Participative systems design: practice and theory

SUMMARY This paper describes how a participative methodology to involve users at all levels in the design of new technical and work systems has been developed by Enid Mumford. Working with design groups in different companies has enabled her to test out different levels of participation from consultative to consensus, and to arrive at the conclusion that an attempt to involve all affected individuals and groups in decision-taking is most rewarding but difficult to manage. A requirement of participation in decisions for organizational change is that users shall have the skills and knowledge to play a significant role in the total design process and can take informed decisions at each design stage from defining the problem to operating the new system. A comprehensive methodology to give people the necessary skills has been developed, again as a result of working with design groups in different companies. The evolution and testing out of this methodology is described in this paper.