Integrating the Rational Unified Process and participatory design for development of socio-technical systems: a user participative approach

This study presents the MOPT-Systems Development Process, aimed at bridging the gap between ideality and reality. The process is based on an approach to systems development involving a formalised process for developing socio-technical systems. In specific, it integrates a modified Rational Unified Process (RUP) framework with a socio-technical system view and an extended participatory design (PD) perspective using PD techniques and social research methods. It is argued that the integrated approach, by combining the RUP formalisation, modeling tools and coverage of the entire development process, together with the parallel development of methodology, organisation, and personnel, will greatly enhance the chance of solid systems, grounded in the organisation and appreciated by its users. In this respect, the close cooperation with the end-users throughout the development process is supposed to contribute.