Socio-technical Socio-technical systemsystem

► Presented by Aimen farooq (38)Presented by Aimen farooq (38)

Origin of socio-technical sysOrigin of socio-technical sys

► In the early 1950's In the early 1950's Eric TristEric Trist and the and the Tavistock Tavistock InstituteInstitute studied the English coal mining industry studied the English coal mining industry where where mechanization had actually decreased mechanization had actually decreased worker productivity.worker productivity.

► Trist proposed that manufacturing (and many Trist proposed that manufacturing (and many other) systems have both technical and other) systems have both technical and human/social aspects that are tightly bound and human/social aspects that are tightly bound and interconnected. interconnected.

► Moreover, it is the interconnections more than Moreover, it is the interconnections more than individual elements that determine system individual elements that determine system performance performance

Socio-technical systemSocio-technical system

► ““A socio-technical system is a system A socio-technical system is a system composed of technical and social composed of technical and social subsystems”.subsystems”.

► An example for this is a factory or also An example for this is a factory or also a hospital where people are organized, a hospital where people are organized, e.g. in social systems like teams or e.g. in social systems like teams or departments, to do work for which departments, to do work for which they use technical systems like they use technical systems like computers or x-ray machinescomputers or x-ray machines

Two sub systemsTwo sub systems

► The technical systemThe technical system includes machinery, includes machinery, processes, procedures and a physical arrangement. processes, procedures and a physical arrangement. We usually think of a factory in terms of its We usually think of a factory in terms of its

technical systemtechnical system ► The social systemThe social system includes people and their includes people and their

habitual attitudes, values, behavioral styles and habitual attitudes, values, behavioral styles and

relationships. It includes the reward systemrelationships. It includes the reward system

Need for joint optimizationNeed for joint optimization

► Joint optimizationJoint optimization is the goal of socio-Technical design. It is is the goal of socio-Technical design. It is the integration of the social requirements of people doing the the integration of the social requirements of people doing the work with technical requirements needed to keep the work work with technical requirements needed to keep the work system viable with regard to environment.system viable with regard to environment.

► For example, a manufacturing work cell that requires high For example, a manufacturing work cell that requires high teamwork will not produce in an environment of suspicion and teamwork will not produce in an environment of suspicion and command/control. A self-directed work team will be ineffective command/control. A self-directed work team will be ineffective when the layout of their area prevents communication or does when the layout of their area prevents communication or does not require cooperation. not require cooperation. The social and technical systems The social and technical systems

must integrate and assist one anothermust integrate and assist one another..

Technological systemTechnological system

►Aspects of technical systems that Aspects of technical systems that place demand on the social systemplace demand on the social system::

► Nature of material being worked onNature of material being worked on► Level of mechanization (or automation)Level of mechanization (or automation)► Units of operation and grouping of these units into Units of operation and grouping of these units into

production phasesproduction phases► Degree of centrality of different operationsDegree of centrality of different operations► Maintenance operationsMaintenance operations► Supply operationsSupply operations► Spatial layout of process over timeSpatial layout of process over time► Physical work settingPhysical work setting

The social systemThe social system

► work role that promote cooperation among workerswork role that promote cooperation among workers► Work roles organized to promote self responsibilityWork roles organized to promote self responsibility► Whether workers are made jointly responsible for how Whether workers are made jointly responsible for how

services are delivered or separately and unilaterally.services are delivered or separately and unilaterally.► The extend to which the key variances are The extend to which the key variances are

imported/exported or being controlled by employees imported/exported or being controlled by employees directly.directly.

► Simultaneous interdependencies among workers to Simultaneous interdependencies among workers to provide for task accomplishment in less time and provide for task accomplishment in less time and continuity in the face of individual failurecontinuity in the face of individual failure

Cont.Cont.

► How each workers role is experienced in terms of How each workers role is experienced in terms of attractiveness and perceptions of dependence, pay attractiveness and perceptions of dependence, pay equity, trust and isolation with regard to others.equity, trust and isolation with regard to others.

