The DOI matches its Crossref record; 28 of the 28 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Organizing Processes in Complex Activity Networks
Abstract
This paper analyses practice as activity and develops a frame-work for analysing organizations as networks of activity systems. The approach is applied in a study of a high technology company. Key tensions in the organization are outlined and a comparative study of three strategy development teams is described. Activity theory provides the means to analyse organizations as distributed, decentred and emergent knowledge systems. It is suggested that the processes of `perspective making', `perspective taking' and `perspective shaping' are central to the integration of different expert groups that need to co-operate in the pursuit of multiple, perhaps competing, objectives.
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“The distinction between activity systems is made by their conception of the object (in health care the patient) [16].”
From Making the invisible visible: a place for utilizing activity theory within in situ simulation to drive healthcare organizational development? (2020) · cites this paper as [16]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Blackler, F., Crump, N., & McDonald, S.
- Affiliations
- Lancaster University (GB)
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Blackler, Frank
- Crump, Norman
- McDonald, Seonaidh
- Venue
- Organization
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2000-05
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 277-300
- ISSN
- 1350-5084 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7323
- OpenAlex
- W2005537099
- Cited by
- 297
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 27.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Organization (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Innovative Education and Learning Practices
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management Information Systems › Information Systems Theories and Implementation
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Keywords
- activity theory, activity systems, organizational networks, perspective taking, knowledge systems, high-tech enterprises, organizational tensions
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