1. From Development Team to
Development Stream: Innovating STS
Theory and Practice for new “Adaptive
Work Systems”
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

2. Session Objectives
• Share the journey of the STS Roundtable’s discovery process
which illustrates how a virtual community of practitioners and
academics are reaching out from our past of action research
and collaborating in a self- managed way to discover STS
today
• Engage with the community to consider how we might widen
our Discovery Stream to co-create the development of theory
and practice for global impact
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

3. DISCOVERY PURPOSE
STS has matured and while it once was a technology that very effectively solved
specific workplace problems of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, work has become increasingly
global, virtual, and dynamic, requiring us to reassess STS. We believe STS is relevant
today and for the future based on the robustness of the theoretical framework first
formulated in the 1960’s. Our purpose is to discover a new conception of market need
and the application technology to address this new need.
For STS to survive as a viable philosophy, concept, and contribution to the world of
work, it must undergo a discontinuous change. Our collective role is to preserve the
core values and principles of STS and discover through re-invention the new STS
technologies that provide value. We are striving to produce:
 An evolving way of thinking about enabling “humane” organizations and model
their new design features
 A set of principles for designing organizations to meet the challenges in the
current market place
 A design process for applying the above principles in our practice as organization
consultants
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

4. STSRT DISCOVERY ROADMAP
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Scottsdale RT Chicago RT & Portland RT Ottawa RT Memphis RT Chicago RT MAY DT SEPTEMBER RT SEPTEMBER RT SEPTEMBER RT
Montreal RT New Hampshire Vancouver New Orleans CANTEBURY, UK
Renewal of STS The STS The STS The STS The STS The Discovery The STS The objective The objective
our Reinvention Community Community Community Community Team met face- Community is to have the is to have
Intellectual Began refined the applied the applied the began to to-face for the added to the STS ongoing
spirit of Reinvention Discovery Discovery iterate a 1st time as a next horizon Community collaboration
inquiry: Jim Taylor & Framework Framework Framework future team outside of STS participate in of the STS
Stu Winby & to two case to two case concept of an the annual thinking, the R&D Community in
What does framed the Reinvention studies studies & innovative meeting (a affirming the work of the a Discovery
an STS STS S-Curve Roadmap to presented to deepened its and adaptive commitment of complexity of Discovery Process of
approach to challenge in address demonstrate understanding organization. 3 days) to new Team during action
design look Chicago. identified 21st new design of future synthesize our organizational the session to research
like in the century approaches. direction. learnings to forms. further the throughout the
21st century? organizational date regarding development year.
obstacles the future of of new STS
Attended by STS. thinking.
two dozen Using a
STS The The The The The process The
stalwarts Reinvention Reinvention Discovery Discovery Discovery developed by Discovery
Group Group was Team grew Team Team grew Stu Winby, the Team
[McGee, renamed the with the expanded again with team created a expanded
Ordowich, Discovery addition of with one more two more prototype of a with Joe
Painter, and Team & two more member – members – new design Norton
Winby] expanded to members – Maupin & Laliberte & model [AEM]
formed three more Austrom & carried out McDermott including a
coming out of members – Mohr interim work & carried out new iteration
Montreal. Bateman, – e.g. Bell interim work of values and
Merck & Helicopter – e.g. STS design
Posey Case webinar Webinars & principles as
planned for a well as a new
Healthcare design process.
Solutions The Discovery
Lab Team added
participants for
this event –
Don DeGuerre
& Mary Winby
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

5. STS - Innovation across the Lifecycle
Presented in Chicago, May 2005 by Stu Winby and Jim Taylor
Discontinuous Discontinuous
Innovation Innovation and

Dominant Design change
(Industry Standard) Re-invention
Product
Innovation
Mature
STS
2000
 - 2004
STS
today
Number of Innovations
STS
1990s
STS
1980s

Established
Process Innovation
STS
1970s
STS
1950s – 60’s

Emerging
Seed
The Chicago 2005 Roundtable dialogue confirmed the need for innovation and
change to renew the practice of STS.
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

6. STS Organization Design S-Curves S Curve 3
S Curve 2
Adaptive
Enterprise/Work
System Design
S Curve 1
Re-engineering
High
Performance • Demand-centric, self-designing work
Trist, Work Systems systems
Emery, • Transorganizational boundaries: multi-
Davis • Next generation workplace directional communication, trust,
restructuring integration, coordination, linkages,
• Socio-technical cooperation, collaboration, cross-boundary
• Associated with new levels, function and culture,
systems, new plant
technology interdependency, connectivity and
start-up, open
• Large group intervention improvisation
systems experience • Networks
• Participative Democracy
• Etc • Alliances
(developed with STSRT community 2005)
PAVA 1983 (adapted by Austrom and Tenkasi for VOSS 2011)
STSv1.0 STS v2.0 STS v3.0
Routine work in a single Non-routine knowledge work in Virtual, non-routine work – e.g., R&D
organization – e.g., coal mines, single organizations – e.g., white consortia, complex supply chains
factories, oil refineries collar office work, professional • Individual performers and work
• Work groups with pooled services firm, NPD and R&D groups distributed across multiple
identity • Individual performers, locations and/or organizations
• Unitary conversion process specialized expertise • Multiple, concurrent independent
• Linear conversion sequence • Multiple, concurrent and interdependent conversion
conversion processes processes
• Nonlinear conversion flow • Nonlinear conversion flows
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

