Technology and Social Action: sociotechnical networks and design

Walker, S. (2008 ) Technology and Social Action: sociotechnical networks and design, in Stillman, L. (ed) Proceedings of Community Informatics Research Network Conference, Prato, Italy Oct 28-30

This review paper examines accounts of design practices in social action settings. Drawing on the conceptual model of the ‘sociotechnical interaction network’ from the social informatics literature it identifies examples of novel roles evident in sustaining sociotechnical networks, arguing that understanding such roles is essential to understanding and designing effective social action technologies. It characterises and discusses four aspects of design in social action settings: participation, learning, critique and entrepreneurship.