A sociotechnical systems approach to understand complex urban systems: A global transdisciplinary perspective

Current approaches for the urban planning and design of our cities and towns are challenged by the inherent complexity of urban systems. Sociotechnical systems thinking is explored here to better understand this complexity and therein assist the service industries involved in urban planning and design practice. Subject matter expert knowledge and insights have been used to inform the development of a work domain analysis model, the first phase of cognitive work analysis. Work domain analysis allows for the constraints, boundaries, and interdependencies within a sociotechnical system to be identified and explored. This analysis describes and models an archetype complex urban system, providing new ways to understand urban complexity and inform urban planning and design practice. Further, the different discipline viewpoints (object worlds) of urban systems are identified within the work domain analysis. The results demonstrate the wide‐ranging and transdisciplinary perspectives on complex urban systems, while also suggesting that cognitive work analysis is a suitable method to better understand their complexity.

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