Friday, March 23, 2012

What is the difference between a technical and a socio-technical system?

What is the difference between a technical and a socio-technical system?
Ans: Technical computer-based systems are systems that include hardware and software components but not procedures and processes. Examples of technical systems include televisions, mobile phones, and other equipment with embedded software. Most software for PCs, computer games, etc., also falls into this category. Individuals and organizations use technical systems for a particular purpose but knowledge of this purpose is not part of the system. For example, the word processor I am using is not aware that is it being used to write a book.
Socio-technical systems include one or more technical systems but, crucially, also include people who understand the purpose of the system within the system itself. Socio-technical systems have defined operational processes and people are inherent parts of the system. They are governed by organizational policies and rules and may be affected by external constraints such as national laws and regulatory policies. For example, this book was created through a socio-technical publishing system that includes various processes and technical systems.

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