The DOI matches its Crossref record; 18 of the 18 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Activity Theory and System Design: A View from the Trenches
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Citations
Cites
The fifth discipline, the art and practice of the learning organization
Senge, P. M. (1991) · Performance + Instruction · doi:10.1002/pfi.4170300510 · Cited by 20,060
The Knowledge-Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation
Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1995) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780195092691.001.0001 · Cited by 18,010
The Knowledge-creating company: How Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation
Takeuchi, H. (1997) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/s0048-7333(97)80234-x · Cited by 13,165
The knowledge-creating company: How Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation
Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1996) · Long Range Planning · doi:10.1016/0024-6301(96)81509-3 · Cited by 5,827
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Perspectives on Activity Theory
(1999) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511812774 · Cited by 3,242
Context and consciousness: activity theory and human-computer interaction
(1996) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.33-5756 · Cited by 2,511
Activity Theory as a Potential Framework for Human-Computer Interaction Research
Kuurti, K. (1995) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/2137.003.0006 · Cited by 1,717
Thriving on Chaos: Handbook for a Management Revolution
Peters, T. F., & Rodabaugh, K. (1988) · The Journal of Continuing Higher Education · doi:10.1080/07377366.1988.10401142 · Cited by 983
Activity Theory and Human-Computer Interaction
Nardi, B. A. (1995) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/2137.003.0005 · Cited by 463
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Engeström, Yrjo (1990): When is a Tool? Multiple Meanings of Artifacts in Human Activity. In Yrjo Engeström (ed.): Learning, Working and Imagining. Painettu Kirjapaino Oma Ky:ssa, Jyvaskylassa.
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
New theoretical approaches for human‐computer interaction
Rogers, Y. (2004) · Annual Review of Information Science and Technology · doi:10.1002/aris.1440380103 · Cited by 386
“For example, its basic abstractions, such as object and subject, were found to be difficult to follow and easily confused with everyday uses of the terms when design and engineering teams (who were initially unfamiliar with it) discussed user requirements in terms of the Activity System Model (Collins et al., 2002).”
BackgroundHCI Theory: Classical, Modern, and Contemporary
Rogers, Y. (2012) · HCI Theory · doi:10.2200/s00418ed1v01y201205hci014 · Cited by 387
Activity Theory and Distributed Cognition: Or What Does CSCW Need to DO with Theories?
Halverson, C. A. (2002) · Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) · doi:10.1023/a:1015298005381 · Cited by 283
“By illustrating the similarities and differences between AT and DCog within a comparable domain I explore what we need in CSCW from a theory.”
BackgroundKnowledge Worker Roles and Actions—Results of Two Empirical Studies
Reinhardt, W., Schmidt, B., Sloep, P., & Drachsler, H. (2011) · Knowledge and Process Management · doi:10.1002/kpm.378 · Cited by 267
“Engeström’s version of activity theory then received substantive attention in the fields of human–computer interaction (HCI), computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) (Kuutti, 1991; Nardi, 1997; Nardi and Engeström, 1999; Mwanza, 2001; Collins et al., 2002; Nardi et al., 2002), and knowledge management (Boer et al.,…”
BackgroundResearch in online learning environments: Priorities and methodologies
Öncü, S., & Çakır, H. (2011) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2010.12.009 · Cited by 237
Over the Shoulder Learning: Supporting Brief Informal Learning
Twidale, M. B. (2005) · Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) · doi:10.1007/s10606-005-9007-7 · Cited by 116
“The consideration of interfaces as conversational resources has links with activity theory (Bannon and Bødker, 1991; Favorin, 1995; Collins et al., 2002).”
BackgroundDefining, Designing, and Evaluating Peripheral Displays: An Analysis Using Activity Theory
Matthews, T. L., Rattenbury, T., & Carter, S. (2007) · Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/07370020701307997 · Cited by 95
“Roughly, an object is the topic of an activity, the entity in the world that gives the activity temporal and spatial coherence as well as semantic grounding [2].”
NEW THEORETICAL APPROACHES FOR HCI
Rogers, Y. (2004) · Cited by 83
Understanding the human context in requirements elicitation
Fuentes‐Fernández, R., Gómez-Sanz, J. J., & Pavón, J. (2009) · Requirements Engineering · doi:10.1007/s00766-009-0087-7 · Cited by 73
“Some works [3, 14, 15, 32–34] have adopted the AT concepts to work directly in RE.”
