Cs-seminar, University of Kuopio, Irmeli Luukkonen University of Kuopio, HIS R&D Unit

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1 Cs-seminar, University of Kuopio, Irmeli Luukkonen University of Kuopio, HIS R&D Unit

2 Background Context and Previous research Motivation Objective and research questions of this presentation Research settings Map of modelling Main stream modelling Activity Driven Approach 2

3 Research upon the Activity Driven Approach in several research projects (PlugIT, ZipIT, China-Finland ehp, mywellbeing and SOLEA) Part of my PhD studies (Activity driven Needs Analysis and Architecture Descriptions for IS Development in User Organizations) Paper submitted to ECIS conference 3

4 IS is supposed to support work Early ISD phases: Modelling activities are used for grasping the understanding of the work Critique to main stream modeling approaches Extending and alternative approaches exist. How, then, is it possible to know what modelling approaches are worth being considered for a specific purpose? 4

5 The research question of this paper is three-folded: In which way can modelling approaches that are used in the early phases of ISD be positioned in relation to each other? How are the commonly known approaches positioned? What is the position of the AD 5 approach?

6 Idea of solution: map metaphora What is the position of the AD approach? Cf Where is Suonenjoki? In which way can modelling approaches that are used in the early phases of ISD be positioned in relation to each other? Map metaphora How are the commonly known approaches positioned? Landmarks: Kuopio and Helsinki 6

7 Literature review of (process) => modeling: model features & quality; qritique Creating the map of modelling Locating traditional approaches Locating expanding and alternative approaches Locating Activity driven approach. 7

8 Essential features of models: content and form Quality: semantic, syntactic and pragmatic Problems with process modeling: Mechanistic, stabile viewpoint vs dynamics of life Complexity: relations between the elements of the model; e.g. process & infromation, human & organizational aspects, Large amount of details vs. holistic picture? Communication: understandability of models? 8

9 Two dimensions: Horizontal axis: the scope: the set of real world phenomena which are represented by the elements in the model ~content Vertical axis: the degree of structure of the models: the definitions of relations and rules between the elements and sets of elements ~form 9

10 The two-dimensional map DEGREE OF STRUCTURE Highly structured SCOPE Unstructured Technical mechanistic Human & Organizational dynamics 10

11 Notation-based approaches Goal driven approaches Ad-hoc flowcharts 11

12 Notation based approaches Traditional process modelling approaches (e.g. UML, BPMN) Rather technical scope Well defined notation, Lack a clearly defined method for the use of the notations. Can be used together with several methods defined within e.g. goaldriven or other approaches Notation based approac hes 12

13 Ad-hoc flowcharts boxes and arrows are used creatively depending on situational needs without explicit formalism Notation based Ad Hoc Flowcharts 13

14 Goal driven approaches process modelling relations between business processes and business goals not as formal as notation based approaches Example references Notation based Goal driven approaches Ad Hoc Nurcan, S., Etien, A., Kaabi, R., Zoukar, I. and Rolland, C. (2005). A strategy driven business process modelling approach. Business Process Management Journal 11 (6), , Emerald Gropup Publishing Limited. Arsanjani, A. (2002). Towards a Pattern Language for Web Services Architecture. In Proceedings of the 9th Conference on Pattern Languages on cs-seminar Programs, Monticello, Illinois

15 Traditional process modelling Scopes: rather technical focus; mechanistic viewpoint Structure: from unstructured to languages Notation based Goal driven Traditional process modelling Ad Hoc 15

16 Soft Systems Methodology (Checkland) Work Systems (Alter) 16

17 technical, organizational, economic and social aspects for information systems development several socio-technical approaches, some of them are well established, e.g. Work System Method (WSM) (Alter, 2002) Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) (Checkland, 2000) WSM and SSM are used as landmarks in order to locate socio-technical approaches on the map 17

18 Soft Systems Methodlogy Scope: Customers, Actors, Transformation process, World view, Owner, and Environmental constraints (CATWOEchecklist) Structure: rich pictures and informal notations Notatio n based Goal driven Traditional process modelling Ad Hoc SSM 18

19 Work System Method Work System: a system in which human participants and/or machines perform business processes using information, technologies, and other resources to produce products and/or services for internal or external customers. work system framework (Business processes, participants, information, technology, products and services customers, environment, strategies and infrastructure) life cycle model (change management) Notatio n based Goal driven Traditional process modelling Ad Hoc WSM SSM 19

