Anderson1993

From emcawiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Anderson1993
BibType ARTICLE
Key Anderson1993
Author(s) Robert J. Anderson, Wes Sharrock
Title Can organization afford knowledge?
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Affordance, Distributed Cognition, Organization, Knowledge
Publisher
Year 1993
Language
City
Month
Journal Computer Supported Cooperative Work
Volume 1
Number 3
Pages 143–161
URL Link
DOI 10.1007/BF00752436
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

Download BibTex

Abstract

“Affordance Theory” has been widely discussed as a potential resource for the design of interfaces for CSCW and other systems. In this paper, we discuss the extension and adaption of this concept beyond the psychology of perception to the social distribution of a common stock of knowledge. We suggest that a working division of labour as that is known, oriented to, and rendered visible by the management of space and artifacts within a working environment can “afford” knowledge of organisational routines and practices. Learning to see the working division of labour is coming to understand the organisation. The grounds for extending the concept in this way are derived from consideration of an actual example taken from fieldwork. Some implications for the design of CSCW systems are reviewed.

Notes