BackgroundDesigning and evaluating glanceable peripheral displays
Matthews, T. L. (2006) · Designing Interactive Systems Conference · doi:10.1145/1142405.1142457 · Cited by 67
Argumentation in science education as a systemic activity: An activity-theoretical perspective
Lazarou, D., Sutherland, R., & Erduran, S. (2016) · International Journal of Educational Research · doi:10.1016/j.ijer.2016.07.008 · Cited by 58
The Application of Activity Theory to Dynamic Workflow Adaptation Issues
Adams, M., Edmond, D., & ter Hofstede, A. H. M. (2003) · QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) · Cited by 46
Ávila-Gutiérrez, M. J., Martín-Gómez, A. M., Aguayo-González, F., & Lama-Ruiz, J. R. (2020) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su12051889 · Cited by 48
“Regarding business, it is necessary to know the relationship between the activities of the system, establishing the means of achieving the objectives (what), the understanding of how to achieve that goal (how), the motivation to achieve the objective (why), and the evolution of every element in the system (where-to) […”
BackgroundEnterprise ontologies: Review and an activity theory approach
O’Leary, D. E. (2010) · International Journal of Accounting Information Systems · doi:10.1016/j.accinf.2010.09.006 · Cited by 41
Facilitating dynamic flexibility and exception handling for workflows
Adams, M. (2007) · Cited by 41
Armchair Auditors: Crowdsourcing Analysis of Government Expenditures
O’Leary, D. E. (2015) · Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting · doi:10.2308/jeta-51225 · Cited by 38
Cravens, A. E. (2015) · Environmental Management · doi:10.1007/s00267-015-0615-9 · Cited by 34
“Specifically, research in these settings using activity theory (Engeström 1987; Engeström and Meittinen 1999) suggests the need to look holistically at the historical and institutional context in which software is designed and implemented in order to understand its impact (Hasan and Gould 2001; Collins et al. 2002; Ma…”
MethodInfluentialModeling Knowledge Work for the Design of Knowledge Infrastructures
Maier, R. K. (2020) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · doi:10.3217/jucs-011-04-0429 · Cited by 33
Lazarou, D. (2011) · Journal of Computer Assisted Learning · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2729.2011.00410.x · Cited by 33
“This study has as its basis the developmental work research methodology which was proposed by Engeström (1987), was used in his studies (Engeström 2000) and was applied by other researchers as well (Barab et al. 2002; Collins et al. 2002).”
MethodInfluentialIntegrating activity theory and organizational modeling for context of use analysis
Neto, G. C., Gomes, A. S., Castro, J. B., et al. (2005) · doi:10.1145/1111360.1111392 · Cited by 31
The evolution of artifacts in cooperative work
Cluts, M. M. (2003) · doi:10.1145/958160.958183 · Cited by 26
Georg, G., Mussbacher, G., Amyot, D., Petriu, D. C., Troup, L. J., Lozano‐Fuentes, S., & France, R. (2014) · Information and Software Technology · doi:10.1016/j.infsof.2014.11.003 · Cited by 25
“There is also a body of related work dealing with using AT in software engineering [5][10][27][33] and requirements engineering.”
BackgroundSocial Theory as a Thinking Tool for Empathic Design
Postma, C. E., Lauche, K., & Stappers, P. J. (2011) · Design Issues · doi:10.1162/desi_a_00122 · Cited by 23
57 Varieties of Activity Theory
Rogers, Y. (2007) · Interacting with Computers · doi:10.1016/j.intcom.2007.07.004 · Cited by 23
“laborative learning, Spasser’s (2002) ‘realist’ approach for analysing the design and use of digital libraries and Collins et al.’s (2002) model that was used to identify user requirements for customer support engineers. Wartofsky’s (1979) classification of what, how, why and where to artifacts has also been used in c…”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialA model for the design of interactive systems based on activity theory
Döweling, S., Schmidt, B., & Göb, A. (2012) · ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) · doi:10.1145/2145204.2145287 · Cited by 20
Improving groupware design for loosely coupled groups
Pinelle, D. (2004) · University Library - University of Saskatchewan (University of Saskatchewan) · Cited by 19
Systems approach for analysing problems in IT system adoption at work
Korpelainen, E., & Kira, M. (2011) · Behaviour and Information Technology · doi:10.1080/0144929x.2011.624638 · Cited by 22
“Collins et al. (2002) applied Engestro¨m’s activity theory model in system design to identify the tools required by customer support engineers and to analyse the role of tensions between the elements of the activity system.”
