Mapping Actors and Agendas: Political Frameworks of Systems Design and Participation

Abstract

The article provides a framework and analytical tool for discussing the political and organizational context of design and participation and for identifying some of its central characteristics. Three arenas for participation are distinguished: designing work and systems; designing organizational frameworks for action; and designing the industrial relations context. Drawing upon material from 2 case studies in Germany and Austria, we focus on the evolving network of actors and intermediaries who in various ways contribute to work and systems design, the influence of the political culture and the legal framework on how legitimate agenda are created, and the relations between systems design and other agendas (e.g., organizational development and collective bargaining). We propose to use actor-network theory not just as a sociological exercise but as a tool. It helps to position actors within a larger context and reflect on their specific 'mediating' roles and to formulate appropriate practices of intermediation. Furthermore, the case studies point at the limitations to participation in fragmented political cultures and call attention to the importance of understanding agenda setting. Each arena of action has its own set of legitimate agendas-from questions of user interface design to quality of working life and privacy issues. Participation in design needs powerful agendas that can be established in all arenas and that can be translated notably into work and design questions with obvious relevance to users for everyday work with a computer system.

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