Task 9: exploring activity theory as a framework for describing activity systems

Put out a post summarizing your understanding of activity theory and its potential for describing activity systems

Cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT), further here named just as activity theory, is a theoretically-based conceptual framework that helps to understand the relationship between one’s mind and actions, and other relevant factors that influence one’s actions. It was firstly introduced by Soviet developmental psychologists Alexei N. Leont'ev and Sergei Rubinshtein. Afterwards, this study was expanded and adapted in different fields, for example a study of human computer interaction in Scandinavia, also called as Scandinavian Activity theory.

To see how the activity theory works we need to build up the activity system:

Figure 1. Activity theory graphic explanation. Source: http://www.quasar.ualberta.ca/edpy597mappin/images/bigtri.gif

The subject is a group or an individual person that performs and examines the activity to the object. Instruments (also named as mediating artefacts) are the catalysts of the activity. Rules set and regulate the possible framework for the action, community helps the subject to carry out the action and division of labour corresponds to the horizontal (between equal members) and vertical (power division) communication in the society.

The theory of activity systems can be broadly used in the real life. This powerful tool just needs to be transformed and adjusted to the particular circumstances, for example, to design a business model, test a new computer technology, help human resource managers to monitor their departments, or explain a complicated social process.