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Resources, co-evolution and artifacts : theory in CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work Series)
Ackerman M., Halverson C., Erickson T., Kellogg W., Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., Secaucus, NJ, 2007. 332 pp. Type: Book (9781846289002)
Date Reviewed: May 27 2008

This collection of papers on various aspects of computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) ranges from detailed case studies to more theoretical works. Like most collections of papers, it strives for cohesion without quite achieving it. Still, the editors deserve credit for attempting the admittedly daunting task of finding a general theoretical footing in an area shaped by varied, sometimes conflicting perspectives, as well as the vagaries of practical system development. To this end, they propose the concept of “resources” as a unifying theme for considering the contributions in the book. The notion of a resource is presented in an introductory chapter and later refined in a concluding chapter, in light of the various studies presented in the book; it derives from that of an artifact upon which expectations and practices are imprinted through social interaction. This can be seen as an extension or a loosening of the concept of artifact as employed by Schmidt and Simone in the context of coordination mechanisms [1].

Between the introductory and concluding chapters, there are ten chapters grouped into three sections according to their focus. The first section essentially consists of studies that illustrate the notion of resources in real-world settings. It starts with two papers that make direct reference to the concept in the sense proposed as the unifying theme of the book, by analyzing two distinct instances of organizational resources: one physical (a cheat sheet) and one electronic (a collaborative help system). The next two chapters have a more abstract character; they begin by addressing design issues from a methodological perspective, without making explicit reference to resources.

The second section can be interpreted as covering contextual elements. These are mostly approached from a distributed cognition point of view, the influence of which pervades the book, with temporal aspects viewed in terms of work rhythms. This section contains the first substantial departure from the initial definition of resources as artifacts: hand gestures, in the interesting analysis of representational gestures in a biochemistry laboratory by Becvar et al., can also be regarded as resources.

The final section is more theoretical, with three chapters developed from three distinct analytical starting points, namely: coordination, corealization, and structuration. The chapter on coordination and the limits of rationalized coordination touches upon foundational issues for CSCW through a set of concepts that strike me as being so general and relevant that I cannot help wondering whether they might have made a better unifying theme for the book than the somewhat overextended notion of resources. In the last chapter, the editors analyze the preceding chapters, reexamine the initial definitions and perspectives for the development of theories in CSCW, and revise the definition of resource to encompass all the issues covered in the book. The following definition is finally settled on:

A resource is an entity that is used in a particular manner to address a recurring need or problem. Its manner of use is characterized by shared expectations, understandings and practices that have built up during the history of its use in a specific environment.

A theory, as acknowledged by the editors, must provide not only descriptive power and a common vocabulary, but also inferential power--in the case of CSCW and other computing disciplines, a basis for system design. My impression is that as one extends the concept of resources beyond its roots as artifacts with clear functional roles in coordination mechanisms into the situated definition quoted above, one might gain a better descriptive device at the expense of some inferential power.

Readers new to the area of CSCW, looking for theoretical or methodological tools that can be readily used to build collaborative systems, will perhaps be disappointed by this book. However, the fact that it highlights the need for such theoretical and methodological tools, and attempts to define and illustrate the use of a basic element of a theory, will certainly appeal to the more academically minded reader.

Reviewer:  Saturnino Luz Review #: CR135635 (0903-0233)
1) Schmidt, K.; Simone, C. Coordination mechanisms: towards a conceptual foundation of CSCW systems design. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): Journal of Collaborative Computing 5, 2-3(1996), 155–200.
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