Dilemmas 2015 Papers from the 18th Annual International Conference Dilemmas for Human Services: Organizing, Designing and Managing

Ethical Dilemmas of Software Engineers

2017-04-03T13:52:30+02:00

The aim of this paper is to analyze the ethical dilemmas that IT professionals in general, and software engineers in particular, face in the Balkans, specifically in Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania. In an environment where there is still an absence of policies regarding ethics and best practices, developers’ perceptions and their dilemmas are investigated. The paper first gives a general overview of the social and cultural issues in these countries, and then follows an analysis of issues regarding software development, good and bad work practices, and developers’ reactions to these issues. In this research, varying security and privacy compliance situations are explored through qualitative interviews of 6 developers that work in domestic and foreign developing companies in Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania: how they deal with dilemmas, how they make decisions and how they ensure that users are never harmed – was the objective of this investigation. Some conclusions are drawn based on participants' reported perceptions regarding these issues.

Ethics in Norm-Critical Design for Children

2017-04-03T13:53:29+02:00

Starting from the assumption that research design is itself productive, in that it helps to create social realities and thereby the research results that it aims to investigate, the paper discusses a number of dilemmas of ethics and design in the research process. The discussion is illustrated by examples from a research project on child-parent conversations about families and relationships, which involved the development of a tablet app for data collection and that took a norm-critical approach to design. The discussion focuses specifically on dilemmas of rights and risks. The paper argues for reflexive research processes and active decision making in research design, as ways of tackling dilemmas of ethics and design that may not always be foreseeable or easily solvable.

Suggestions on Communications Systems for Off- Shore Vessels

2017-04-04T08:59:40+02:00

Communications systems for marine operations are designed based on the concept of interactions between an individual person and those systems, while the interac-tive relations between multiple people and the systems are overlooked. Although extensive research focuses on designing systems that support cooperative work, requirements specifications for systems design do not support electrical engineers fully in devising cooperative systems. This paper records a case that took place at sea that resulted in unsafe operations due to insufficient development of commu-nications systems. By using actor-network theory (ANT) to analyze and organize interactive relations of communications, the paper suggests focusing on interac-tive relations to help electrical engineers understand how to implement coopera-tive systems to support safety operations.

Informed Systems for Participatory Organizations : Contributions from International Researchers

2017-03-29T12:45:15+02:00

Informed Systems honors stakeholder perspective and values information experience through inclusive construction of workplace systems and participatory processes. Enabling design tools and inclusive information processes support planning and building organizational communication systems for evidence based inquiry and continuous team learning. In this North American example, international researchers’ contributions illustrate the efficacy of introducing theory from Australia and methods from Sweden to re-invent an academic library. To initiate transformative change at the University of Colorado Denver, Scandinavian participation design practices guided co-creation of shared vision and systems purpose.. Building upon these catalytic collective experiences, an organizational learning culture was advanced through introduction of Australian informed learning principles. This maturation model guided enactment of evidence-based decisionmaking and decision taking practices for information sharing and knowledge exchange activities. Longitudinal results suggest that such conversation-rich dialogic organization development benefits from introduction and guidance by international researchers with deep knowledge and nuanced experience.

New Ethical Dilemmas Arising from the Growth of Personal Health Data

2017-04-03T13:49:25+02:00

The aim of this paper is to encourage critical investigations of information governance related to personal health data. Presently, most societies have regulations that balance the protection of privacy of personal health data with the need to disclose personal data for public good. This balance seems to be challenged by recent technological and policy developments, and this paper seeks to illuminate some of these developments and the associated dilemmas that emerge. Firstly, the challenges of handling novel data types from new sources (such as smartphones, devices and sensors) is still poorly understood and regulated. Secondly, not only are medical and societal gains predicted from giving access to personal health data, but also expectations of economic value creation circulate. Thirdly, the emerging data-intensive scientific practices depend on data, both as raw material and for building the scientific toolbox (models, methodologies and repositories). Being observant on these developments can facilitate interventions into the ongoing “ethics-in-the-making” of these crucial processes.