► The extend of coordination of task interdependence The extend of coordination of task interdependence in term of social relationin term of social relation

► The presence of formal over specification as well as The presence of formal over specification as well as under specificationunder specification

Three levels of analysisThree levels of analysis

► The socio-technical experience may be carried out The socio-technical experience may be carried out at any one of three broad levels, from micro to at any one of three broad levels, from micro to macro. Each level is interrelated and macro. Each level is interrelated and interconnected.interconnected.

► Primary work system Primary work system ► The whole organizational systemThe whole organizational system► The macro-social systemThe macro-social system

Primary work sysPrimary work sys

-A set of activities that make up a functioning whole -A set of activities that make up a functioning whole in an identifiable and bounded subsystem of an in an identifiable and bounded subsystem of an organization.organization.

-The small work units or subsystems ensconced -The small work units or subsystems ensconced throughout the whole organization—such as a line throughout the whole organization—such as a line department or service unit.department or service unit.

-The most satisfying and efficient primary work -The most satisfying and efficient primary work system comprise small number of people that can system comprise small number of people that can perform a whole task while satisfying the social and perform a whole task while satisfying the social and psychological need of system members as well as psychological need of system members as well as organization needs.organization needs.

The whole organization sysThe whole organization sys

► Whole organization systems are larger enterprise-Whole organization systems are larger enterprise-wide systems consisting of several work unitswide systems consisting of several work units..

► It is at this level that goals are set that reflect It is at this level that goals are set that reflect organizational capabilities in conjunction with the organizational capabilities in conjunction with the

external environmentexternal environment..► The managers have potential power for aligning the The managers have potential power for aligning the

organizations structural arrangements and values.organizations structural arrangements and values.► By communication of purpose, knowledge and By communication of purpose, knowledge and

values among employees we can develop shared values among employees we can develop shared objectives,values,norms and feel of belonging.objectives,values,norms and feel of belonging.

The macro-social sysThe macro-social sys

► macrosocial systems, embody community-wide macrosocial systems, embody community-wide systems and institutions operating within an systems and institutions operating within an

industry sectorindustry sector. . ► Organizations can best adapt to environmental Organizations can best adapt to environmental

turbulence by identifying shared ideals to guide turbulence by identifying shared ideals to guide them in fashioning new objectives and their goals.them in fashioning new objectives and their goals.

Principles of Sociotechnical SystemsPrinciples of Sociotechnical Systems

► CompatibilityCompatibility►Minimal critical specificationMinimal critical specification► Sociotechnical criterionSociotechnical criterion►MultifunctionalityMultifunctionality► Boundary locationBoundary location► Information flowInformation flow► Support congruenceSupport congruence►Design and human valuesDesign and human values► IncompletionIncompletion

contcont

► CompatibilityCompatibility – requires the process of system re-design to – requires the process of system re-design to be compatible with the desired organizational objectives. be compatible with the desired organizational objectives.

► Minimal Critical SpecificationMinimal Critical Specification – methods of working should – methods of working should be minimally predetermined for team members. be minimally predetermined for team members.

► Sociotechnical criterionSociotechnical criterion – involves identifying key – involves identifying key unanticipated events which critically affect outcomes. If they unanticipated events which critically affect outcomes. If they can’t be eliminated, they need to be handled at source.can’t be eliminated, they need to be handled at source.

► MultifunctionalityMultifunctionality – highly specialized jobs should be – highly specialized jobs should be avoided as specialism reduces flexibility. A more multi-skilled avoided as specialism reduces flexibility. A more multi-skilled approach is essential.approach is essential.

► Boundary locationBoundary location – boundaries can be drawn to group – boundaries can be drawn to group people and activities in terms of technology, territory or time.people and activities in terms of technology, territory or time.

contcont

► Information flowInformation flow – those that need resources should have – those that need resources should have access and authority over them.access and authority over them.

► Support congruenceSupport congruence – systems of social support should – systems of social support should reinforce the desired organizational behaviours.reinforce the desired organizational behaviours.

► Design and human valuesDesign and human values – the objective of the – the objective of the organizational design should be to provide a high quality of organizational design should be to provide a high quality of work.work.

