Activity Theory and Process Modelling Thus, we believe it essential that effective process modelling approaches and tools provide adequate support for these softer aspects. In this context, activity theory would appear to have much to offer and a process modelling approach, centred on this theory, is the central focus of this paper. Activity theory has its origins in Russian psychology research (Vygotsky, 1978) and, more recently, has been adopted by a growing number of researchers working within the human-computer interaction (HCI) field as an alternative framework to the dominant cognitive psychology paradigm (Kuutti, 1996). Activity theory incorporates notions of intentionality, history, mediation, motivation, understanding, culture and community and it is these aspects that have proved attractive to HCI researchers pursuing this direction Û in particular, it provides a framework in which the critical issue of context can be taken into account. Thus, in extending their horizons, the HCI community has moved into the realm of process modelling. Unfortunately, however, a perusal of the activity theory literature reveals very little in the way of prescriptive guidelines or tools that might be employed by practitioners. Our research here can be viewed as a first step towards addressing this limitation.