Unveiling Subconscious Autopoietic Reflexive Feedback Mechanisms of Second Order Governance from the Narration of Cognitive Autobiography of an ICT Lab During the Digital Revolution

Authors: Gianni Jacucci

Abstract:

We present a retrospective recount on the development of a research group over the past 30+ years. We reflect on a change in observing the experience (1990-2024) of a university sociotechnical research group dedicated to instill change for innovation in client organizations and enterprises. The group’s cognitive and action trajectory is influenced by subjective factors: intention and interpretation. Continuity and change are both present: the trajectory of the group exhibits the dynamic interplay of two components of subjectivity, a change of focus in persistence of scheme, and a tension between stability and change. The paper illustrates the meanings the group gave to their practice while laying down mission-critical theoretical considerations – autopoiesis. The aim of the work is to experience a fragment of phenomenological understanding (PU) of the cognitive dynamics of a Socio Technical System (STS)-aware ICT uptake laboratory during the digital revolution. PU is an intuitive going along the meaning, while staying close and present to the total situation of the phenomenon, by reading the codes that we observers invent in order to codify what nature is about. Thus, it allows the unveiling of subconscious, autopoietic, reflexive feedback mechanisms of second order governance. We perform this analysis on the work published over three decades by the ICT Lab, as if it were the narration of its cognitive autobiography. The paper brings points of discussion and insights of relevance for the STS community. It could be helpful in understanding the history of the community and in providing a platform for discussions on future developments. It can also serve as an inspiration and a historical capture for those entering the field.

Keywords: Phenomenology, subjectivity, autopoiesis, interpretation schemes, change for Innovation, socio technical research, social study of information systems.

References:

