Determinants of dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption in SMEs – actor network theory perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunday C. Eze ◽  
Vera C. Chinedu-Eze ◽  
Adenike O. Bello
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Process ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
One Stage ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Ict Adoption

PurposeWhile traditional theories of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption have been deployed to study ICT adoption in the past, these theories considers ICT adoption as static and rely on conceptualising factors as variables and predicting their levels of outcome at a single decision stage. Although much has been credited to these theories, they have continuously ignored the fact that as decisions to adopt are made and challenged along the adoption process, such decision can be influenced by the same, different or combination of factors at different stages of the adoption process. This paper aims to examine ICT adoption from a dynamic process perspective and to explore the key determinants and how these differ from one stage of the adoption process to another.Design/methodology/approachQualitative method was adopted in this study. Both unstructured and semi-structured interviews were conducted in two separate stages using purposeful random sampling. Hybrid approach of thematic analysis was adopted in analysing the data.FindingsThis study develops a framework informed by actor network theory (ANT) concepts and finds that using ANT to examine the process of adoption helps to unveil the recursive nature of the process. The study reveals that the 14 determinants identified in this study influenced adoption at different stages. Factors such as ease of use, managerial time, customer focus and adoption influenced adoption at all the stages. This reveals that factors influencing ICT adoption are not static at one particular stage rather it may influence ICT adoption at different stages.Research limitations/implicationsQualitative research is often subjective and interpretive in nature, and one of the limitations is the sample used in this research. Considering the small number of interviews carried out in this study, the generalisation of finding and the framework remains to be established across a wider population. Therefore, the factors presented could be limited considering that a number of practitioners that are involved in establishing emerging ICT are numerous. Therefore, other factors are prevailing to other industries or sectors that may provide scholars another way of examining these factors. Also, the framework demonstrates that it is a valuable analytical tool for researchers to examine how and why different actors including small and medium enterprise (SME) managers act around emerging ICT.Originality/valueThis study develops a framework that revealed the interactive and recursive nature of ICT adoption and the determinants influencing the process of ICT adoption at different stages thereby advancing ICT adoption research. The study challenges researchers to always consider ICT adoption as dynamic and unpredictable instead of one-off action as factors influencing its adoption are not static rather; they vary from one stage to another.

scholarly journals An actor-network theory perspective to study the non-adoption of a collaborative technology intended to support online community participation

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-365
Author(s):  
Gibran Rivera ◽  
Andrew M. Cox
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Technology

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the value of Actor-network theory as an approach to explain the non-adoption of collaborative technology. Design/Methodology/Approach The notion of translation and related concepts pertaining to Actor-network theory are used to explore the case of non-participation in an organizational online community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 HR professionals belonging to a multi-campus university system in Mexico. Findings The study shows that participation in the online community did not occur as expected by those promoting its use. An initial inductive analysis showed that the factors that undermine participation had to do with the interface design of the technology and the individual motivations and benefits derived from participation. A second analysis, using ANT showed how processes of negotiation, conflict, enrolment, alignment, and betrayal that occurred during the emergence and evolution of the new network played a critical role in technology adoption leading to the dissolution of the initiative to adopt the collaborative technology. Originality/value The study shows the value of ANT as a tool to better understand the adoption and use of collaborative technology. The analysis goes beyond existing explanations of participation, which tend to focus attention on matters such as the interface design or the personal motivations and benefits derived from participation. It does so by moving away from solely looking at what occurs within the boundaries of a community and understanding the context within which it is being introduced. It prompts the analysis of moments of problematization, interessement, enrolment, and mobilization to explore the adoption process, including the role of non-human actors.

scholarly journals Examining emerging ICT's adoption in SMEs from a dynamic process approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunday Chinedu Eze ◽  
Yanqing Duan ◽  
Hsin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Dynamic Process ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Adoption Research ◽  
Process Perspective

