Presentation given by Ezra Dessers, Seth Maenen, Geert Van Hootegem

1. Inter-organisational
production systems
Ezra Dessers, Seth Maenen, Geert Van Hootegem
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2. Organising production systems
• Task division
• Functional (sequential)
• Process-based (parallel)
• Coordination
• Centralised
• De-centralised
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Process 1
Process 3
Process 2
Process 1
Process 2
Process 3

3. Task division
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Sequential
Parallel

4. Demands / requirements
• Efficiency and quality
• Growing need for flexibility, innovation, sustainability
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5. Different levels
• Organisation
• intra-organisational (divisions, sections, …)
• Inter-organisational
•  interdependency between these levels
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6. Research projects
• Public sector
• Private sector (software development)
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7. Public sector
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8. Parallel
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Zoning Plans case
GenkGenk
Vlaams-
Brabant
Vlaams-
Brabant
LeuvenLeuven
Flemish
Region
Flemish
Region

9. Sequential
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Traffic Accidents case

10. Between and within
organisations
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The Zoning Plans case The Traffic Accidents case
« Inter-organisational chains of intra-organisational sub-systems »

12. Software development
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Requirements
Specifiers
Functional
analysts
Technical
Analysists
TestersDevelopers
• Sequential
• Parallel: coherent parts of software package are each
developed by separate, multidisciplinary team
• Tendency towards sequential structures
• Tendency towards hierarchical problem-solving
• Power relations, legal arrangements,
• E.g.: no discussion between programmers when unforeseen
question arises  send it up the hierarchical ladder, becomes a
legal struggle

13. Concluding remarks
• ST based structures have much to offer in complex
interorganisational systems
• Implementation / adoption is even more difficult than in
(intra-) organisational systems.
• Power relations & asymetries
• Interplay between different levels involved:
• - inter-organisational system
• - intra-organisational sub-system
• - organisational system
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14. • How to promote sociotechnical principles in complex inter-
organisational systems?
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15. Ezra Dessers
Centre for Sociological Research
KU Leuven
+32 16 32 34 57
ezra.dessers@soc.kuleuven.be
Thank you
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