Presentation at EGOS - European Organization Studies Conference Space is a fundamental issue in organizing yet remains unexplored by cultural historical activity theory. The growing interest for this theory in organization studies asks for reflecting on the role of space in activity. The activity system model — a triangle-shaped diagram that is often used to study organizations within this theory — is evaluated against the issue of the production of space. The episodic experience of the author in applying the model to study the design of a new healthcare facility is presented for reflection. The facility was supposed to produce a boundary crossing activity; however, the production of this shared space made contradictions emerge beyond the reach of the activity system model. Some possibilities are considered to ground the model with the dialectics of the production of space, including the triad of representations of space, space of representations, and spatial practices.

1. 1
Grounding the flying triangle:
activity theory and the production of space
Frederick van Amstel, PhD Researcher
Construction Management & Engineering Dept.
Co-authors: Hartmann, T; Voort, M.
van der; Dewulf, G.P.M.R.

2. The materiality of visual representations
11Drawing by Valérie (6 years old) http://valeriezsc.blogspot.nl

3. The materiality of visual representations
11Drawing by Valérie (6 years old) http://valeriezsc.blogspot.nl
My dear, where is the
shadow under the
person? Is she flying?

4. Is this triangle flying?
11
Subject
Rules Community Division of
Labor
Object
Instruments
Outcome
The activity system model. Redrawn from Engeström (1987)

5. Activities like that can happen anywhere in the world
11Blood donor association in Italy (Ivaldi, Ripamonti & Scaratti, 2014)

6. Is the triangle becoming a symbol of change instead of a
tool for change?
11US Great Seal and one of the symbols of French Revolution

7. For revolutions to succeed they
need to create a new space. 17

8. Medical imaging center case
10
Medical imaging center
Southeast Hospital
Northwest Hospital

9. Different activities occupying the same space
10

10. How to categorize space?
11
Subject
Rules Community Division of
Labor
Object
Instruments
Outcome
The activity system model. Redrawn from Engeström (1987)

11. Space as an instrument
11
Designers Retrofitted
building
Construction site
Users
??? ??? ???
???
Medical
imaging center

12. Space as a shared object
11
Designers
Space to
be built
Drawing
Space to
be used
Users
Sketch
Medical
imaging
center

13. Sketch 1 – space as a baseline for activities
16
Radiology
education
Medical
imaging
research
Technology
develop.
Imaging
diagnosis
Medical imaging center
Design
Project
University of
Twente
Inspired by Henri Lefebvre’s The Production of Space (1991)

14. Sketch 2 – space as contradictions in activity
16
Subject
Rules
Community
Division of
Labor
Object
Instrument
Outcome
Space
Inspired by Henri Lefebvre’s The Production of Space (1991)

15. Sketch 3 – (social) space as community
16
Subject
Rules Space Division of
Labor
Object
Instruments
Outcome
Inspired by Henri Lefebvre’s The Production of Space (1991)

16. Space as the first outcome of any activity
11
Subject
Rules Community Division of
Labor
Object
Instruments
Space
Coexistence,
Simultaneity,
Order
Inspired by Henri Lefebvre’s The Production of Space (1991)

17. Space as intrinsic to activity
11
Space of
the subject
Space of
the rules
Space of the
community
Space of the
division of labor
Space of the
object
Space of the
instruments
Space of the
outcome
Inspired by Henri Lefebvre’s The Production of Space (1991)

18. 21
My Research Interests
▪ Participatory Design
▪ Activity Theory
▪ Frederick van Amstel f.vanamstel@utwente.nl
▪ Twitter @fredvanamstel
▪ http://fredvanamstel.com