Accumulating and Coordinating: Occasions for Information Technologies in Medical Work

  • Authors:

  • Marc Berg

  • Affiliations:

  • Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Phone: +31-10-4088531/ Fax: +31-10-4526086/ E-Mail: M.Berg@bmg.eur.nl)

  • Venue:
  • Computer Supported Cooperative Work
  • Year:
  • 1999

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide a relationalunderstanding of the generative power of informationtechnologies: an understanding that sees informationtechnologies as embedded in workpractices. Thistheoretical undertaking, inspired by actor-networktheory and work within CSCW, has a practical andpolitical aim. The problems it discusses are directlyrelevant for the aims and hopes of CSCW: the design ofsystems that fit workpractices better thantraditionally designed systems, and that enhanceworker‘s competencies and responsibilities. The paperdepicts information technologies as reading andwriting artifacts. Taking parts of the medical recordas an example, the paper argues that those tools -- inrelation with the reading and writing activities ofnurses, doctors, laboratory systems -- can be seen toperform two roles in work practices. They accumulateinscriptions and coordinate activities of otherentities in the work practice, and in that way affordthe handling of more complex worktasks. This focus onthe generative power of these artifacts leads to areconsideration of the notions of ’supporting‘ workand ’transparent‘ technologies, and to a series ofspecific entry-points for a politics of IT.