To Reveal Is to Critique: Actor-Network Theory and Critical Information Systems Research

2016 ◽  
pp. 83-101
Author(s):  
Bill Doolin ◽  
Alan Lowe
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Critical Information ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Research

Actor-Network Theory in Information Systems Research

2005 ◽  
pp. 42-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Tatnall
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Research

Building an information system is a difficult task, partly due to the problem of ascertaining the requirements of the intended users, but also because of the complexity of the large number of human-machine interactions (Banville, 1991). This complexity is reflected in the difficulty of building these systems to operate free from error and to perform as intended. The dictionary defines innovation as “the alteration of what is established; something newly introduced”. As the introduction or improvement of an information system in an organisation necessarily involves change, information systems research often involves research into technological innovation.

Critical Realist Information Systems Research

2011 ◽  
pp. 811-817
Author(s):  
Sven A. Carlsson
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Structuration Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Research

The information systems (IS) field is dominated by positivistic research approaches and theories (Chen & Hirschheim, 2004). IS scholars have pointed out weaknesses in these approaches and theories and in response different strands of post-modern theories and constructivism have gained popularity— see, Lee, Liebenau, and DeGross (1997) and Trauth (2001). The approaches argued for include ethnography, constructivism, grounded theory, and theories like Giddens’ structuration theory and Latour’s actor-network theory. (We refer to these different research approaches and theories as “post-approaches” and “post-theories” when distinction is not required).

Actor-Network Theory Applied to Information Systems Research

2011 ◽  
pp. 20-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Tatnall
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Research

Building an information system is a difficult task, partly due to the problem of ascertaining the requirements of the intended users, but also because of the complexity of the large number of human-machine interactions (Tatnall & Davey, 2005). This complexity is reflected in the difficulty of building these systems to operate free from error and to perform as intended. The dictionary defines innovation as “the alteration of what is established; something newly introduced” (Macquarie Library, 1981 p. 914). As the introduction or improvement of an information system in an organisation necessarily involves change, information systems research often involves research into technological innovation.

Actor-Network Theory as a Socio-Technical Approach to Information Systems Research

2003 ◽  
pp. 266-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Tatnall
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Research ◽  
New Business ◽  
Human Actors

An information system is a socio-technical discipline involving both human and non-human entities. Much of the research done in an information system context investigates changes caused by the introduction of new business or organisational system, or changes made to an existing system, and so can be regarded as research into aspects of technological innovation. Information systems are complex entities and their development is a complex undertaking. Research in information systems needs to take account of the complexity of information systems development rather than take steps to hide this. An approach to information systems research, based on actor-network theory, offers a good means of allowing impartial treatment of the contributions of both human and non-human actors, and of handling the complexities involved. This chapter outlines such an approach.

To Reveal is to Critique: Actor–Network Theory and Critical Information Systems Research

2002 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Doolin ◽  
Alan Lowe
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Critical Research ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Empirical Inquiry ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Strong Emphasis

It has been suggested that, in order to maintain its relevance, critical research must develop a strong emphasis on empirical work rather than the conceptual emphasis that has typically characterized critical scholarship in management. A critical project of this nature is applicable in the information systems (IS) arena, which has a growing tradition of qualitative inquiry. Despite its relativist ontology, actor-network theory places a strong emphasis on empirical inquiry and this paper argues that actor-network theory, with its careful tracing and recording of heterogeneous networks, is well suited to the generation of detailed and contextual empirical knowledge about IS. The intention in this paper is to explore the relevance of IS research informed by actor-network theory in the pursuit of a broader critical research project as defined in earlier work.

Understanding the Implementation of IT Governance Arrangements and IT Infrastructure Using Actor Network Theory

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-55
Author(s):  
Hafizah Mohamad Hsbollah ◽  
Alan Simon ◽  
Nick Letch
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
It Governance ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Global Network ◽  
It Infrastructure ◽  
Network Approach ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Governance Arrangements

The implementation of IT governance (ITG) arrangements and its relationship to IT infrastructure has not received much attention in either the ITG or the information systems (IS) literature. Based on the premise that the foundation on which ITG is implemented lies in the interaction between ITG arrangements of structures, processes and relational mechanisms and IT infrastructure, the authors present a discussion of how actor network theory (ANT) can be used as an overarching theoretical framework of explanation. The authors propose a model of ITG implementation and discuss how ANT, in particular the local/global network approach, can be applied to understand the relationship that exists between ITG arrangements and IT infrastructure.

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