Ordering Systems: Coordinative Practices and Artifacts in Architectural Design and Planning

Abstract

In their cooperative effort, architects depend critically on elaborate coordinative practices and artifacts. The article presents, on the basis of an in-depth study of architectural work, an analysis of these practices and artifacts and shows that they are multilaterally interrelated and form complexes of interrelated practices and artifacts which we have dubbed 'ordering systems'. In doing so, the article outlines an approach to investigating and conceiving of such practices.

Computational Artifacts: Interactive and Collaborative Computing as an Integral Feature of Work Practice

“…Noteworthy examples of such attempts are notions such as 'artifacts in use' [1], 'appropriation' of interactive artifacts [6; 49], 'coordination mechanisms' [27], 'ordering systems' [28], 'socially embedded technologies' [12], 'artifact ecologies' [2], and 'practice-oriented' or 'practice-based' computing [18; 29; 30]. However, it seems fair to say that the large variety of proposed conceptions, and the obvious fact that nothing even remotely akin to consensus has emerged, indicates that the whole issue is still wide open.…”

Between Chaos and Routine: Boundary Negotiating Artifacts in Collaboration

“…The concepts of structuring and compilation artifacts resonate with the concepts of ordering systems (Schmidt and Wagner 2005) and intermediary objects (Boujut and Blanco 2003)-and to a lesser extent to the concept of prototypes (Subrahmanian, Monarch et al 2003).…”

“…Simultaneously, boundary negotiating artifacts are a first step towards a theory of boundary negotiating which is a model of collaboration that: 1) does not presuppose fairly high levels of coordination, 2) does not focus on coordinative aspects of artifacts at the expense of disruptive aspects, and 3) involves artifacts that are not "standardized inscribed artifacts (Schmidt and Wagner 2005)" such as those found in ordering systems. A great deal of boundary work has to do with the discovering, testing, and pushing of boundaries.…”

“…Concepts such as boundary objects (Star 1987(Star -1989Star and Griesemer 1989), coordination mechanisms (Schmidt and Simone 1996), prototypes (Subrahmanian, Monarch et al 2003), ordering systems (Schmidt and Wagner 2005), and intermediary objects (Boujut and Blanco 2003) have been proposed as ways to theorize the role of material artifacts vis-à-vis coordinative practices, and by extension, to theorize collaborative work in general. These concepts overlap to form a patchwork quilt of frameworks that are moving us towards an increasingly sophisticated theoretical understanding of collaborative work.…”

“…Others have noted this before, not only critiquing boundary objects but also common information spaces, workflow systems and coordination mechanisms as forming a picture that is "rather patchy and incoherent" and as collectively forming a defective foundation for CSCW (Schmidt and Wagner 2005). While I don't presume to singlehandedly lay that foundation.…”