Steps Toward an Ecology of Infrastructure: Design and Access for Large Information Spaces.

Author List: Star, Susan Leigh; Ruhleder, Karen;
Information Systems Research, 1996, Volume 7, Issue 1, Page 111-134.
We analyze a large-scale custom software effort, the Worm Community System (WCS), a collaborative system designed for a geographically dispersed community of geneticists. There were complex challenges in creating this infrastructural tool, ranging from simple lack of resources to complex organizational and intellectual communication failures and tradeoffs. Despite high user satisfaction with the system and interface, and extensive user needs assessment, feedback, and analysis, many users experienced difficulties in signing on and use. The study was conducted during a lime of unprecedented growth in the Internet and its utilities (1991- 1994), and many respondents turned to the World Wide Web for their information exchange. Using Bateson's model of levels of learning, we analyze the levels of infrastructural complexity involved in system access and designer-user communication. We analyze the connection between systems development aimed at supporting specific forms of collaborative knowledge work, local organizational transformation, and large-scale infrastructural change.
Keywords: Collaboratory; Infrastructure; Inter- net; Organizational Computing; Participatory Design; Scientific Computing
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#16 0.113 infrastructure information flexibility new paper technology building infrastructures flexible development human creating provide despite challenge possible resources specific advances developing
#185 0.108 change organizational implementation case study changes management organizations technology organization analysis successful success equilibrium radical efforts initiatives managing resistance individuals
#26 0.103 business large organizations using work changing rapidly make today's available designed need increasingly recent manage years activity important allow achieve
#4 0.095 characteristics experience systems study prior effective complexity deal reveals influenced companies type analyze having basis conducted determine complex comparative drive
#287 0.083 design systems support development information proposed approach tools using engineering current described developing prototype flexible built architecture environment integrated designing
#228 0.076 internet peer used access web influence traditional fraud world ecology services impact cases wide home studies addition choice 2008 telephone
#134 0.067 users end use professionals user organizations applications needs packages findings perform specialists technical computing direct future selection ability help software
#45 0.066 community communities online members participants wikipedia social member knowledge content discussion collaboration attachment communication law virtual membership structures forms activities