Objectives
The aim of the project is to analyze how knowledge construction are supported in two different organizations and how ICT tools mediate these processes:
- Studying how work across boundaries becomes productive during object construction in professional settings.
- Studying tools in use as well as design, customization and introduction of new ICT tools.
- Studying how stakeholders reason around knowledge construction, and how these visions are represented in the designs embedded in the tools.
- Analyzing how these mediating means are used in everyday work and knowledge construction.
Theory and methods
The project is anchored in Sociocultural theory. This frame structure the theoretical, as well as the empirical approach. Cultural historical Activity-theory (CHAT) are used for analyzing the individual in relation to the social environment.
The project builds on two case-studies where I will follow the design, customization and use of computer-based tools in two different work settings:
- The first case-study focuses on a small to medium technology-company which faces the challenges of geographical distribution and rapid expansion.
- The second case is focusing on a large health-care organization seeking to change aspects of existing practice.
The two case studies correspond by the incentive of designing and using ICT-tools as means of supporting the collective knowledge construction in the organization.
Funding and timeframe
Funded by: Faculty of Education, UiO
Timeframe: 2006-2011
Related projects
- Ahus - Knowledge creation and production processes in transforming social practice
- Ahus - Standardized work descriptions
- KP-Lab: Knowledge Practices Laboratory
- KIKK
Outcomes
PhD thesis and three scientific articles