Socio-technical-natural systems thinking (STN) Technological dreams, sociological repairs, natural cleanup?

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2020

Abstract

The focus of the paper is 19th Century industrialization. The research emphasis in this area was long with improving productivity via implementing new technology. Russell Ackoff, through his development of Operations Research, brought some changes to this emphasis. His work criticized the overriding importance of the technological imperative in production during and after WWII. Simultaneously, another researcher, Eric Trist of the Tavistock Institute, worked to elevate the humanistic aspect of industrial operations. The social and psychological dimensions became his variables for improvement. Ackoff and Trist later came to be developers of Systems Thinking. They initiated a new program in social systems sciences at the University of Pennsylvania in 1975. The point of departure for this paper is the work of Trist. For him, it was important to place the technological in a sociological context. The Ackoff's work in Operations Research (OR) was important to also including context in the science of OR, but with his departure from OR in 1967 he emphasized the shortcomings of OR in avoiding the systemic. For this paper, note is taken of research for adding the digital technology expansion to the socio-technical agenda. Beginning in the late 1970s, with Cal Pava a student of Eric Trist, this work was known as “socio-tech in the digital coal mine.” Other researchers have continued to pursue the digital theme in socio-technical research. The point herein is that this may soon be overshadowed by threats to then from the larger context of the industrial - the natural environment. There are long-standing problems in this domain that are becoming more noticed. They relate to effects of industrial production and product use in the natural context. Can the socio-tech model soften the effects and consequences of industrialization on planet earth as currently called climate change.

Identifier

85099409788 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Ceur Workshop Proceedings

ISSN

16130073

First Page

206

Last Page

218

Volume

2789

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