MethodDoubleday, A. F., & Wille, S. J. (2014) · Anatomical Sciences Education · doi:10.1002/ase.1434 · Cited by 18
“…are broad and include its use in human–computer interaction (Engestr€om and Escalante, 1996; Nardi, 1996a,b) and interaction design (Engestr€om, 1987), for needs assessment in technology design (Collins et al., 2002), and analyses of classroom activities (Haneda, 2007; Storch, 2007; Hardy, 2011).”
BackgroundHuang, H., & Gao, S. (2018) · doi:10.22224/gistbok/2018.1.14 · Cited by 15
Development of a Checklist for the Prevention of Intradialytic Hypotension in Hemodialysis Care
Kuo, P.-Y. P., Saran, R., Argentina, M., Heung, M., Bragg‐Gresham, J. L., Chatoth, D. K., Gillespie, B. W., Krein, S. L., Wingard, R. L., Zheng, K., et al. (2019) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3290605.3300872 · Cited by 13
Good, A., & Omisade, O. (2019) · Studies in health technology and informatics · doi:10.3233/shti190110 · Cited by 13
“There are several examples of how the interdisciplinary field of HCI has been instrumental in providing the necessary tools in designing these technologies [7,15,35,36].”
MethodMessias, I., Morgado, L., & Barbas, M. P. (2015) · International Symposium on Computers in Education · doi:10.1109/siie.2015.7451646 · Cited by 10
“[42] and Christine (2002) “activity theory helps achieve efficiency and quality in the research by helping directly transfer the data into the artefacts and relationships in the model.”
BackgroundMapping Activity Theory Diagrams into i* Organizational Models
Neto, G. G. D. C., Gomes, A. S., & Castro, J. B. (2005) · Journal of Computer Science and Technology · Cited by 10
Margrain, V. (2005) · Open Access Victoria University of Wellington | Te Herenga Waka (Figshare) · doi:10.26686/wgtn.16945468.v1 · Cited by 10
Mishra, J., Allen, D. K., & Pearman, A. D. (2011) · ISCRAM · Cited by 9
Organizational Learning from the Perspective of Knowledge Maturing Activities
Kaschig, A., Maier, R. K., Sandow, A., et al. (2013) · IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies · doi:10.1109/tlt.2013.14 · Cited by 9
“The concepts provided by activity theory help to analyze the creative, unstructured, and learning-oriented practices of knowledge work [1], and to guide the design of information systems and specifically knowledge infrastructures [8], [21], [22], [23], [24].”
BackgroundTowards computational instruments for collaborating product concept designers
Tuikka, T. (2002) · Cited by 9
Wiser, F., Durst, C., & Wickramasinghe, N. (2019) · Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences · doi:10.24251/hicss.2019.107 · Cited by 9
“Overall, many researchers stated that the notion of “object” in AT is often misunderstood [3, 9, 33].”
BackgroundSchaffer, S., Reyes, L., Kim, H., et al. (2010) · Educational Media International · doi:10.1080/09523987.2010.535340 · Cited by 7
Multi-agent Systems in Diabetic Health Care
Zhang, P. (2005) · Cited by 7
Supporting the end users' views
Redmiles, D. (2002) · Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces (AVI) · doi:10.1145/1556262.1556266 · Cited by 7
“These documents had specific rules for completing them (see [9] for details).”
BackgroundSelf-citationMartínez‐Maldonado, R., Carvalho, L., & Goodyear, P. (2018) · Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1145/3274387 · Cited by 6
“These included Realist Activity Theory in the context of digital libraries [57], the Activity Space framework for collaborative learning [23], and the application of AT in document/knowledge management [11].”
MethodDesign of Innovative Learning Environment: An Activity System Perspective
Liu, J. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_85-1 · Cited by 6
Activity Theory as a Framework for Activity Taxonomy in HCI
Villegas, M. L., Collazos, C. A., Giraldo, W. J., et al. (2016) · IEEE Latin America Transactions · doi:10.1109/tla.2016.7437231 · Cited by 5
“[11] P.”