20 Sociotechnical approaches Broad scope including human and organizational factors Limited structure, no defined languages or tool support No solid theoretical background for models Notatio n based Traditional Goal process driven modelling Ad Hoc WSM Socio-technical SSM approaches 20

21 Theoretical basis Research The frameworks => contribution to the degree of structure and the scope of the model 21

22 Activity theory: socio-cultural theory to understand human activity (e.g. Hedegaard et al.) Developmental Work Research (Engeström) Research projects in Kuopio more than decade, e.g. PlugIT (Information needs in Home Care) ZipIT (Combining development of work and IS) China-Finland ehealth Partnership (Maternity pathway) mywellbeing ActAD framework, 2x4 integrative levels, Landscape, Activity Driven ISD Model 22

23 ActAD: Activity Analysis and Development Elements: actors, object, work process, outcome, means of work, means of coordination and communication, collective actor and the mode of operation; based on AT Established notation, but allow creativity Relations with other activities, mediated by means of networking Contradictions Collective actor: Means of coordination and communication: Individual action Work process: Object Mode of operation, historical phases transforms into group, team, community of practice Outcome division of work, rules, etc. Actors: subjects Elements of a work activity Means of work: mental, instruments, facilities, etc. 23

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25 Initial methodology for understand context of IS from different viewpoints 1+4 layers Canvas: basic geographic and political structure Layer 1: flows of services between organizations and activities Layer 2: flows of authority Layer 3: flows of money Layer 4: flows of information 25

26 Validation, verification, decisions The process for activity driven requirements includes three main phases of development. Three phases of development: 1. Analyse the present state 2. Design the goal state The idea is to analyze activity at different levels, and integrate the different levels to each other. At each level the work and information system, linked up with each other, are analyzed with different fineness Network of detail. Three levels of analysis: 1. Organizational level Network of activities & information landscape 2. Group/activity level Work activity (process) & information system 3. Individual level Actions and information tools Group Individual Present Analyzing the Present State toward shared understanding. 3. Make a plan for development actions Goal Designing the Goal State toward shared understanding Plan Making the plans of changes 26 Mursu, Toivanen, Luukkonen & Ensio: Activity Driven ISD Model, MedInfo 2007 Mursu, Luukkonen, Toivanen. MedInfo2007

27 Viewpoint of the actors and their daily work Participatory emphasis: workshops, group interviews Easy to understand graphical models and story-telling Systematic analysis guided by the frameworks and models 27

28 Activity Driven approach Broad scope including human and organizational factors, information and IS as tools in work acitivities Structure is based on Activity Theory and the AD frameworks Model templates; allow creative use No tool support Notatio n based Goal driven Traditional process modelling Ad Hoc Activity driven approach WSM Socio-technical SSM approaches 28

29 Map of modelling field Purpose: to facilitate catching overview of different approaches to modeling Two dimensions: Structure and Scope "Landmarks" Notation based appraches, goal driven and ac hoc flowcharts (Traditional process modelling) SSM and WSM (Socio-technical approaches) Activity Driven approach located in the map of modelling in relation to the landmarks 29

30 Hedegaard, M., Chaiklin, S. and Jensen, U.J. (1999). Activity Theory and Social Practice: An Introduction. In Activity Theory and Social Practice: Cultural- Historical Approaches (Chaiklin, S., Hedegaard, M. and Jensen, U.J. Eds), pp , Aarhus University Press, Aarhus, Denmark. Engeström, Y. (1999). Activity theory and individual and social transformation. In Perspectives on Activity Theory. Cambridge (Engeström Y, Miettinen R, and Punamäki R. Eds.), pp 19-38, University Press, Cambridge, UK. Mursu, A., Luukkonen, I., Toivanen, M. and Korpela, M. (2007). Activity theory in information systems research and practice: theoretical underpinnings for an information systems development model. Information Research 12 (3) paper 311. Korpela, M., de la Harpe R. and Luukkonen, I. (2008). Depicting the landscape around information flows: Methodological propositions. In Proceedings of the SIG GlobDev Workshop, Association for Information Systems, Paris, France. Korpela, M., Soriyan, H.A. and Olufokunbi, K.C. (2000). Activity analysis as a method for information systems develoment: General introduction and experiments from Nigeria and Finland. Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems, 12 (1),

31 More information: 31