Activity U (VIIII): Project-oriented Activity Theory

Oliver Ding
CALL4
Published in
50 min readJan 4, 2021

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Introduce a brand new approach to Activity Theory with a series of diagrams

The previous article Activity U (VIII): Project as a Unit of Activity introduces Andy Blunden’s Project-oriented theoretical approach of Activity with a case study and background. I also shared a diagram I made for the approach. In fact, I designed a series of diagrams. This article aims to dig deep into Project-oriented Activity Theory with these diagrams.

In addition, I also review the value of the new approach from two sides: theoretical contributions and practical heuristic functions.

Contents

Part 1: A Brief of Andy Blunden’s Approach

1.1 A 3–3–3–1 schema
1.2 A minimal review

Part 2: Diagrams

2.1 Diagramming as Thinking
2.2 A “germ-cell” diagram
2.3 Project as “Social Movement”

Part 3: Activity as Formation of Concept (diagram)

3.1 Hegel’s four developmental stages of Projects
3.2 Conception, Misconception and Proliferate
3.3 Initialization, Objectification, and Institutionalization
3.4 Individual, Particular and…

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Oliver Ding
CALL4

Founder of CALL(Creative Action Learning Lab), information architect, knowledge curator.