Socio-technical system include nontechnical elements such as people, processes, regulations, etc., as well as technical components such as computers, software, and other equipment. Socio-technical systems are so complex that it is practically impossible to understand them as a whole. Rather, you have to view them as layers, as shown in Figure.
These layers make up the socio-technical systems stack:
1. The equipment layer: This layer is composed of hardware devices, some of which may be computers.
2. The operating system layer: This layer interacts with the hardware and provides a set of common facilities for higher software layers in the system.
3. The communications and data management layer: This layer extends the operating system facilities and provides an interface that allows interaction with more extensive functionality, such as access to remote systems, access to a system database, etc. This is sometimes called middleware, as it is in between the application and the operating system.
4. The application layer: This layer delivers the application-specific functionality that is required. There may be many different application programs in this layer.
5. The business process layer: At this level, the organizational business processes, which make use of the software system, are defined and enacted.
6. The organizational layer: This layer includes higher-level strategic processes as well as business rules, policies, and norms that should be followed when using the system.
7. The social layer: At this layer, the laws and regulations of society that govern the operation of the system are defined.
