Bødker, Keld, and Finn Kensing: "Design in an Organizational Context - an Experiment", Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 6, 1994, pp. 47-68.

Abstract

In the paper we give a detailed account of an action research project conducted in an editorial section of a Danish radio station. The section's goal was to clarify its needs in relation to computer support for editorial and administrative work. The research goal was to develop and test tools and techniques for analysis of workplace conversation and workplace culture in a design context. Ethnographic techniques were used to provide insight into work practices of the workplace in question. We consider such insight to be important in order for the future computer system and the (redesigned) organization to be well matched. The detailed knowledge of work practices can be used to challenge what at first sight may seem to be obvious solutions - technical, methodological or organizational - in order to arrive at a realistic design.