Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis and review of the sociotechnical approach as a result of analysis of experiences with the introduction of ICT in higher education. Design/methodology/approach: The experiences of the author with the creation of special web sites in palaeography are analysed paying special attention to knowledge construction and development at three different levels: individual, community, and organisation (society). The results are compared with those from the concept of communities of practice. Findings: There is a need for the introduction of a new element in the SECI cycle and the introduction of a new element in the scheme for a sociotechnical approach. Research limitations/implications: The findings need further experimentation in order to discover any validity for the knowledge management field in relation to the concept of communities of practice. Practical implications: The use of the scheme for the sociotechnical approach could help in the planning and implementation of information systems in a variety of situations. Originality/value: The paper introduces new elements to be considered for the application of the sociotechnical approach and for the construction of information systems in corporations and organisations. (Contains 4 figures.)