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IT Artifacts as Socio-Pragmatic Instruments: Reconciling the Pragmatic, Semiotic, and Technical

IT Artifacts as Socio-Pragmatic Instruments: Reconciling the Pragmatic, Semiotic, and Technical

Göran Goldkuhl, Pär J. Agerfalk
Copyright: © 2005 |Volume: 1 |Issue: 3 |Pages: 15
ISSN: 1548-3908|EISSN: 1548-3916|ISSN: 1548-3908|EISBN13: 9781615204380|EISSN: 1548-3916|DOI: 10.4018/jthi.2005070103
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MLA

Goldkuhl, Göran, and Pär J. Agerfalk. "IT Artifacts as Socio-Pragmatic Instruments: Reconciling the Pragmatic, Semiotic, and Technical." IJTHI vol.1, no.3 2005: pp.29-43. http://doi.org/10.4018/jthi.2005070103

APA

Goldkuhl, G. & Agerfalk, P. J. (2005). IT Artifacts as Socio-Pragmatic Instruments: Reconciling the Pragmatic, Semiotic, and Technical. International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction (IJTHI), 1(3), 29-43. http://doi.org/10.4018/jthi.2005070103

Chicago

Goldkuhl, Göran, and Pär J. Agerfalk. "IT Artifacts as Socio-Pragmatic Instruments: Reconciling the Pragmatic, Semiotic, and Technical," International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction (IJTHI) 1, no.3: 29-43. http://doi.org/10.4018/jthi.2005070103

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Abstract

There are many attempts to explain success and failure in information systems. Many of these refer to a purported sociotechnical gap. In this article we develop an alternative approach that does not impose such a strong dichotomy, but regards social and technical rather as dimensions along which to study workpractices. The developed theory involves not only the “social” and “technical” constructs, but also other generic ones, namely “instrumental,” “semiotic,” and “pragmatic.” We call this theory socio-instrumental pragmatism. To illustrate the theoretical concepts introduced, we use an example brought from an extensive action research study including the development of an information system in eldercare, developed through a participatory design approach.

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