Purpose – This paper aims to advance information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption research and practice by examining and understanding the emerging ICT adoption in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from a dynamic process perspective using actor-network theory (ANT). Design/methodology/approach – This study employs a qualitative approach to investigate how services SMEs are constantly engaging in ICT adoption for improving business performance. Two rounds of interviews were conducted with 26 interviewees. Data collected from the unstructured and semi-structured interviews were analysed to understand the dynamic adoption process, actors involved and their interactions. Findings – The findings reveal the recursive and dynamic nature of the emerging ICT adoption process and the constant interactions and negotiations of various actors. Underpinned by the key concepts of ANT and validated by the empirical data, a framework is developed to depict the stages of dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption, the actors involved and the associated key activities. Research limitations/implications – Qualitative research is interpretive in nature and the size of the sample used is limited. These limitations require caution for the generalization of the findings. The framework can be further validated across a wider population using mixed methods combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. Practical implications – Emerging ICT adoption has moved from a simple adopters’ participation process to involving various actors that constantly interact and influence the process. SMEs manager can be influenced by and influence the technology advancement. As a result, SMEs need constantly interact with various human and non-human actors to keep up with the new ICT development and benefit from the emerging opportunities. Originality/value – The research focuses on the emerging ICT adoption in SMEs from the dynamic process perspective using ANT. It advances ICT adoption research and practice by developing a framework to depict the dynamic and interactive nature of ICT adoption process, and the actors involved and their interactions in the adoption process.

Using critical realism in critical accounting research – a commentary by two ANTs

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 655-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Baxter ◽  
Wai Fong Chua
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accounting Research ◽  
Methodological Choices ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
The Social

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to respond to Modell’s arguments regarding the relative usefulness of critical realist philosophy in relation to actor-network theory.Design/methodology/approachThe authors outline the challenges in applying critical realism to critical accounting. The authors then consider Modell’s criticisms of actor-network theory, providing a counterargument highlighting the methodological choices distinguishing actor-network theory from critical realism.FindingsThe authors argue that critical realism, whilst providing an interesting addition to the critical accounting research project, confronts challenges disentangling intransitive and transitive forms of knowledge. Actor-network theory is presented as a way of examining accounting practices as local associations, providing practical opportunities to study (the assembly of) “the social”.Research limitations/implicationsMethodological diversity is to be explored, acknowledging the ontological politics of our choices.Originality/valueThis paper is an original commentary contributing to critical accounting research.

The use of activity theory and actor network theory as lenses to underpin information systems studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Nehemia-Maletzky ◽  
Tiko Iyamu ◽  
Irja Shaanika
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Activity Theory ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Interpretive Approach ◽  
Systems Studies

PurposeThis study aims to examine how both activity theory (AT) and actor network theory (ANT) can be complementarily applied in information system (IS) studies.Design/methodology/approachThe interpretivist approach was followed, within which the qualitative methods were used. Existing literature was gathered as data. The analysis was done by following the interpretive approach.FindingsBased on the analysis and discussion, a guide for complementary use of both AT and ANT in IS studies was developed. The guide is divided into two parts, which helps to achieve the objectives of the study: complimentary use of AT and ANT in an IS study and order-of-use of both theories in a study, as depicted in the framework.Originality/valueThis study is original in that it has not previously been published in part or full. The results of the study is intended to be of value to both IS postgraduate students and researchers.

Tracing healthcare organisation integration in the UK using actor–network theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelhakim Altabaibeh ◽  
Kay Ann Caldwell ◽  
Margaret A Volante
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Healthcare Organisation ◽  
Integration Process ◽  
Patient Journey ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe study presents the findings from a study over a four-year period of the emergence of an integrated healthcare organisation in response to policy changes within the United Kingdom (UK). The aim of the research was to understand the process of healthcare organisation integration through the lens of actor–network theory (ANT).Design/methodology/approachAn instrumental case study approach to data collection was selected. Three methods of data collection were used to trace the healthcare organisation integration process: in depth semistructured interviews using a virtual patient journey across services with 36 purposefully selected informants, document analysis and field observations and notes.FindingsThe findings of this study suggest that neither the context nor the actors were the sole determinants of the outcome of the integration. Rather it was the dynamic interplay between the actors, their context, the shared agency and the resources available to them as the change emerged shaped the end result.Research implicationsThe findings denote that organisations need to attend to frontline workers as key contributors to change and development that is meaningful for service users. Methodologically, combining the ANT and constructive case study to understand the integration process provided us with new perspective to understand the trajectory of change process.Originality/valueThis original case study fills a gap in information about the role of healthcare professionals in healthcare policy process and the interactive relationship between all stakeholders of policy process including nonhuman actors.

