement in their institutions through IT. This paper draws from three empirical public sector cases with the aim to contribute a deeper understanding of what digital work entails and how public sector professionalism is reconfigured by blended IT.The research question is: how is public sector professionalism reconfigured in digital work? Our findings illustrate this reconfiguration in three main ways: a) the personal and professional uses of IT merge,influencing professional autonomy; b) the incursion of patient and citizen IT into the scope of work challenges established views on knowledge and expertise; and c) altogether, balancing the streams of blended IT impinges on the core value of the common good that is characteristic of public sector professionalism. These three processes of reconfiguration outline professionalism in digital work.
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