► IncompletionIncompletion – redesign should be an iterative process, not a – redesign should be an iterative process, not a “one off” change.“one off” change.

Steps in data collection and Steps in data collection and analysisanalysis

► The methodology of sociotechnical analysis usually proceeds as follows:

► (1) Initial scanning. The aim, in this phase, is both to identify the main characteristics of the production system and its specific environment and to elucidate the main problems on which subsequent analyses must focus.

► The main ``outputs’’ of this phase are: ► the physical layout of the production system; a definition of the

organisational structure; ► the identification of the most important inputs and outputs of the

system ► and of the main processes of transformation; the aims of the system,

both the production and the social aims; ► the history and the relevant social aspects of the system; ► and, lastly, identification of the main variances.

2)Technological analysis2)Technological analysis

► In sciotechnical system ,technical analysis means inputs and In sciotechnical system ,technical analysis means inputs and outputs rather than tools equipments.outputs rather than tools equipments.

► identification of unit operations, that is, of the main phases in the production process; where possible the purpose of each unit operation should be specified in terms of its inputs, its transformations, and its outputs;

► identification of key process variances (which originate either from the materials or from the nature of the process of transformation as currently being carried out) and their interrelationships (by constructing variance matrixes).

3)Social analysis3)Social analysis

► The aim here is to analyse the main characteristics of the existing social system, in order both to understand

► how the network of roles contributes to checking on the previously identified variances

► and to evaluate each role in relation to the psychological needs of the workers.

► 4)Analysis of external systems. Those which influence the system being analysed (for example, the maintenance system).

► 5)Work system design proposals. These are within the logic of the best fit between the technical sub-system and the social sub-system.

limitationslimitations

► The STS concept that we have discussed is only for bringing The STS concept that we have discussed is only for bringing improvement in the design and redesign of the workplace of a improvement in the design and redesign of the workplace of a ‘well defined linear system’ rather than the growing number ‘well defined linear system’ rather than the growing number of ill defined ‘non linear systems’of ill defined ‘non linear systems’

► Well defined system are characterized by programmed tasks Well defined system are characterized by programmed tasks that follow sequential conversion process of input to outputthat follow sequential conversion process of input to output

► Where as in non linear system it is difficult to separate Where as in non linear system it is difficult to separate different conversion process into well bounded entitiesdifferent conversion process into well bounded entities

► Another limitation is that iAnother limitation is that it provides clear advice on t provides clear advice on organisational change, such as changes in people and organisational change, such as changes in people and processes, but it does not tell you how to design the processes, but it does not tell you how to design the technology to support performance. Therefore, if you identify technology to support performance. Therefore, if you identify a number of change initiatives and one of them relates to new a number of change initiatives and one of them relates to new technology, it will not tell you what and how the technology technology, it will not tell you what and how the technology needs to work to drive performanceneeds to work to drive performance..

New approach to sts analysisNew approach to sts analysis

► For complex, nonlinear situations, pava suggested an For complex, nonlinear situations, pava suggested an additional analysis, additional analysis, a “second-generation” of STS theory that focused on “deliberations” in technical analysis and “discretionary coalitions” in social analysis.

► Pava defined deliberations as ““choice points” that are not simply the equivalent of decisions or meetings; rather, Deliberations are reflective and communicative behaviors concerning a particular topic. They are patterns of exchange and communication in which people engage with themselves or others to reduce the equivocality of a problematic issue.

► Deliberations have three salient aspects: topics, forums of exchange, and participants.

Cont.Cont.► Analysis of the technical sub-system entails both identifying

major deliberations, forums and participants and critically evaluating the elements that may render each individual deliberation ineffective (e.g. information gaps in each deliberation, problems related to component work activities for each deliberation).

► Analysis of the social sub-system entails identifying, for each major deliberation:

► . The way in which responsibility is distributed among the various participants;

► . Orientations and values that typify each participant; and► . Interdependent parties – ``people with divergent values who are

engaged in the same deliberation and must continually work at forging a discretionary coalition that can make intelligent trade-offs among its members for the sake of some long-term general interest’’.