Whose Work Does the Computer Do?
Foundations of Work Informatics
1st Edition
Published on 19. February 2026
324 pages
978-952-89-8680-5 (ISBN)
Description
In this book, which belongs to the field of Information Systems Research, work informatics refers extensively to information technology and information systems. Its point of departure, however, is work itself, while technology must settle for playing the role of being a tool. The goal of an information system thus lies outside itself - in the goal-oriented activities of an organization. In work informatics, work takes on three faces: individual work, collaboration, and services. For its part, information technology combines to serve all of these.
The case studies provided by the Laboris research group underline the descriptive and explanatory power of work informatics. The collection of Laboris accounts takes its structure from a selected set of theoretical and conceptual frameworks, most of them drawn from the human sciences. Work informatics sheds new light on agility, a goal pursued by many organizations. It also helps actual knowledge workers - individuals and groups - to grasp the silent and invisible questions of internal working life, which, given their nature, often seem to escape even the slightest touch.
The case studies provided by the Laboris research group underline the descriptive and explanatory power of work informatics. The collection of Laboris accounts takes its structure from a selected set of theoretical and conceptual frameworks, most of them drawn from the human sciences. Work informatics sheds new light on agility, a goal pursued by many organizations. It also helps actual knowledge workers - individuals and groups - to grasp the silent and invisible questions of internal working life, which, given their nature, often seem to escape even the slightest touch.
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12/2025
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Person
Markku I. Nurminen is Professor Emeritus of Information Systems Research at the University of Turku. His speciality is work informatics. In the course of a quarter of a century (1985-2010), along with his research group (named Laboris) he carried out some two or three dozen case studies focusing on Finnish organizations in both the private and the public sectors. The common thread running through these projects was the beneficial application of information systems. The benefits produced by their use were intended to improve organisational activity, but extracting them from the system turned out to be a surprisingly difficult task. In consequence, there was no shortage of interesting projects.
Professor Nurminen discovered many of the fundamentals of work informatics while maintaining connections with research groups in information systems research not only in Finland but also across the whole Nordic area. One of the most important contributions he introduced into his own research community was a multidisciplinary approach that was also used by the Laboris team. Professor Nurminen retired in 2009. Since then, he has participated in teaching work informatics at his old university, while at the same time crystallizing its foundations. Work informatics continues to be researched and taught at the University of Turku. (https://workinformatics.utu.fi/)
Professor Nurminen discovered many of the fundamentals of work informatics while maintaining connections with research groups in information systems research not only in Finland but also across the whole Nordic area. One of the most important contributions he introduced into his own research community was a multidisciplinary approach that was also used by the Laboris team. Professor Nurminen retired in 2009. Since then, he has participated in teaching work informatics at his old university, while at the same time crystallizing its foundations. Work informatics continues to be researched and taught at the University of Turku. (https://workinformatics.utu.fi/)
