Task 11: Our components versus components of activity theory
by Ilya Shmorgun
Introduction
This is an attempt to analyze the initial list of concepts composed by the group in order to describe activity systems with the newly acquired knowledge of activity theory.
Did we come up with all the necessary components for analyzing and describing interactive systems?
It seems that most of the necessary components of activity theory have been covered in the initial list.
What components seem irrelevant? Why?
As activity theory focuses on exploring human interactions in a certain context it seems that such things as quality, workmanship, plan and model are not really that relevant to the overall analysis. Instead we should focus on the subjects of the activity, their actions and goals they are trying to achieve, the results of those actions and the roles subjects (actors) assume in the activity.
Currently we have a long list of components, which can be definitely shortened. How would you do that?
Some of the items in the list seem to be redundant at this point and maybe it would make sense to merge them into larger groups. So for example role, participants and project manager all seem to refer to a similar thing.
From another point of view it would make sense to list the main components of activity theory. Those could be: action, goal, result, rules, actors and roles. Once the main items are set everything else could be used to expand these categories.
Are there components which are not covered by the activity theory?
Some of the components which do not seem to be covered by activity theory are:
- Quality
- Worksmanship
- Control
- Location
- Software
- Plan
- Model
Conclusion
It is quite interesting to see that the initial list of concepts composed by the group in order to describe the course’s activity system was not that far from being correct. Still it seems appropriate to assume that not many of us actually knew what we were doing at the time 
. Hopefully the state of things has changed by now as we have been able to better acquaint ourselves with the theoretical basis of the course and the topics being covered.
Components
- time frame – every task has a timeframe (the length of a task, a start time and an end time).
- schedule – every task must be scheduled to occur while taking into account other tasks
- time management – the process of creating a schedule in which a task may occur is called time management
- process – a single event that has restrictions (time, actors, means etc.)
- methodology – a collection of tools/means for organizing a processes/activity
- options – considerations and variations regarding a process/task/activity
- interrelatedness (relations) – dependency, a single process/task may depend on other variables before it can occur
- rules – a process may be defined by a set of rules (e.g. a degree is handed after completion of a specific curriculum)
- control – a process/task/activity is controlled some entity
- aim/goal – a process/task/activity has a goal, a motivated effort enforced by the actors
- task – a quantified/defined assignment with a definite purpose
- start - the beginning of a task/process/activity
- end – the end of a task/process/activity
- result – is the objective realization of what has been accomplished
- effect – every activity related task has an effect regarding the future outcome/goal
- feedback
- restrictions / limitations (time,money, budget…)
- location (located)
- tools
- trigger / event
- software – technological means for achieving a goal and planning activities
- actors
- role
- participants – same as actors?
- project manager – a person responsible for creating an activity plan (project plan) and carrying it out — related to actors
- sequence – the order of tasks/activities
- plan
- evaluation criteria
- resource
- learnability
- model / modeling
- quality
- workmanship
