[Sigia-l] Book Announcement: Ethnomethodological Systems Design

[Derek R]

Below is an announcement of the first book on (*ethnomethodological*)
ethnography as a resource for systems design.

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"Designing Collaborative Systems: A Practical Guide to Ethnography"
by Andy Crabtree, University of Nottingham, UK -->
http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1852337184/
http://amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1852337184/
£42.00 ~ Paperback - 190 pages (May 2003)
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Synopsis:

This title introduces an 'ethnographic' approach adapted from the field
of social research that should enable designers to create collaborative
and interactive systems, which are employed successfully in real-world
settings. This approach considers both the social circumstances and the
level and type of human interaction involved, thereby ensuring that
future ethnographic systems are as user-friendly and as effective as
possible. 

This book provides the practitioner with an invaluable introduction to
this approach, and presents a unique set of practical strategies for
incorporating it into the design process. Divided into four distinct
sections with practical examples throughout, the book covers:
- the requirements problem; 
- ethnographic practices for describing and analysing cooperative work; 
- the design process; and 
- the role of ethnography when evaluating systems supporting cooperative
work.
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Reviews:

"Of the various perspectives that jostle together under the rubric of
ethnography, ethnomethodology has often held the most appeal for
designers. Yet, surprisingly, there has not been a systematic
explication of ethnography and ethnomethodology for the purposes of
system design. Andy Crabtree puts this to rights in a comprehensive,
informative, and accessible practical guide which will be of great value
to not only designers but also the ethnographers who work with them."
-- Graham Button, Lab. Director, Xerox Research Centre, Europe

"Not only is the book a must for those interested in bringing a social
dimension to the system design process, it also makes a significant
contribution to ethnomethodology."
-- John A. Hughes, Lancaster University, UK

"Fieldwork methods and sociological analysis have become increasingly
relevant for designing interactive systems, but how to bring fieldwork,
analysis and design together is still mysterious. Crabtree provides a
unique insider's perspective and demonstrates the applicability of
ethnomethodological analysis throughout the process of design. As well
as providing valuable lessons to practitioners, his book will also
contribute significantly to ongoing debates about the role,
contribution, and practicalities of these methods."
-- Paul Dourish, University of California, Irvine, USA
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Contents: 

Preface
The Requirements Problem - The Motivation for Ethnography in Design
A Primary Analytic Point of View for Design: Enter HCI