Design principles for the virtual workplace

Abstract

This paper provides a philosophical basis for the design of 'virtual workplace' software applications. Design is seen as growing from historical roots of technological development for 'a will to power.' Software design principles are developed from assumptions about human behavior in workgroups within large, complex social organizations - which are evolving rapidly towards different-time/different-place collaboration. These design principles are linked to corresponding elements of healthy organizational functioning which can be expressed and used as metrics to measure the impact of these designs on organizational effectiveness and productivity.