BackgroundThinking beyond the Disjunctive Opposition of Information Literacy Assessment in Theory and Practice
Newell, T. S. (2004) · School library media research · Cited by 5
Unmasking the Sociocultural Constraints to Career Growth of Married Women in Ghanaian Organizations
Sanda, M.-A., & Sackey, J. (2010) · doi:10.18738/awl.v30i0.304 · Cited by 5
Characterising the Creative Behaviour of Designers within the Late-Stage Engineering Design Process
Snider, C. M. (2014) · The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath) · Cited by 5
About Representational Artifacts and Their Role in Engineering
Tellioğlu, H. (2012) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-0303-5.ch007 · Cited by 4
“This scheme has been further developed within activity theory (Engeström, 1999; Collins et al., 2002) and includes what-artifacts, which contribute a”
MethodAn Activity Theory Framework for DSS for Extreme Events
O’Leary, D. E. (2010) · Cited by 3
Quels supports informatiques pour un travail collaboratif durable ?
Lewandowski, A., & Bourguin, G. (2009) · Marché et organisations · doi:10.3917/maorg.010.0155 · Cited by 3
An inter-organizational community of practice for information security
Fung, W., & Fung, R. Y. K. (2010) · International Conference on New Trends in Information Science and Service Science · Cited by 3
A model for the transformation of the Mauritian classroom based on the Living Lab concept
Santally, M. I., Cooshna-Naik, D., & Conruyt, N. (2014) · IST-Africa Conference (IST-Africa) · doi:10.1109/istafrica.2014.6880603 · Cited by 3
Sanda, M.-A. (2006) · Cited by 3
Toward Integral Dialog: Provisional Guidelines for Online Forums
Murray, T., & Ross, S. N. (2006) · Cited by 3
Cui, Z., Ng, O., Jong, M. S., & Weng, X. (2025) · Journal of Computer Assisted Learning · doi:10.1111/jcal.70081 · Cited by 2
Fessl, A., Pammer‐Schindler, V., Pata, K., et al. (2020) · JUCS - Journal of Universal Computer Science · doi:10.3897/jucs.2020.062 · Cited by 2
An Organic View of Prototyping in Information System Development
Bai, G. (2014) · IEEE International Conference on Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) · doi:10.1109/cse.2014.333 · Cited by 2
IST CANDLE: approaches and tools designed, lessons learned and experienced
Kermarrec, Y. (2006) · International Journal of Knowledge and Learning · doi:10.1504/ijkl.2006.010999 · Cited by 2
“This theory is largely used for the design of man-machine interfaces, such as the work of Kuutti (1996) and the design of complex systems (Collins et al., 2002). The activity theory presents, for example, the basic structure of an activity within a community: it represents the idea that an individual (the subject) is…”
MethodSanda, M.-A. (2011) · Journal of Management and Sustainability · doi:10.5539/jms.v1n1p111 · Cited by 2
Santally, M. I., Cooshna-Naik, D., Conruyt, N., et al. (2015) · Journal of Learning for Development · doi:10.56059/jl4d.v2i1.23 · Cited by 2
Academic Group and Forum on Facebook: Social, Serious Studies or Synergy?
