Re-Describing Knowledge Organization — A Genre and Activity-Based View

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Purpose
This chapter offers a re-description of knowledge organization in light of genre and activity theory. Knowledge organization needs a new description in order to account for those activities and practices constituting and causing concrete knowledge organization activity. Genre and activity theory is put forward as a framework for situating such a re-description.
Findings
By means of genre and activity theory, the chapters argues that understanding the genre and activity systems, in which every form of knowledge organization is embedded, makes us capable of seeing how knowledge organization, as a genre, both can be a tool and an object in genred human activities.
Originality/value
In contrast to much research into knowledge organization, this chapter does not emphasize techniques, standards, or rules to be the sole object of study. Instead, an emphasis is put on the genre and activity systems informing and shaping concrete forms of knowledge organization activity. With this, we are able to understand how knowledge organization activity also contributes to construct genre and activity systems and not only aid them.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGenre theory in information studies
EditorsJack Andersen
Number of pages29
Volume11
PublisherEmerald Group Publishing
Publication date2015
Edition1
Pages13 - 42
ISBN (Print)978-1-78441-255-5
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-78441-254-8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
SeriesStudies in Information
Volume11
ISSN2055-5377

    Research areas

  • Faculty of Humanities - Genre theory, activity theory, activity systems, knowledge organization

ID: 125737592