[1] H. Maturana and F. Varela, 1979. Autopoiesis and Cognition: The Realization of the Living. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science. Paperback. (1991)
[2] M. Heidegger, The phenomenology of religious life. Indiana University Press. (2004)
[3] M. Heidegger, Phenomenological Interpretations of Aristotle: Introduction to Phenomenological Research. Indiana University Press. (2001)
[4] G. Jacucci, Social Practice Design, pathos, improvisation, mood, and bricolage: the Mediterranean way to make place for IT? AIS eLibrary Proceedings of MCIS2007 in Venice, Italy http://aisel.aisnet.org/mcis2007/19/. (2007)
[5] G. Jacucci, H. Tellioglu, I. Wagner, Design Games as a part of Social Practice Design: a case of employees elaborating organizational problems. Proceedings of MCIS2007 in Venice, and ECIS 2008 in Limerick, AIS eLibrary, http://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2008/207/. (2007)
[6] C. Cattani, G. Jacucci, From software development service provider – helas, a captive resource! - to one’s own products and brand. AIS eLibrary Proceedings of MCIS2006 in Venice, It: http://aisel.aisnet.org/mcis2007/18/. (2007)
[7] P. Bednar and C. Welsh, Critical systemic thinking as a foundation for information systems research practice. J. of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. 10 Iss: 3.(2012) pp. 144 - 155 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14779961211261058
[8] P. Bednar and C. Welsh, Inquiry into Informing Systems: critical systemic thinking in practice. J. of Information Communication and Ethics in Society 10(3), 459 – 501. (2009)
[9] A. Baskin, G. Kovacs, & G. Jacucci G. (Eds.), Cooperative knowledge processing in engineering design. IFIP, Kluxers Academic. (1999)
[10] C. Ciborra, The Labyrinths of Information. Oxford University Press, Oxford. (2002)
[11] G. Jacucci et Al., Profile of an agile Training Organization, in the Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Continuing Engineering Education - IACEE – COREP. (1998)
[12] A. Giorgi, B. Giorgi, and J. Morley, The Descriptive Phenomenological Psychological Method, BK-SAGE WILIG_STAINTON-170067 CH11 indd 176-192. (2017)
[13] P. Bednar, and C. Welch, Move along please – there is nothing new here! ECRM 2009 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264037119_Move_along_please_-_there_is_nothing_new_here.
[14] A. Giorgi, Reflections on certain qualitative and phenomenological psychological methods. University Professors Press. (2018)
[15] P, Bednar, and C. Welch, Second Order Discourse: Critically Informed Research. ECRM2006. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264057721_Second_order_discourse_critically-informed_research (2006)
[16] H. Wagner editor: Alfred Schutz on Phenomenology and Social relations: U. of Chicago P., Chicago. (1970)
[17] M. Polanyi, The tacit dimension. Routledge & Kegan Paul. (1966)
[18] M. Polanyi, Knowing and being. Routledge & Kegan Paul. (1969)
[19] G. Jacucci, Autopoiesis and cognition, an outstanding outcome of phenomenology: What is in it for a physicist? https://www.academia.edu/12204390/ (2015)
[20] B. Langefors. Essays on Infology - Summing up and Planning for the Future. Lund: Studentlitteratur. (1995)
[21] B. Langefors, Theoretical Analysis of Information Systems. Lund: Studentlitteratur. (1966).
[22] D. N. Stern, The interpersonal world of the infant: A view from psychoanalysis and developmental psychology. Basic Books. (1985)
[23] J. Lave, and E. Wenger, Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge U. P. (1991)
[24] E. Wenger, Communities of Practice. Cambridge University Press. (1998).
[25] C. Ciborra and G. F. Lanzara Formative contexts and information technology: understanding the dynamics of innovation in organisations, Accounting, Management and Information Technology 4, 2: 61-86 (1994); reprinted in “Bricolage, Care and Information: Claudio Ciborra’s Legacy in Information Systems Research” by C. Avgerou, G. F. Lanzara and L. P. Willcocks Palgrave, Macmillan. (2009)
[26] G. Jacucci, Reflecting on Scientific Rigour in Sociotechnical Research, spotlighting Husserl's Phenomenology and Amedeo Giorgi's Descriptive Phenomenological Method. The 9th International Conference on Sociotechnical Perspectives in IS (STPIS’23) 27.-28.10. Portsmouth, UK. (2023)
[27] G. Jacucci, Attaining Scientific Rigour in Sociotechnical Research with Husserl’s Descriptive Phenomenology. Proceedings of the 17th IADIS ICI 2024, Porto, Portugal. IADIS. (2024)
[28] G. Jacucci and M. Martin, Navigating AI Integration by Advancing Accountability in ICT Platforms: A New Paradigm for Interplay of Accountability and Interpretation, Proceedings of ICTO 2024, Paris, June 2024. Based on: Martin M. and Wilson R. (2020) "Inter-organisational systems:a neo-socio-technical perspective. a neo-socio-technical perspective.". UK Academy for Information Systems Conference Proceedings 2020. 22. https://aisel.aisnet.org/ukais2020/22.
