Using Work System Theory to Achieve a Collaborative Health Information System in Social Care Environments

Abstract

This paper describes how work system theory (WST) was used to achieve the goal of creating an information system artifact that allows for both static and dynamic views of the work systems used in social care environments, in particular those of addiction peer support. In so doing, the internal environment, strategies, and infrastructure created the foundation upon which the Collaborative Health Information for Peer Support Specialists (CHIPSS) was implemented. Doing so was part of an organizational and state-sponsored strategy to streamline social care practices and enhance client care. Scenario-based requirements gathering was instrumental in ensuring that the work of the peer support specialist, rather than the information system, was the focus of the artifact. This study reports on the alignment of initial requirements to the final artifact. Results of a post-implementation survey suggest that the resulting requirements were well aligned with the initial requirements elucidated from the scenarios.