The Social Life of Information

1. The Social Life of Information Introduction – Tunneling Ahead William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu

2. Topics • IT Suffers from Tunnel Vision • Wider Perspective Provides • Tunnel Design • A Better Approach • Fight to the Finish • Conversations William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu

3. IT Suffers from Tunnel Vision • Focus straight ahead • Frequently ignores • Context • Background • History • Social resources William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu

4. Wider Perspective Provides • Balance • Alternatives • Breadth of vision • Choices • Context • Makes sense of projects William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu

5. Tunnel Design • Tight focus on information • Can make technology frustrating • Can condemn the past • Worships new technology William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu

6. A Better Approach • Learn from the existing processes • Ask ‘why things work’ • Look beneath the surface • Take into account features and functions that people will fight for William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu

7. Fight to the Finish • Don’t overlook social context • Embrace the ‘social periphery’ • Communities • Organizations • Institutions William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu

8. Fight to the Finish • Don’t ignore the people involved • Don’t ignore the practical • Don’t focus only on theoretical William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu

9. Conversations • Address social context from different perspectives • Avoid unbridled enthusiasm for technology William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu

10. Questions & Discussion William H. Bowers – whb108@psu.edu