A systematic review of sociotechnical system methods between 1951 and 2019

Abstract

A Sociotechnical System (STS) perspective offers potentially valuable insights into problems in a wide range of domains of society. The development of STS-based methods provide practical help for organisations when planning and evaluating new forms of designing the work systems. The current study provides an up-to date review of STS-based methods in seven different domains including (1) specialist STS methods, (2) the human factor, human behaviour and ergonomics, (3) safety, risk, reliability and accident prevention, (4) complexity, (5) information systems, information technology and the internet of things, (6) organisational design, work system and management studies and (7) design science. Based on a systematic review, 106 STS-based methods have been identified and grouped by relevant domains and summarised to form a unified list of the available methods for use by anyone involved in the system and organisational design.