Construction of a Complex Adaptive Systems Pattern as an Epistemological Lens for E-Government Systems

So far, no coherent approach exists to identify, describe and analyse socio-technical systems. In this paper we propose such a concept, by drawing on three theories: complex adaptive systems, enterprise architecture and pattern theory. We endeavor to combine elements of these theories and resolve the incoherence among them. We have also tested the empirical relevance of this approach for the case of semantic standardization in Germany. Thereby we show, that the approach is sufficiently feasible, correct and useful.