7. The Discovery Process
STS Values
and Design
Principles
R&D Lab Future State
The New STS
principles
Today’s
Organizational
& design process
requirements for the adaptive STS 3.0
enterprise
State-of-the-art
management &
organization
science
A Six Stage Continuum of the R&D Process
R R D D D D
1 2 1 2 3 4
PURE RESEARCH APPLIED EXPLORATORY ADVANCED START-UP (pilot SCALE-UP
WORK (Open RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT plants, beta (volume & costs
Project) WORK (Semi- WORK (Semi- WORK (Semi- testing) DEVELOPMENT
• Don’t know open Project) closed Project) closed Project) DEVELOPMENT WORK (Closed
what we are • Don’t know • Know what • Know what WORK (Closed Project)
looking for what i.e. end • Don’t know • Don’t know Project) • Know what
• Don’t know state or how to achieve how in detail • Know what • Know how to
how to carry objective it to achieve it • Know how to achieve it
out research • Know how to achieve it operationally
carry out conceptually
research
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

8. Team Descriptions
• Design Intent: To discover the impact of virtuality on deliberations across the R & D continuum
• Approach: Research - Case study methodology - 3 sites
• Current: Analyzing results, continued research/survey, complete paper
VOSS
• Design Intent: Humane enterprise design in an increasingly turbulent and connected world
• Approach: Co-creation, observation, action research
• Current: Continued action research, cases, documentation
Adaptive Enterprises
• Design Intent: To develop the next generation STS Model
• Approach: Action Research - Co-creation, case studies, deep dives
• Current: Continued action research, cases, documentation
Adaptive Work Systems
• Design Intent: define a clear focus for the ongoing discussion in engaging meaningful voice for
workers in organization and community design
• Approach: Observation, case study, research & writing exchange, on-line dialogue & discussion,
on the subject of direct and indirect worker voice
Voice of the Worker • Current: Continued action research, cases, documentation
• Design Intent: Support writing that advances STS theory and practice; encourage dissemination
of writings
• Approach: Quarterly tele-conferences about individual and group writing projects. Participation
welcome at every stage of writing
• Current: Several member projects discussed; upcoming discussion of work-in-progress on
Writing Round Table expertise.
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

9. voss
• Design Intent: To discover the impact of virtuality on
deliberations across the R & D continuum
• Approach: Research - Case study methodology - 3
sites
• Current: Analyzing results, continued research/survey,
complete paper
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

10. Adaptive Enterprise
• Design Intent: Humane enterprise design in an
increasingly turbulent and connected world
• Approach: Co-creation, observation, action
research
• Current: Continued action research, cases,
documentation
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

11. Adaptive Work Systems
• Design Intent: To develop the next generation STS
Model
• Approach: Action Research - Co-creation, case
studies, deep dives
• Current: Continued action research, cases,
documentation
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

12. Voice of the Worker
• Design Intent: discussions have been an attempt
to define a clear focus for engaging meaningful
voice for workers, illuminating essential nature of
worker involvement in designing work and
enterprises for sustainable economies
• Approach: On line discussion and sharing of team
members writing and research on the subject of
direct and indirect worker voice
• Current: Continued action research, cases,
documentation
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

13. STS Writing Roundtable
• Purposes: Support writing that advances STS
theory and practice; encourage dissemination of
writings
• Approach/methodology: Quarterly tele-
conferences about current/proposed individual
and group writing projects. Participation
welcome at every stage of writing.
• Current state: Several member projects
discussed; upcoming discussion of work-in-
progress on expertise
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby

14. Exercise
Directions: At your table, please discuss and
capture your discussion on a flip chart or two,
put up on map and be ready to reengage with
the full group in 30 minutes.
– What shared learning processes have you/others
experienced with respect to the development of
STS theory and practice?
– How can you imagine joining in this stream to
broaden and strengthen- co-create our STS theory
and practice globally for the 21st Century?
Developed by STS•RT Discovery Team: Kevin Boyle, Doug Austrom, Don DeGuerre, Nina Gregg, Bob Laliberte, Helen
Maupin, Craig McGee, Betsy Merck, Bernard Mohr, Joe Norton, Max Ogden, Carolyn Ordowich, Bert Painter, Pam Posey,
Wim Springer, Stu Winby