Complexities and Dilemmas in the Sharing Economy : The Uber Case

2017-03-29T12:45:15+02:00

By taking Uber as a case, we take a practice focus, in-depth analysis of the sharing economy. The business model that is typical for the sharing economy is based on using underutilized goods by private persons through digital technologies. In this paper, we bring together the complex reality of the sharing economy with a philosophical tool for analyzing normative issues. We listed a number of issues that were raised in debates, protests and court files that creates tensions and dilemmas for regulators and established industries and categorized them in a table with potentially normative aspects of the issues. The categorization was done through a multi-aspectual analysis. It revealed that next to several public complaints and worries, also other, presumably overlooked aspects, may give rise to moral issues and dilemmas at a deeper level.

Open Innovation in Public Authorities

2017-03-29T12:45:15+02:00

Today openness is regarded the main driver to achieve organisational and societal growth. This openness will happen, it is believed, through the means of open data. There are high expectations of what the realization of open data will lead to, such as transparent democracy and administration, increased business competitiveness, new economic opportunities and help in tackling societal and environmental challenges. In this paper we explore and discuss the need for a roadmap to achieve openness in public authorities, as well as mechanisms of governance, and what is needed in order for a public authority to become innovative. We conclude that there is a range of issues that public authorities need to consider, if the openness initiative is to succeed, from how to redesign organisational roles, administrative tasks, control systems and decision making to organisational culture.

Pedagogical Dilemmas in the Simultaneous Education

2017-04-03T13:50:23+02:00

In the past few years, Swedish higher education institutes are increasingly coopting distance education by broadcasting lectures, given to campus students in traditional classrooms, in real-time for distance students. We call this phenomenon simultaneous education. Irrespective of the obvious benefits, there are many dilemmas associated with this pedagogical mode and yet many university teachers remain rather reluctant to embrace this model of education. Adopting a qualitative approach and conducting semi-structured interviews in a department of Linnaeus University, we have identified some pedagogical dilemmas that arise in the simultaneous mode. Our results indicate that online and campus education bear fundamental different assumptions and combination of both modes often becomes problematic in the design, delivery and course examination.

Dilemmas in Teachers’ Use of Digital Technologies in Everyday School Practice

2017-04-04T09:54:38+02:00

Major investments in Sweden have equipped schools with digital technologies. However, the digital technologies are, reportedly, not being used to support eve-ryday teaching and learning practices. Rather, the digital technologies are mainly used as administrative tools. In order to enable teachers to adopt and use digital technologies, it is crucial to understand their worldviews and their everyday prac-tice, as well as external influences and underlying perspectives. In response, this paper discusses dilemmas associated with teachers’ everyday practice using digital technologies. The research methodologies included a Fo-cused Ethnographic approach complemented by Soft Systems Methodology, es-pecially Rich Pictures. Results provide rich context for appreciating the complex dilemmas experienced by four teachers, two school leaders, three representatives from the Department of Education and the head of the municipal IT unit, who together constituted the informants for this research.

Swedish Information Economy : A Preliminary Account

2017-04-03T13:54:26+02:00

The recent developments and adoptions of digital technologies give rise to the growth of information economies, understood as an aggregate of economic activities that produce informational outputs. Several key characteristics of an information economy differ to the conventional economic wisdom derived from the industrial age, which may impose governmental policy implications and therefore constitutes a key question: how to govern the newly emerged information economy with the thinking of the industrial age economy. Resolving this problem requires, among others, comprehensive understanding of information economies. To that end, Sweden is among the most advanced adopters of digital technologies and represents therefore a suitable empirical base for the investigation of an information economy. This paper offers preliminary results from a first ever account of the Swedish information economy in terms of its value created, jobs and wages; this account shows that the Swedish economy is dominated by its information economy, which requires a careful attention of policy makers.

Human Services and the Concept of Efficiency

2017-03-29T12:45:15+02:00

This paper investigates the significance of the concept of efficiency in human service organisations. Our aim is to discuss how efficiency can be assessed in this kind of organisation. Many typical human service organisations chiefly exist within the public sector’s area of responsibility. Efforts aimed at, for instance, children who are faring badly, young people who are going astray, people who are sick, or people who are in need of care have obvious moral implications regarding how we use the available resources. Thus, the characteristics distinguishing such operations, and the demands that these characteristics place on the application of the concept of efficiency, are especially clear. The focus in this paper is on activities aimed at children and young people.

