A modelling method for the development of groupware applications as socio-technical systems

Special methodological approaches are needed, particularly in the area of modelling, to develop socio-technical systems in the field of CSCW. Engineering tasks and the development of organizational structures have to be integrated including elements of participatory design. From a theoretical background, needs for new modelling concepts can be derived: representation of contingency, explicit incompleteness, multiplicity of perspectives and self-referential meta-relations. Based on these concepts we developed the semi-structured, socio-technical modelling method SeeMe and used it in five empirical cases to assess its practical relevance. We found that SeeMe can help people to become aware of the specific features and requirements of ‘their’ socio-technical system and therefore enables them to take part in processes of learning and improvement.

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