2012/09 Revisiting the Socio-ecological, Social-technical and Socio-psychological Perspectives

1st Sep 2012

Author (team report)

Minna Takala (reporter) with David Ing, Merrelyn Emery, Debora Hammond and Gary Metcalf

Abstract (team report)

In this paper we address selected but basic concepts and models created in the Tavistock Institute that seem to offer insights into active adaptation and organizational design, especially those that have established track records for establishing open and democratic organizations. We revisit the socio-ecological perspective, including turbulent environments, as well as the socio-technical and socio-psychological perspectives. Firstly, we introduce the background and history of these concepts and give a short description of each, along with further developments in the area. We address transitions between Design Principle 1 (DP1) and Design Principle 2 (DP2) organizational structures through selected examples, and later apply these concepts in the current dynamic and fast changing organizational structures emerging in the globalized service economy.

Keywords: Tavistock Institute, socio-ecological system, social-technical system, socio-psychological system, turbulent environments, organizational design, Design Principle 1, Design Principle 2, change management, empowerment, Living Labs, innovation

Citation (team report)

Minna Takala, with David Ing, Merrelyn Emery, Debora Hammond and Gary Metcalf, "Revisiting the Socio-ecological, Social-technical and Socio-psychological Perspectives", Sixteenth IFSR Conversation (April 14-19, 2012), Gerhard Chroust and Gary S. Metcalf (editors), International Federation for Systems Research, September 2012.

Author (contributed article)

Minna Takala

Abstract (contributed article)

In this paper I will introduce an expanding scope of stakeholders involved in innovation activities, especially new institutions for innovation, which include open source communities, Living Labs, development labs, hacker events and crowds. Social computing practices enabling interaction especially crowdsourcing practices will be presented. These new emerging phenomena will be discussed from socio-ecological and socio-technical perspectives, and images of change framework created by Kenneth Boulding (1956).

Keywords: crowdsourcing innovation, open innovation, systemic innovation, stakeholders, social computing, socio-ecological environment, socio-technical system

Citation (contributed article)

Minna Takala "Expanding Scope of Systemic Innovation and Socio-Ecological and Socio-Technical Perspectives", Sixteenth IFSR Conversation (April 14-19, 2012), Gerhard Chroust and Gary S. Metcalf (editors), International Federation for Systems Research, September 2012.