Applying the human relations perspective to the study of new media

The Human Relations perspective is one of six perspectives, suggested by Kling and colleagues, that analysts take when studying the impacts of computers. This short note looks at the assumptions of this perspective by focussing on a particular component of the human relations approach. This component is the participation or involvement of users in the implementation and management of communication systems in organizations. It very briefly notes prior literature on this component, with particular reference to sociotechnical systems research. This note considers the implications of using the human relations perspective and the focus on participation in light of results from a lengthy study of the management of word processign in 200 organizations. It concludes by considering the joint advantages of the other perspectives in analyses of participation.

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