de Villiers, R., & Pretorius, M. C. (2012) · Unisa Institutional Repository (University of South Africa) · Cited by 2
Experiences developing a requirements language based on the psychological framework activity theory
Georg, G., & Troup, L. J. (2013) · Cited by 2
Santally, M. I., & Harrykrishna, P. (2008) · European Journal of Open Distance and E-Learning · Cited by 2
Information Work Support Based on Activity Data
Schmidt, B. (2013) · Technischen Universität Darmstadt · doi:10.26083/tuprints-00003652 · Cited by 2
Nucleus Model for Designing Social Mindtools: Woven Stories
Nuutinen, J. (2009) · UEF eRepo (University of Eastern Finland) · Cited by 2
Makani, J. (2012) · DalSpace (Dalhousie University) · Cited by 2
Empathy, Access, and Engineering: Empathy Maps in a Disability Studies Course for STEM Students
Summers, S., & Rogge, R. (2025) · The WAC Clearinghouse; University Press of Colorado eBooks · doi:10.37514/tpc-b.2025.2517.2.17 · Cited by 1
An Activity Theory Analysis of RFID in Hospitals
O’Leary, D. E. (2010) · International Journal of Applied Logistics · doi:10.4018/jal.2010040105 · Cited by 1
“Figure 3 - Example of Structure of a Knowledge Authoring Activity (Collins et al. 2002) Informal guidelines and rules and Protocols Document users, creators, maintainers Labor classification based on customer support role”
BackgroundA sustainable platform for e-service system design
Bai, G. (2004) · Journal of Systems Science and Systems Engineering · doi:10.1007/s11518-006-0175-x · Cited by 1
Activity Theory to Guide Online Collaborative Learning Instructional Design
Yusoff, S. R. M., & Zin, N. A. M. (2012) · International Journal of Systems and Service-Oriented Engineering · doi:10.4018/jssoe.2012040102 · Cited by 1
Tellioğlu, H. (2009) · International Conference on Computer Systems and Technologies (CompSysTech) · doi:10.1145/1731740.1731786 · Cited by 1
“This scheme has been further developed within activity theory [2] [1] and includes the following artifacts: What-artifacts contribute a means of achieving the object, how-artifacts contribute to understanding how to achieve the object, whyartifacts motivate achievement of the object, where-to-artifacts motivate evolut…”
MethodInforming Work Interaction Design by 3rd Generation Activity Theory
Hemmecke, J., & Stary, C. (2018) · IxD&A · doi:10.55612/s-5002-037-005 · Cited by 1
Vermeulen, H. (2008) · Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town) · Cited by 1
Accreditation in the California community colleges: influential cultural practices
Tharp, N. M. (2012) · California State University ScholarWorks (system-wide DSpace) · Cited by 1
Tran, M. (2008) · Carleton University's Institutional Repository (MacOdrum Library, Carleton University) · doi:10.22215/etd/2008-07473 · Cited by 1
Analysing People’s Work in Organizations and Its Relationship with Technology
Gonçalves, A., Zacarias, M., & Sousa, P. (2011) · Communications in computer and information science · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-24355-4_25
Khanova, J. (2019) · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · doi:10.17615/1cq8-c622
Chiu, C.-H. (2013) · KU ScholarWorks (University of Kansas)
The influence of total domestic outsourcing on the role of the IT function : a case study of the BBC
Mehta, H. (2011) · London School of Economics and Political Science Theses Online (London School of Economics and Political Science)
Ibrugtagning af ikt i universitetsuddannelse
Nyvang, T. (2008) · VBN Forskningsportal (Aalborg Universitet)
Designing for information work at the computer workplace with activity theory
Schmidt, B., & Döweling, S. (2014) · Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1145/2639189.2639249
“[5] show the applicability of AT to capture data collected in interviews.”
BackgroundComputer-aided authoring of assessment instruments: An activity-theoretical approach
Santally, M. I., & Senteni, A. (2004) · Africa Education Review · doi:10.1080/18146620408566283
Sanda, M.-A., & Fältholm, Y. (2011) · Diva portal (Dalarna University Library)
Learning in Multicultural Environments: Learners as Co- designers
Zurita, L. (2006)
An Activity Theory Analysis of RFID in Hospitals
O’Leary, D. E. (2012) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-0267-0.ch010
Unmasking the Sociocultural Constraints to Career Growth of Married Women in Ghanaian Organizations
Sanda, M.-A., & Sackey, J. (2023) · Advancing Women in Leadership Journal · doi:10.21423/awlj-v30.a304 · Cited by 5
Design of Innovative Learning Environment: An Activity System Perspective
Liu, J. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-17461-7_85 · Cited by 1
Cultural-historical psychology as a basis for learning to use CSCW systems
Silfverberg, E.-S. H. (2004)
Coordinating police work with mobile information technology
Lundin, J., & Nuldén, U. (2005)
Metadata
- Authors
- Collins, P., Shukla, S., & Redmiles, D.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- ORCID
- Redmiles, David
- Venue
- Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
- Published
- 2002-03
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 55-80
- ISSN
- 0925-9724 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-7551
- OpenAlex
- W2083870309
- Cited by
- 90
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 19.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Innovative Education and Learning Practices
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management Information Systems › Information Systems Theories and Implementation
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Usability and User Interface Design
- Keywords
- activity theory, mediating artifacts, Engeström, tool design
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