Editorial

2017-03-29T12:45:14+02:00

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Information Management as a Tool for Organizational Learning in Academic Libraries : Summarized Research Proposal

2017-04-03T13:56:02+02:00

In this paper, I briefly present my doctoral thesis research proposal. Recognizing that information has long been an important asset for any organization, I wish to explore in depth the management and use of information in contemporary information-intensive organizations such as academic libraries. Additionally, this research proposal emerges out of recognition that the academic library is a dynamic, living information and knowledge creation organization. Fulfillment of this potential requires that information processes are integrated in the academic library’s daily work life in order to contribute to organizational learning. However, the literature confirms that while academic library managers manage and use information as a commodity, they do not manage and use it as an asset for their organization which could lead to organizational learning. Through a systems thinking approach and drawing on the theories of information management, organizational knowledge creation and organizational learning, this interpretive ethnographic research study wishes to explore the perceptions of academic library managers regarding the management and use of information for the better operation and development of their organization. This research proposal serves as a starting point for an exploratory research study on Information Management that can contribute to organizational learning in academic library organizations.

Transformation of Business Models from Non-Digital to Digital: A Dominant Logic Perspective

2017-04-03T14:00:43+02:00

Digital innovations are persuasively shifting the business landscape thus challenging traditional business models of incumbents. Information intensive sectors have been most affected and challenged to embrace the new realm. The central argument is that transformation of the business model from non-digital to digital involves a distinct set of activities and distinct assumptions about value creation and capture. Non-digital businesses operate and are guided by the conventional economic rules, whereas digital world of businesses function based on digital economics and economics of digital information (negligible marginal costs, transaction cost reduction, distinct cost structure mechanisms, different sources of revenues, etc). Thus a change of the business model involves a fundamental shift of existing core assumptions that profoundly challenges managers’ beliefs about value creation and capture.

Designing the Interactive Relations of Complex Systems : Ocean Operations as Research Resources

2017-04-03T13:59:42+02:00

My research aims at developing knowledge in the design of maritime systems by developing a new understanding of interactive relations. I have chosen to study a basic maritime operation at sea using dynamic positioning systems, as well as other operations associated with this basic task management throughout a maritime operational action. In following offshore operations in different offshore oilfields, I have observed and interviewed bridge operators, captain, crewmembers on the ship’s deck, and engine engineers in their workplace. I found that how humans cooperatively interact with maritime operating systems is reflected in human performance related to daily work management. However, cooperative work is insufficiently supported by current maritime cooperative systems. Thus, I argue that interactive relations should be taken into account to improve the design of cooperative systems. In line with this, I incorporate insights from Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and using awareness as a concept in ANT
to gather, cook and interpret data from field work in order to achieve a better design of cooperative systems.

The Complexity of Teachers’ Use of Digital Technologies in Everyday School Practice

2017-03-29T12:45:15+02:00

The doctoral research, briefly presented in this paper1, include four teachers, two school leaders, three representatives from the Department of Education and head of the municipal IT-unit. The research followed a focused ethnographic approach, and has applied Systems Thinking, specifically Soft Systems Methodology in combination with Cognitive Mapping with the aim to illuminate and advance the understanding of the complexity of teachers’ everyday practice using digital technologies. Major investments have been done in Sweden providing and equipping schools with digital technologies. However, the digital technologies are reported not being fully used to support teaching and learning, but are mainly used as administrative tools. In order to enable teachers to fully adopt and use of digital technologies it is crucial to understand their worldviews, their everyday practice, as well as external influences and underlying perspectives.

Dilemmas and Wisdom in the ICT Society : Memories and Learning

2017-03-29T12:45:15+02:00

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Organizing, Managing, Designing : Double Meanings, Doings and (New?) Dilemmas

2017-04-03T13:47:58+02:00

This keynote presentation examined some strengths, weaknesses, and above all some ambiguities in the uses and meanings of gerunds and participles, in considering “Organizing, Designing and Managing”, and their overlapping, within current neoliberal times. Principally, gerunds and participles can either invoke agency and agentic action, or can refer to process with less explicit attention to individual agency. Examples of both agentic and process approaches to organizing, managing, and designing are given. The final section addresses dilemmas, possibly new dilemmas, in such approaches, in terms of: the onset of new and/or not so new realities?; the politics and/or the ontology of process itself?; and the local and/or the transnational?