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A taxonomy of purposeful human activity system signs as a means to improving systems literacy

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  • Sage Kittelman
  • Javier Calvo‐Amodio

Abstract

The system of communication plays a critical role in the design, management and change management of purposeful human activity systems. This occurs not only in the verbal and written form of communication but also in the assimilation and interpretation of purposeful human activity system signs. The authors propose that purposeful human activity systems exhibit four types of signs: those indicating the system's persisting meaning, behaviour, structure and process. These signs together indicate the current state of the purposeful human activity system they emerge from and form the foundations of the communication system. Currently, the connection of signs back to a communication system has been largely unexplored, and a taxonomy for identifying and delineating signs in this research context does not exist. The authors present the theoretical virtue of purposeful human activity system signs and a taxonomy developed for identifying and delineating system signs with application for novice system analysts.

Suggested Citation

  • Sage Kittelman & Javier Calvo‐Amodio, 2020. "A taxonomy of purposeful human activity system signs as a means to improving systems literacy," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 789-803, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:37:y:2020:i:5:p:789-803
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.2742
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sage Kittelman & Javier Calvo‐Amodio & Hilda C. Martínez León, 2018. "A Systems Analysis of Communication: Defining the Nature of and Principles for Communication Within Human Activity Systems," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(5), pages 520-537, September.
    2. repec:dau:papers:123456789/3158 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Trochim, William M. K. & Linton, Rhoda, 1986. "Conceptualization for planning and evaluation," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 289-308, January.
    4. Robert Nickerson & Jan Muntermann & Upkar Varshney & Henri Isaac, 2009. "Taxonomy Development In Information Systems: Developing A Taxonomy Of Mobile Applications," Working Papers halshs-00375103, HAL.
    5. Ray Ison & Monica Shelley, 2016. "Governing in the Anthropocene: Contributions from Systems Thinking in Practice?," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 589-594, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Roelien Goede, 2020. "Nature's enduring patterns: A path to systems literacy," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 787-788, September.

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