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    Beck P Is For Political

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    Beck P Is For Political

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    Beck P is For political

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    Beck P Is For Political

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    of 16
    P for Political Participation is Not Enough evi E, Beck ‘Dearest Infra, Univer of Onl, Bor 1080 Blinder, 0816 Os, Norway “There can be no innocent positions Donna Haraway 1991 Abstract! Is participatory design outdated in Scandinavia? Many would say itis. Yet, as Information Systems (IS) diffusion continues in familiar and new guises IS researchers and developers face political dilemmas through the conduct of their work. These are precisely the original area of ‘oncem for the research area of Participatory Design (PD). How, then, to make PD better reflect contemporary concerns? “This paper argues the danger of complacency among Scandinavian IS researchers about the position and meaning of PD: Some researchers reject PD altogether, some who previously have ‘contributed to PD speak of new circumstances making it harder or ess relevant today. The paper critically examines a numberof such arguments. Tn.a world made “global” by information and communication technologies (ICTS), political concems remain on the minds of many. PD must encompass work motivated in politcal conscience which is expressed through range of approaches and conducted at multiple points throughout the processes of computer development and adoption, not only participatory design. In this sense, PD needs to become broader. Furher, participatory design work which does not ‘contribute to challenging pattems of dominance or understanding how to do so currently remain Within PD. This is another problem for PD and in this sense the area needs to become more focused. Tn sum, PD rust develop stronger demand for analyses of societal/plitcalethical consequences of CT development, management, adoption, or use. Thus, systems design would be one of several foci contributors might address. To indicate the range of new possibilities for activism issues are sugested that might benefit from enquiry motivated in concer for dominated ‘groups Keywords Pasticipatory design, Scandinavian Approach, user orientation, Computer Science and polities, ‘Computer Science and dominance © Sei ul ten San, 021,782 n 8 DEBATE SECTION ARTICLE. Pforolicl-Paricipation sno enough 1. The need fora political argument How many developers of systoms for industry or government hve found thei tchnical/cionticteratt assessments set aside by the internal polities of the orgnisation? How many have felt bad knowing they re coneibuting wo asystem tat wil pat people out of \work or make living or working conditions worse for some? Donna Haraway (1991 reminds us tha thee arene innocent postions. ‘This pper aims to incite Scandinavian junior and senor researchers in computer scence to be more ‘toubled by such issues, and to consider politcal aspects ofthe work integral to our caf. In doing 0 this paper joins a debate on the research area(s) ‘uot known s Participatory Design (PD), Loosely ‘ut the process though which design decisions are ‘rade have become a taget for PD research shave their consequences in uso. Joan Greenbaum (1993) ‘summarises the main motivations for conducting PD as pragmatic (eg, for improving systems design), theoretical (¢@ for communication benefits of hands- ‘on involvement of fur user) end politcal eg. for Fanhoring workplace democracy) Much important work has boen conducted under 1d inspired by PD. Many have ad their eyes opened to the possibiliies of different and more meaningfal computer scientific practices through PD and ‘elated fields. PD hs enjoyed growing interest both ‘commetially and within an fnterational research community. The success, however, as brought new fssves for researchers in the fold 10 adjust wo. My concern isthe paradox that within Scandinavian ‘Computer Science PD seems marginalised. Further, considerable challenges have arisen tothe established ‘understanding of what constitutes political setion through compating, While PD embodies power challenging potential, thie potent snot necessarily ‘realised nd spproaches eter than participatory sin may equally contribute. Although it has inspiced ‘ch imporant work, pricipatory design no longer suffices —ifitever did an index to contemporary political eoncoms of computer sient. In calling for a renewed focus on political perspectives I wish to inspire readers to address, ‘on thir own terms, questions like: What insights ‘of previous politcal analyses soom felevant and important today? What new issues need 10 be akresed? Tha, this paper aims to inspire reflection | om what ‘political means or could mean in systems ‘evelopment context. While this continually needs rethinking and rosontextalising, in my own use in this paper “politcal” mains conccm about dominance pater (cg. ferential possibilities of influencing ie shape ofan IT society” projet) Such aconcem may lead to investigations of influences on culture and on society of echnical designs, thet promotion, and their ffequent association with specifi ideologies regarding the organisation of society (eg the introduction of competition in the home help services). Likewise relevant ae studies of ideologies of society and thet ‘influences upon computing research and development (the granting of exclusive intelltual property Fights for software components and algorithms). Dominance serves to uphold the marginalisation or exclusion of some from aspeets of society normed fsbenefcal, such as economic, democratic, health ‘or other participation (Gino Germani 1980). Thus, ‘one stand of politcal IS woul tive to make visible rmarginality related wo computing. This might be new marginal sa consequence of thetic and practices surrounding 1S or reproduction of existing marginaity and excision, CConcems such a8 the above are embodied in three (or more) levels ofa researcher’ work: fist, conducting studies exploring interactions betweon dominance pattems and tochnologies (including

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