Combining Multiple Abstraction Mechanisms in Communication Modeling

In this paper we summarize and further explore a design method for workflow systems. The method is aimed to clarify how designing IT-artifacts is a way of designing work and communication. The overall objective is to replace technical programming with user adaptation of standard systems components and thereby increase user influence in design. The method includes: (i) a combination of ideas from both discourse and conversation analysis, (in) metaphors for illustrating the functional role of IT-artifacts when supporting human actions, (iii) a theoretical basis for combining workflow and database schemata, and (iv) the use of design guidelines, templates and checking mechanisms in various ways.