[29] E. Husserl, The crisis of European sciences and transcendental phenomenology: An introduction to phenomenological philosophy. Northwestern University Press. (1970)
[30] G. Jacucci, The language action perspective approach to system accountability for end user configurability: a new perspective on ICT development. Proceedings of the Intl. Workshop on Challenges in Collaborative Engineering, (CCE05), eds. Gianni Jacucci, Adam Pawlak, Kurt Sandkuhl, Sopron, April 14-15 (2005) ISBN 91-975604-1-3. https://www.academia.edu/105942159/
[31] G. Jacucci, D. Calzà, V. D’Andrea, A. B. Baskin, I. Wagner, Leveraging the language action perspective for system accountability and end user configurability. international reports on socio-informatics, vol 2, 2. International Institute for Socio-Informatics. https://www.iisi.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/irsi_vol2_iss2_jacucci_calza_d_andrea_leveraging_the_language_action_perspective_for_system_accountability.pdf (2005)
[32] G. Jacucci, D. Calzà and V. D’Andrea, Use of Use Cases in Design for End User Design in Use, Report, Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento (2002). Seminar at PDC-02 The Participatory Design Conference, in Malmo, Sweden 2002. https://www.academia.edu/68429222/
[33] D. Calzà, V. D’Andrea, A. B. Baskin and G. Jacucci, Interactive Use Case. In PDC-04 Proceedings of the Participatory Design Conference, Vol 2, Toronto, Canada, July 27-31. (2004) https://www.academia.edu/68429246/
[34] G. Jacucci and M. Martin, A second step back for managing ambiguity. AIS eLibrary MCIS2008, http://aisel.aisnet.org/mcis2008/26. (2008)
[35] M. Martin, S.Walsh, R.Wilson, A Social Informatics Intervention: theory, method and practice” KITE Research Group, Newcastle University. (2009) http://www.woa.sistemacongressi.com/web/woa2009/papers/Martin_Walsh_Wilson.pdf
[36] G. Jacucci, Double loop learning elevates the innovation design of a paediatric clinic from media to intersubjective dialogue. AIS eLibrary MCIS 2019 Proceedings, Naples. (2019) https://aisel.aisnet.org/mcis2019/7/
[37] G. Jacucci “We know it is real”: harvesting consciousness with a descriptive information system. ITAIS2020 (2020) http://www.itais.org/ITAIS2020_proceedings/pdf/24.pdf
[38] G. Jacucci and M. Martin, ECIS 2024 https://www.academia.edu/114993750/An_ECIS_2024_Workshop_Manifesto_Parsing_Epistemic_Registers_in_Inter_organisational_Intervention_A_new_Paradigm_in_ICT_enabling_Accountability_of_Change_in_Enterprise. Preprint (2024)
[39] C.R. Rogers, Client-Centered Therapy, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. (1951)
[40] K. Lieberman, G. Fele, V. D’Andrea, G. M. Campagnolo, Y. Curzi, and G. Viscusi, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/38959539_Phenomenology_and_the_Social_Study_of_Information_Systems_Conversations_with_Kenneth_Liberman (2009)
[41] The UE 6th Framework Programme/IST-MAPPER project (2005-08).
[42] P. Ehn, invited talk, MCIS2006: www.mcis2006.org, October 5-8. Venice, Italy. (2006) and Work-oriented Design of Computer Artifacts, Arbetslivscentrum, Stockholm. (1988)
[43] G. Jacucci, Coding Persistence of Action Scheme. Online Resource: https://www.academia.edu/122683964/HERMENEUTICS_OF_INTERVENTION_Coding_persistence_of_action_scheme_1_Reading_Autopoietic_Reflexive_Feedback_Mechanisms_in_LIIs_Cognition. (2024)
[44] G. Jacucci, Coding Change of Focus. Online Resource: https://www.academia.edu/122684153/HERMENEUTICS_OF_INNOVATION_Coding_Change_of_Focus_1_Reading_more_Autopoietic_Reflexive_Feedback_Mechanisms_in_LIIs_Cognition. (2024)
[45] G. Jacucci, A brief illustration of SPD. Online Resource: https://www.academia.edu/122684325/A_brief_illustration_of_SPD. (2024)
[46] G. Jacucci, SPD Story. Online Resource: https://www.academia.edu/121776249/The_SPD_Story. (2024)
[47] D. Calzà, C. Cattani, and G. Jacucci, NOW: The Participatory Marketplace for a Tourist Destination, Proceedings of the Eighth Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems, Verona. (2014) https://aisel.aisnet.org/mcis2014/4/
[48] U. Martini, G. Jacucci, C. Cattani and D. Calzà, Mentoring Small Destinations into Destination Management towards Electronic Marketing, D. R. Fesenmaier et al. (eds.), ICT in Tourism 2000 © Springer-Verlag Wien. (2000) https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-7091-6291-0_44
[49] G. Jacucci and M. Martin, Navigating AI Integration by Advancing Accountability in ICT Platforms: A New Paradigm for Interplay of Accountability and Interpretation, Proceedings of ICTO 2024, Paris, June 2024. Based on: Martin M. and Wilson R. (2020) "Inter-organisational systems:a neo-socio-technical perspective. a neo-socio-technical perspective.". UK Academy for Information Systems Conference Proceedings 2020. 22. https://aisel.aisnet.org/ukais2020/22.
[50] C. Ciborra, The Mind or the heart? It depends on the (Definition of) Situation. J. of Information Technology 21(3) (2006) 129-139. Reprinted in Bricolage, Care and Information, Ciborra’s Legacy in IS, by C.Avgerou et al. Palgrave. (2009)