Systems Practice in the Information Society

Finally, my single authored book has seen the light of publication.
I thought I should write something about it for anyone who might be interested in systems thinking and information systems.

It is the result of thinking about my own practice in the last few years as a project manager, PhD student and researcher. The book aims to give audiences a general idea of systems thinking and how it can be applied through different methodologies in situations (not only problems) which we can encounter in our efforts to improve society with information.

The book defines three types of patterns to inform our practice. I have found these patterns present in the thinking of different people when it comes to implement information technology in various ways, ranging from transactional systems to customer databases and electronic government systems.

I have been searching for ways to make systems thinking more accessible to people without having to refer necessarily to philosophy and debates over the true nature of systems. The book provides examples and conceptions to help us understand what to do with the main ideas of systems, and how methodologies already developed in this area can be put to the service of collaborative work between individuals who share similar thinking patterns.

Currently I am using the book as a complementary text in my courses, and refer to some of the material that I have used. I would like to continue sharing ideas outside the systems thinking community with people working on public policy, information systems, electronic government and corporate social responsibility.

Somebody told me when I started writing the book (January 2008) that it was going to be difficult to reach different audiences, in particular those of academia and industry. I was lucky to get the book endorsed by individuals from tboth of these communities who see new ways to inform systems practice and projects. The concepts and patterns in the book could inform our thinking or our practice. My guess is that some people will give me their views after reading the book on how useful they find it.

On the issue of patterns, I have used them to write about how e-government is conceived of and implemented. Kevin Orr and I have written a paper in the International Journal of Public Sector Management on the use of these patterns to understand e-government development in a country like Colombia. We found these patterns very interesting to inform future design and action, and in particular to help audiences see the limitations and possibilities of current plans and projects in this area.

Where to from here?

Well, I am enjoying the moment, but it feels like I have closed a cycle which began possibly in 1997 when I listened to policy makers in Colombia talking about the information society and I felt that we could improve our thinking about it. I found systems thinking to be a good vehicle to do it. On the way I have found e-government and others as key areas where I can also make a contribution with ideas and practice based on systems. My guess is that I will still be using systems thinking in some way or another. In my current rol I find it useful to help me balance management and IT-based perspectives about situations. From here, perhaps a more critical research agenda can follow. My friend Foucault seems to be calling me again to help me re-think my role as a researcher and citizen in the global information society. Will tell you later how this invitation unfolds...

Details of the book can be seen at:

http://www.ewidgetsonline.com/dxreader/Reader.aspx?token=beMupvWMTeeOQpuXR5uDwg%3d%3d&rand=1409328941&buyNowLink=