On the Relevance of Habermas‘ Theory of Communicative Action for CSCW
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We examine the argument put forward by Ojelanki Nygwenyama andKalle Lyytinen that Juergen Habermas's theory of communicativeaction is relevant for the analysis and design of groupwaresystems. We suggest that CSCW champions of Habermas oftenoverlook the fact that his theory can be criticised in itsown right, and go on to outline its contestable character inan appraisal of his understanding of the ‘ideal speech situation’.We then move to Nygwenyama and Lyytinen's implementation ofHabermas's schema and argue that their categories of analysisare both arbitrarily constructed and applied. In conclusion,we question the extent to which grand, holistic, synthesisingsociological theories offer a way forward for designers andpoint to the difficulties of practically applying Nygwenyamaand Lyytinen's categories of analysis.
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Number of citations to item: 12
- David J. Schaefer, Brenda Dervin (2009): From the dialogic to the contemplative: a conceptual and empirical rethinking of online communication outcomes as verbing micro-practices, In: Ethics and Information Technology 4(11), doi:10.1007/s10676-009-9206-x
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- Graham Button, Wes Sharrock (2009): Studies of Work and the Workplace in HCI, In: Synthesis Lectures on Human-Centered Informatics, doi:10.2200/s00177ed1v01y200903hci003
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- Sean Hansen, Nicholas Berente, Kalle Lyytinen (2009): Wikipedia, Critical Social Theory, and the Possibility of Rational Discourse, In: The Information Society 1(25), doi:10.1080/01972240802587562
- Pär J Ågerfalk, Owen Eriksson (2006): Socio–instrumental Usability: IT is all about Social Action<sup>1</sup>, In: Journal of Information Technology 1(21), doi:10.1057/palgrave.jit.2000055
- Sean Hansen, Nicholas Berente, Kalle Lyytinen (2007): Wikipedia as Rational Discourse: An Illustration of the Emancipatory Potential of Information Systems, In: 2007 40th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS'07), doi:10.1109/hicss.2007.616
- Pär J Ågerfalk, Göran Goldkuhl, Brian Fitzgerald, Liam Bannon (2006): Reflecting on action in language, organisations and information systems, In: European Journal of Information Systems 1(15), doi:10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000607
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- Kalle Lyytinen, Ojelanki Ngwenyama (1999): Sharrock and Button ... and Much Ado about Nothing, In: Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) 3(8), doi:10.1023/a:1008720609782