This project is no longer listed in the FindAPhD database
and may not be available.
Socio-technical environments are living entities that are capable of integrating IT infrastructures and participation processes supporting collaboration not only around the design artefacts but also around the goals of the design and diffusion activity. By allowing users to be designers, socio-technical environments offer the possibility of achieving the best fit between systems and their ever-changing context of use, problems, domains, users and communities of users. They empower users, as owners of a problem, to engage actively and collaboratively in the continual development of systems capable of sustaining personally meaningful activities and coping with their emergent needs. Socio-technical approaches to IT development and diffusion are challenging and in recent times have become neglected as large organizations have chosen to impose package software such as ERP on their stakeholders. However many of these implementations have been unsuccessful and in the case of the NHS some have been disastrous.
South Tyneside Hospital has a history and culture of participatory practice within the IT systems development and diffusion environment. In September 2012 they plan to develop and diffuse a Community System intended to integrate services across the primary and secondary healthcare boundary. Having discussed this project with the Head of Information Services at the hospital it would appear that this challenging project may provide the primary research site for the proposed PhD study.
Underpinned by a critical philosophical stance the proposed methodology is action research which will be carried out within South Tyneside hospital. The researcher will be expected to play a role in the implementation of the Community System. A variety of data collection methods are appropriate here including participant observation, interviews and document analysis.
It is anticipated that the project will lead to the development of a conceptual framework and diffusion methodology for socio-technical environments which can be contextualised for the hospital sector in the UK.
Enquiries regarding this studentship should be made to Professor Teresa Waring (teresa.waring@northumbria.ac.uk) or Danielle Grenade on 0191 2274941 (danielle.grenade@northumbria.ac.uk)
Applicants should hold a first or upper second class honours degree (in a relevant subject) from a British higher education institution, or equivalent. Students who are not UK/EU residents are eligible to apply, provided they hold the relevant academic qualifications, together with an IELTS score of at least 7.0.
You should apply using the University’s Research Application Form, available via the link on this page. Applications should be submitted to:
Danielle Grenade (Assistant Administrator)
Academic Support Office
Newcastle Business School
Northumbria University
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE1 8ST
Email: nb.nbs-research-admin@northumbria.ac.uk
Funding Notes:
The studentship includes a full stipend, paid for three years at RCUK rates (figure for 2012/13 is 13,590 pa). The studentship is offered on the basis that additional funding is secured to cover the programme fees for 3 years, usually from an external organisation.
References:
Emergent Cultural Change: Unintended Consequences of a Strategic Information Technology Services Implementation in a United Kingdom University. Studies in Higher Education. 2012
The Application and Adaptation of a Diffusion of Innovation Framework for Information Systems Research in NHS General Medical Practice’, Journal of Information Technology (2007)
‘Open Source Software Implementation in the UK Public Sector: Evidence from the field and implications for the future’, International Journal of Information Management (2005)
‘Communicating the Complexity of Integrating Information Systems: a case study of the procurement of a payroll-personnel system’, International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management (2004)
‘Three domains for Implementing Integrated Information Systems; Redressing the Balance between Technology, Strategic and Organisational Analysis’, International Journal of Information Management (2004)
‘Information systems integration and culture change: a feminist perspective’, Computers and Society (2002)
‘Communicating the Complexity of computer-integrated operations: An innovative use of process modelling in a North East Hospital Trust’, International Journal of Operations and Production Management (2002)
‘Enhancing clinical and management discourse in ICT implementation’, Journal of Management in Medicine (2002)
Interpreting integration with respect to information systems in organizations – image, theory and reality. Journal of Information Technology. (2000)