This document discusses sociotechnical systems theory and design. It provides quotes from thinkers like Russell Ackoff about how systems are more than the sum of their parts. It also discusses the work of theorists like Emery and Trist, who identified different types of organizational environments (placid clustered, disturbed reactive, turbulent). Sociotechnical systems design aims to create win-win outcomes for technology, people, and organizational performance through principles like semi-autonomous work teams. The document advocates giving people control over their own work designs to motivate commitment and adaptation to change.

1. Making IT your winning asset

2. Thriving in Complexity

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@trondhjort Source: https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Christian-krohg-leiv-eriksson.jpg

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“A system is never the sum of its
parts; its the product of their
interaction.”
—Russell L. Ackoff

8. @trondhjort
“A system is more than the sum of
its parts; it is an indivisible whole.
It loses its essential properties
when it is taken apart.”
—Russell L. Ackoff

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“An organization is a system and
the performance of a system
depends more on how its parts
interact than on how they act when
taken separately.”
-Russell L. Ackoff

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Parts Whole
Deterministic No purpose No purpose
Animated No purpose Purpose
Social Purpose Purpose
Ecological Purpose No purpose

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Semi-autonomous team
Participative design
Minimal Critical Specifications
Purpose
Variance control
Multifunctionality
Incompletion
Power & authority
Support congruence
Information flow
Quality of work

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Semi-autonomous team
Participative design
Minimal Critical Specifications
Purpose
Variance control
Multifunctionality
Power & authority
Support congruence
Information flow
Quality of work
Sociotechnical Systems Design
Incompletion

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Elbow room
Continual learning
Variety
Mutual support and respect
Meaningfulness
Desirable future

16. @trondhjort Source: Oosthuizen & Pretorius, Assessing the impact of new technology on complex sociotechnical systems

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“The biosphere includes both
the individual and the
environment, not as interacting
parts, not as constituents which
have independent existence, but
as aspects of a single reality
which can be separated only by
abstraction.“
-Andras Angyal, 1941

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20. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, "Self managing management of the self managing organization: an update"

21. @trondhjort Inspirational source: Emery & Trist, The Causal Texture of Organisational Environments
<1790 1790-1950 1950>
Type II
Placid clustered
Enough for all
Neutral
Static
Tactics only
Type III
Disturbed reactive
Scarcity
Competition
Dynamic
Strategy needed
Type IV
Turbulent
Scarcity
Competition
Dynamic
Unpredictable

22. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, The Current Version of Emery's Open Systems Theory

23. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, The Current Version of Emery's Open Systems Theory

24. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, The Current Version of Emery's Open Systems Theory

25. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, The Current Version of Emery's Open Systems Theory

26. @trondhjort Inspirational source: Emery & Trist, The Causal Texture of Organisational Environments
Type II
Placid clustered
Type III
Disturbed reactive
Type IV
Turbulent
<1790 1790-1950 1950>
DP2 DP1 DP1 ➝ DP2
Enough for all
Neutral
Static
Tactics only
Scarcity
Competition
Dynamic
Strategy needed
Scarcity
Competition
Dynamic
Unpredictable

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Type III
Disturbed reactive
Type IV
Turbulent

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DP1 DP1 ➝ DP2 New DP2

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DP1 New DP2
VS.

30. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, The Current Version of Emery's Open Systems Theory

31. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, The Current Version of Emery's Open Systems Theory

32. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, The Current Version of Emery's Open Systems Theory

33. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, The Current Version of Emery's Open Systems Theory

34. @trondhjort Source: de Guerre, Open Systems Theory and the Two
-­
Stage Model of Active Adaptation

35. @trondhjort Source: de Guerre, Open Systems Theory and the Two
-­
Stage Model of Active Adaptation

36. @trondhjort Source: de Guerre, Open Systems Theory and the Two
-­
Stage Model of Active Adaptation

37. @trondhjort Source: de Guerre, Open Systems Theory and the Two
-­
Stage Model of Active Adaptation

38. @trondhjort Source: de Guerre, Open Systems Theory and the Two
-­
Stage Model of Active Adaptation

39. @trondhjort Source: de Guerre, Open Systems Theory and the Two
-­
Stage Model of Active Adaptation

40. @trondhjort Source: de Guerre, Open Systems Theory and the Two
-­
Stage Model of Active Adaptation

41. @trondhjort Source: de Guerre, Open Systems Theory and the Two
-­
Stage Model of Active Adaptation

42. @trondhjort Source: Merrelyn Emery, "Self managing management of the self managing organization: an update"

43. @trondhjort
“STS design was intended to produce a
‘win-win-win-win’: human beings were
more committed, technology operated
closer to its potential and the organization
performed better overall while adapting
more readily to change in its environment.”
Source: Pasmore et al, Reflections: Sociotechnical Systems Design and Organization Change

44. @trondhjort www.socialsciencethatactuallyworks.com

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“As soon as people are forced
to compete, they have to look
after their own interests and so
self interest comes to dominate
life in a DP1 [autocratic/
bureaucratic] structure. All the
team building in the world
cannot change this dynamic.”
-Merrelyn Emery

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“It is only when the people
involved work out their own
designs that the necessary
motivation, responsibility and
commitment to effective
implementation is present.”
-Merrelyn Emery

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49. Making IT your winning asset
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50. Organizational Health and Innovation
Survey
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