A social environmental model of socio-technical performance. (1st January 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whitworth, Brian; Sylla, Cheickna
• Is Part Of: International journal of networking and virtual organisations. Volume 11:Number 1(2012)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 29
• Publication Date: 2012-01-01
• Subjects: information technology and society -- performance of socio technical systems -- social environmental modelling -- game theoretical models of homo-economicus and homo-socologicus; Computer networks -- Periodicals; Information networks -- Periodicals; Virtual corporations -- Periodicals; Electronic commerce -- Periodicals; Management information systems -- Periodicals; Management -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 004.65
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-9503

Abstract

This paper analyses the nature of social performance, to explain how socio-technical systems (STSs) like chat, e-markets, social networks and wikis can succeed despite being free of charge. It defines the non-zero-sum synergy gains of cooperation and how self-interested acts can collapse the society that creates them. It explains how physical human society dealt with this 'social dilemma' then relates that to the socio-technical advance. In this model, society is a social environment within a world environment, so its citizens face the dual requirements of self-interest and social-interest, which can be satisfied by anchoring one demand then managing the other, e.g., competing within a social context, as in markets, or community service within an individual context of sufficiency. Overall, the paper proposes a new social form that socio-technical systems illustrate and which could be the future of humanity.