SOCIOTECHNICAL SYSTEMS-DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING

The complexity and use of information technology in engineering environments is increasing exponentially, requiring an integrated approach and set of systemic design principles for deploying computer aided engineering (CAE) technologies. This paper claims that the expected benefits and integrative capability of CAE will only be realized to the degree that end users, vendors, and managers are collaboratively involved in co-designing both the technology and the social system surrounding it. The principles of sociotechnical systems design are introduced as a viable method which can aid such implementation efforts, and thus avoid some of the common pitfalls and negative consequences of technological change.