An ateleological design process - as opposed to a Teleological Design process - does not aim to achieve some objectively developed goal. Instead its aim, as suggested by Introna (1996) PDF paper 
is to maintain the wholeness and harmony of whatever systems/context in which it takes place.
Ateleological design assumes it's difficult, if not impossible, to develop an appropriate purpose at the beginning of the design process. Instead, what is required and what should be done arises out of on-going activity that contributes to and enhances the current understanding of the context.
Introna (1996) suggests the following attributes of ateleological design
| Attributes | Values |
|---|---|
| Ultimate purpose | Wholeness/harmony |
| Intermediate goals | Equilibrium/homeostasis |
| Design focus | Means/process |
| Designers | Member/part |
| Design scope | Whole |
| Design process | Local adaptation, reflection and learning |
| Design problems | Decentralised |
| Design control | Indirect via rules and regulators |
| Ultimate purpose |
Introna, L. (1996). "Notes on ateleological information systems development." Information Technology & People 9(4): 20-39.
See also Spontaneous Order.