Socio-technical system design: a general systems theory perspective

Abstract

Here we intend to study the idea of sociotechnicalsystem design from a General Systems Theory(GST) perspective and develop a general framework for thedesign process. The study is organized around the basicideas and the principles of GST, Cybernetics and CognitiveSystems Engineering (CSE) - two of the major trends inGST. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of GST, henceCybernetics and CSE, the proposed design procedureincludes technological, economic, and behavioraldimensions. Cybernetics provides a structural frameworkand helps designers to program all the activities required forcontrol and communication. CSE, on the other hand,primarily guides designers in modeling human-machinerelationships. Consequently, the design process is modeledas a socio-technical construct, integrating technical, human,organizational, economic and cultural attributes of thesystem. GST provides a strong theoretical context, makingthe framework adoptable in diverse fields, including process,manufacturing, and service industries.

Index Terms - Socio-Technical System, System Design,General Systems Theory, Cybernetics, Cognitive SystemsEngineering