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Interorganizational knowledge sharing (IKS) has become an important strategy for project organizations to drive high performance in interorganizational projects. Distinct IKS mechanisms (i.e., the management activities facilitating IKS among organizations) are proposed in the existing literature. However, the matching between knowledge categorization and IKS mechanisms are less explored. From the socio-technical perspective, this study employed grounded theory to identify and match different types of knowledge and IKS mechanisms. Qualitative data collected from primary and secondary sources were integrated to triangulate the research findings. Four categories of knowledge were identified based on their characteristics, including knowledge tacitness and heterogeneity. Then, a four-dimension framework of IKS mechanisms (i.e., event, social, technical, and document mechanisms) was developed to form matching configurations to facilitate IKS in different scenarios. This framework deepens our understanding of how to form strategies to apply proper IKS mechanisms to facilitate the sharing of different types of knowledge from the socio-technical perspective. • Identify four categories of knowledge in the interorganizational project context. • Consider two-dimensional knowledge characteristics, including knowledge tacitness and heterogeneity. • Establish a four-dimension framework of IKS mechanisms, including event, social, technical, and document mechanisms. • Form matching configurations between knowledge categorization and IKS mechanisms from the socio-technical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of renewable energy systems has put a large emphasis on technical progress rather than examination of ways to foster societal demand to diffuse the new energy technologies. In order to understand demand-side issues that are important to sustainable energy innovation, this research examines key factors of renewable energy systems diffusion from a socio-technological perspective. Based on theory of planned behavior (TPB), a research model was constructed around “societal” factors such as social trust and social support alongside “technology” issues such as technical facilitating conditions and perceived system quality. This research reveals that attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control impact on consumers' intention to use renewable energy systems. In addition, social trust and social support are influential factors on attitude and subjective norm while facilitating technical condition has influence on perceived behavioral control. The findings of this study suggest that business managers and policy makers should have a strategy to advance societal readiness toward sustainable energy innovation and to balance it with technology development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the viewpoint of big data as a socio-technical phenomenon, this study examines the associated assumptions and biases critically and contextually. The research analyzes the big data phenomenon from a socio-technical systems theory perspective: cultural, technological, and scholarly phenomena that rest on the interplay of technology, analysis, and mythology provoking extensive utopian and dystopian rhetoric. It examines the development of big data by reviewing this theory, identifying key components of the big data ecosystem, and explaining how these components are likely to evolve over time. Despite extensive investment and proactive drive, uncertainty exists concerning the evolution of big data and the impact on the new information milieu. Significant concerns recently addressed are in the areas of privacy, data quality, access, curation, preservation, and use. This study provides insight into these challenges and opportunities through the lens of a socio-technical analysis of big data development, which includes social dynamics, political discourse, and technological choices inherent in the design and development of next-generation ICT ecology. The policy implications of big data are addressed using Korean information initiatives to highlight key considerations as the country progresses in this new ecology era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Case study of a socio-technical framework to assess and predict the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) in Korea. [•] Investigates the complex interaction between social and technical aspects of the IoT. [•] Describes the challenges in designing, deploying, and sustaining the diverse components of the IoT. [•] Conceptualize how the IoT can be designed and situated within human-centered contexts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study presents a practical case application of socio-technical framework to assess and predict the development of cyber-infrastructure (CI) in Korea. Applying a socio-technical system approach to CI, this paper attempts to gain a clear understanding of how CI will evolve and stabilize in the cyber environment. It investigates the complex interaction between social and technical aspects of CI by highlighting the co-evolving nature, diversity, and interface which constitute the next generation network environment. It describes the challenges in developing, deploying, and maintaining the diverse components of CI and provides a snapshot of Korea''s current approach to supporting members in meeting this challenge. The purpose of this study is to provide insight into these challenges and opportunities by offering a socio-technical analysis of CI development involving the social dynamics and organizational, policy, management, and administration decisions inherent in the design and development of CI. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In recent years, municipal authorities especially in the developing nations are battling to select the best health care waste (HCW) disposal technique for the effective treatment of the medical wastes during and post COVID-19 era. As evaluation of various disposal alternatives of HCW and selection of the best technique requires considering various tangible and intangible criteria, this can be framed as multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. In this paper, we propose an assessment framework for the selection of the best HCW disposal technique based on socio-technical and triple bottom line perspectives. We have identified 10 criteria on which the best HCW disposal techniques to be selected based on extant literature review. Next, we use Fuzzy VIKOR method to evaluate 9 HCW disposal alternatives. The effectiveness of the proposed framework has been demonstrated with a real-life case study in Indian context. To check the robustness of the proposed methodology, we have compared the results obtained with Fuzzy TOPSIS (Technique of Order Preference Similarity to the Ideal Solution). The results help the municipal authorities to establish a methodical approach to choose the best HCW disposal techniques. Our findings indicate that incineration is the best waste disposal technique among the available alternatives. Even if the dataset indicates 'incineration' is the best method, we must not forget about the environmental concerns arising from this method. In COVID time, incineration may be the best method as indicated by the data analysis, but "COVID" should not be an excuse for causing "Environmental Pollution". • Health care waste disposal technique selection is a serious concern during COVID-19. • We propose Fuzzy VIKOR based method for selecting the best disposal technique. • This work has been grounded on Triple Bottom Line and Socio-Technical perspectives. • The proposed framework has been validated with a real-life case study. • The effectiveness of the proposed method has been compared with Fuzzy TOPSIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• African countries are considering/deploying digital contact-tracing (DCT) to mitigate Covid-19 contagion. • We adopt a socio-technical perspective to highlight complexities entailed in using DCT in Africa. • We propose a blended epidemiological approach to (digital) contact-tracing. • One that allows policymakers to adapt and translate DCT to the unique institutional and technological capacities in Africa. • One that enables policymakers to leverage local practices learned from previous pandemics. Several countries in Africa have either deployed or considering using digital contact-tracing (DCT) as part of their Covid-19 containment strategy, amidst calls for the use of technology to improve the efficiency of traditional contact-tracing. We discuss some of the complexities entailed in using DCT in Africa. Adopting a socio-technical perspective, we argue that if DCT design and deployment are not well thought out, it can lead to unintended consequences, particularly in a continent like Africa with disproportionate levels of digital divides and other structural inequalities. We suggest that any adoption of DCT by African countries must take account of their compatibility with local resources, values, social structure, and domestic political factors. Accordingly, we propose a process of translation whereby DCT adaptation is made to accommodate the unique institutional and technological characteristics of African countries by leveraging local practices learned from previous pandemics like Ebola to develop a blended epidemiological approach to (digital) contact-tracing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: Ineffective handovers in patient care, including those where information loss occurs between care providers, have been identified as a risk to patient safety. Computerization of health information is often offered as a solution to improve the quality of care handovers and decrease adverse events related to patient safety. The purpose of this paper is to broaden our understanding of clinical handover as a patient safety issue, and to identify socio-technical issues which may come to bear on the success of computer based handover tools. Methods: Three in depth ethnographic case studies were undertaken. Field notes were transcribed and analyzed with the aid of qualitative data analysis software. Within case analysis was performed on each case, and subsequently, cross case analyses were performed. Results: We identified five types of socio-technical issues which must be addressed if electronic handover tools are to succeed. The inter-dependencies of these issues are addressed in relation to arenas in which health care work takes place. Conclusions: We suggest that the contextual nature of information, ethical and medico-legal issues arising in relation to information handover, and issues related to data standards and system interoperability must be addressed if computerized health information systems are to achieve improvements in patient safety related to handovers in care. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]