Title: Using Activity Theory in system development for entire organisations: the case of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation

Authors: Sofie Pilemalm, Toomas Timpka

Addresses: Department of Computer and Information Science, Linkoping University, SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden. Department of Computer and Information Science, Linkoping University, SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden

Abstract: Activity Theory has, in recent years, been criticised for not paying enough attention to the notion of individual versus collective subjects. It has also been pointed out that even though the Activity theoretical framework can beneficially be used in the development of information systems, actual attempts to apply it to concrete projects are only occasional. This study explores the use of Activity Theory in an organisational context where the subject is of marked collective nature, in an information systems development project for the Swedish National Trade Union Confederation (LO). Both implications of the study as regards the specific trade union application, and more general implications of applying Activity Theory to studies of entire organisations and for system development, are discussed.

Keywords: Activity Theory; organisational change; information systems development; trade unions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2002.001032

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2002 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.308-328

Published online: 18 Aug 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article