Design of socio-technical systems: what does the practice tell us?

Peter Bednar; Moufida Sadok

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-62051-0_6

Design of socio-technical systems: what does the practice tell us?

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

In this paper we report upon some results of an empirical study involving employees from 32 SMEs in the UK on how they approach socio-technical principles in the design of their work systems. We are particularly interested in what extent employees are engaged with decision making, change in work practices and job satisfaction. Our findings reveal that employees would prefer more responsibilities, more involvement in the decision making and in change of work practices. Additionally, it seems that recognition and appreciation by management are the most valuable job satisfaction criteria. Therefore, our findings further support the conclusion that socio-technical principles are not outdated. From a socio-technical lens, the debate on the productivity issues should not only consider buying more technology as a crucial part of the design of a work process but additional effort is required to connect it with employees’ capabilities.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Digital Technology and Organizational Change
Subtitle of host publication	Reshaping Technology, People, and Organizations Towards a Global Society
Editors	C. Rossignoli, F. Virili , S. Za
Publisher	Springer
Pages	61-68
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-319-62051-0
ISBN (Print)	978-3-319-62050-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62051-0_6
Publication status	Published - Nov 2017
Event	Italian Chapter of Association for Information Systems Conference - University of Verona, Verona, Italy Duration: 7 Oct 2016 → 8 Oct 2016 Conference number: 13 http://www.itais.org/conference/2016/

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation
Publisher	Springer
Volume	23
ISSN (Print)	2195-4968

Conference

Conference	Italian Chapter of Association for Information Systems Conference
Abbreviated title	ItAIS 2016
Country/Territory	Italy
City	Verona
Period	7/10/16 → 8/10/16
Internet address	http://www.itais.org/conference/2016/

Keywords

socio-technical analysis
SME
organizational change
design of organizational system

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-62051-0_6

Cite this

Bednar, P., & Sadok, M. (2017). Design of socio-technical systems: what does the practice tell us? In C. Rossignoli, F. Virili , & S. Za (Eds.), Digital Technology and Organizational Change: Reshaping Technology, People, and Organizations Towards a Global Society (pp. 61-68). (Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation; Vol. 23). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62051-0_6

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title = "Design of socio-technical systems: what does the practice tell us?",

abstract = "In this paper we report upon some results of an empirical study involving employees from 32 SMEs in the UK on how they approach socio-technical principles in the design of their work systems. We are particularly interested in what extent employees are engaged with decision making, change in work practices and job satisfaction. Our findings reveal that employees would prefer more responsibilities, more involvement in the decision making and in change of work practices. Additionally, it seems that recognition and appreciation by management are the most valuable job satisfaction criteria. Therefore, our findings further support the conclusion that socio-technical principles are not outdated. From a socio-technical lens, the debate on the productivity issues should not only consider buying more technology as a crucial part of the design of a work process but additional effort is required to connect it with employees{\textquoteright} capabilities.",

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booktitle = "Digital Technology and Organizational Change",

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Bednar, P & Sadok, M 2017, Design of socio-technical systems: what does the practice tell us? in C Rossignoli, F Virili & S Za (eds), Digital Technology and Organizational Change: Reshaping Technology, People, and Organizations Towards a Global Society. Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, vol. 23, Springer, pp. 61-68, Italian Chapter of Association for Information Systems Conference, Verona, Italy, 7/10/16. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62051-0_6

Design of socio-technical systems: what does the practice tell us? / Bednar, Peter ; Sadok, Moufida.
Digital Technology and Organizational Change: Reshaping Technology, People, and Organizations Towards a Global Society. ed. / C. Rossignoli; F. Virili ; S. Za. Springer, 2017. p. 61-68 (Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation; Vol. 23).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Design of socio-technical systems

T2 - Italian Chapter of Association for Information Systems Conference

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AU - Sadok, Moufida

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AB - In this paper we report upon some results of an empirical study involving employees from 32 SMEs in the UK on how they approach socio-technical principles in the design of their work systems. We are particularly interested in what extent employees are engaged with decision making, change in work practices and job satisfaction. Our findings reveal that employees would prefer more responsibilities, more involvement in the decision making and in change of work practices. Additionally, it seems that recognition and appreciation by management are the most valuable job satisfaction criteria. Therefore, our findings further support the conclusion that socio-technical principles are not outdated. From a socio-technical lens, the debate on the productivity issues should not only consider buying more technology as a crucial part of the design of a work process but additional effort is required to connect it with employees’ capabilities.

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Bednar P , Sadok M. Design of socio-technical systems: what does the practice tell us? In Rossignoli C, Virili F, Za S, editors, Digital Technology and Organizational Change: Reshaping Technology, People, and Organizations Towards a Global Society. Springer. 2017. p. 61-68. (Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation). Epub 2017 Oct 4. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-62051-0_6

Design of socio-technical systems: what does the practice tell us?

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