TY - JOUR AU - Lind, Ann PY - 2006/06/23 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Systems Science in the Information Society JF - Proceedings of the 50th Annual Meeting of the ISSS - 2006, Sonoma, CA, USA JA - ISSS VL - 0 IS - 0 SE - DO - UR - https://journals.isss.org/index.php/proceedings50th/article/view/350 SP - AB - The changes that we have experienced during the end of the 20th century are so extensivethat it is reasonable to assume that we have taken part in a historical transition. Thistransition is characterized by the conversion of our materialistic culture into a newtechnical paradigm dominated by information technology. The industrial revolution wasdependent on energy sources. Steam power, electricity, fossil fuel and nuclear power hadtheir great importance since the production and distribution of energy are key factors forthe success of the industrial society. In the information society the success factors areinstead the technique for processing and distribution of information. What is mostimportant in the new paradigm is thus not the central position of knowledge andinformation but rather the possibility to use these for such instruments that createknowledge, or process or distribute information. Even if network constellations betweendifferent organizations have existed for centuries, the great importance of knowledge andinformation has contributed to a new situation in the modern society. The digital worldand the new information technology makes it possible to create geographically separatedgroups, virtual networks or virtual communities, where resources and activities arecombined to create a result that can not be reached without collaboration, between themembers of the network. Collaboration includes development and co-design andcollaboration in such networks makes it possible for many organizations, companies andauthorities to cope with fast technological changes. For them it is important that thecollaboration works well to enhance efficiency to the different tasks. It is also veryimportant that the members in the network can access and use information efficiently.There are many different factors influencing development and information interchange invirtual networks. Focusing on one aspect may therefore cause dissonance or inefficiencyin other areas of the network. A system theory holistic approach is therefore essential tobe able to study information related activities in a virtual network. Such a network is asocial system that may be viewed as a human activity system according to Checkland’sdefinition. In this paper, aspects of human activity systems are used to illuminate somecharacteristics of information behaviour that may be important for the activities in virtualnetworks. The question is also raised what really is development in the network. Sharinginformation is then not enough since that information already is available in the network.True development is achieved when members collaborate to find previously unknownnew activities that could not have been created without co-design. ER -