The term 'Sociotechnical System', or STS, was first introduced in the 1960's by researchers Emery and Trist to describe the complex nature of large human-machine organizational systems. Joint causation refers to the notion that the social and technical subsystems are both affected by the environment. Since both subsystems respond to causes in the environment, optimizing one suboptimizes the other.
Joint optimization is therefore the goal.
Joint design is the method by which joint optimization is achieved. Macroergonomics Macroergonomics focuses on the optimization of work system design through consideration of relevant personnel, technological, and environmental variables and their interactions. . This goal is achieved through a unique approach to design, one which considers four interrelated subsystems. The design of the technological or technical subsystem defines the tasks to be performed, and the design of the personnel or social subsystem prescribes the way in which tasks are to be performed. Sociotechnical analysis and design has been successfully deployed in a number of industries from mining to information systems.