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Dependability as Ordinary Action

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Computer Safety, Reliability and Security (SAFECOMP 2002)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2434))

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Abstract

This paper presents an ethnomethodologically informed study of the ways that more-or-less dependable systems are part of the everyday lifeworld of society members. Through case study material we explicate how dependability is a practical achievement and how it is constituted as a common sense notion. We show how attending to the logical grammar of dependability can clarify some issues and potential conceptual confusions around the term that occur between lay and ‘professional’ uses. The paper ends with a call to consider dependability in its everyday ordinary language context as well as more ‘professional’ uses of this term.

This points to the skills persons have, what they know and do competently in a particular setting. In this usage we also stress mundane, banal competence as opposed to professionalised conduct.

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© 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Voß, A., Slack, R., Procter, R., Williams, R., Hartswood, M., Rouncefield, M. (2002). Dependability as Ordinary Action. In: Anderson, S., Felici, M., Bologna, S. (eds) Computer Safety, Reliability and Security. SAFECOMP 2002. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2434. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45732-1_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45732-1_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-44157-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-45732-9

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