The implementation of activity-based costing by a local government: an actor-network theory and trial of strength perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurice Gosselin ◽  
Marc Journeault
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Management Accounting ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Activity Based Costing ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Human Actors

Purpose Some public sector organizations have decided to implement activity-based costing (ABC), a new cost calculation device and management accounting innovation initially designed for the private sector. The purpose of this study is to better understand the translation of this new calculation device in the context of a local government and to identify the trials of strength that actors faced during the implementation. Design/methodology/approach Building on actor-network theory and the concept of “trial of strength,” this study examines how a major change in a large local government’s structure, the merger of several cities, led to the adoption of ABC. This case study provides a setting for conducting a longitudinal analysis of the translation of a cost management innovation, ABC, in a public sector organization. Findings This study highlights how human and non-human actors interact when implementing a management accounting innovation in a local government and the trials of strength that they face. It also shows that although ABC helped the local government deal with issues such as setting fees, assessing outsourcing opportunities, increasing accountability and improving processes, the oversophistication of the technology used to implement the ABC model and the lack of links between the costing device and the budgeting process provoked a struggle among these two networks, leading actors to choose the budget over ABC. Originality/value This study’s findings extend the work on trials of strength of Christensen et al. (2019) and Laguecir et al. (2020). While those two studies focused on the struggles existing between opposing networks of human actors regarding the strategic orientation or the mission of public sector organizations, this study highlights that trials of strength may also occur when actors agree on the objectives of the new accounting innovation but not on how it is implemented.

The struggle to fabricate accounting narrative obfuscation

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian A. Rutherford
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Educational Psychology ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accounting Research ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Human Actors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the accounting research project concerned with accounting narrative obfuscation, focusing on the translation of the concept of readability from educational psychology via an earlier literature concerned with the readability of accounting narratives per se. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses actor-network theory and examines, in particular, the need for a network to accommodate the interests of its actors and the consequent risk of failure. Findings The analysis shows that the project is failing because the network seeking to support it is failing, and failing because of its inability to adapt sufficiently to accommodate the interests of its constituents. This failure is contrasted with the earlier concern with readability per se, which did see a successful reconfiguration of actors’ interests. Research limitations/implications The puzzle of the maladjustment of the network concerned with obfuscation is examined and it is suggested that it is a consequence of interests prevailing in the wider academic research network within which the relevant human actors are embedded. Social implications The reasons for the failure of the project are bound up in the wider circumstances of the contemporary accounting research community and may affect scholars’ capacity to pursue knowledge effectively. Originality/value This paper contributes to a modest stream of actor–network analysis directed at accounting research itself.

Sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) in the cultural village: an actor-network perspective in the case of Laweyan Batik Village

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Budi Harsanto ◽  
Chrisna T. Permana
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
15Th Century ◽  
Business Sectors

PurposeThis study aims to explore the development of sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) in the cultural village. SOI has recently generated widespread interest, both academically and practically, by factoring in environmental and social impacts in addition to economic aspects. However, previous works have mostly been performed at profit organisations, with few discussed at the non-profit, and likewise, in the cultural village.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a qualitative approach by focusing on a unique case, Laweyan Batik Village in Surakarta, Indonesia. Founded in the 15th century, Laweyan Batik Village remains the oldest batik village in Indonesia. Batik is the traditional fabric of Indonesia, influenced by Arabian, Chinese and European patterns, that was recognised in 2009 by UNESCO as part of the World's Intangible Cultural Heritage. The actor-network theory (ANT) is used as an analytical framework to understand the process of SOI development through the role of actors in developing innovations.FindingsThe findings suggest that, it is not only in mainstream business sectors and formal settings, as already evidenced by existing literature, that SOI can be promoted, but also in community sectors and within informal settings. This paper has found that the development of sustainability innovation in these settings is challenged by the dynamics of the actors and the institutional settings. The overall development process of sustainability innovation has been undertaken through so-called “collaborative practices”, emphasising the involvement of government actors and non-government actors, highlighting community leaders, academics and NGOs as the “in-between” actors who provide knowledge sharing and maintain communications to ensure the promotion of the SOI concepts and programmes.Originality/valueThis research contributes in two main ways: first, an understanding of the process of sustainability innovation in a cultural village that has not been deeply explored by current literature; and second, the use of the actor network theory as an analytical framework from which to map the process of SOI collaborative development through networking dimensions.

The actor-network theory as a method in the analysis of Samarco disaster in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-191
Author(s):  
Camilla Zanon Bussular ◽  
Cecília Gerhardt Burtet ◽  
Cláudia Simone Antonello
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Social World ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
The Social ◽  
Methodological Aspects ◽  
Empirical Demonstration

Purpose The actor-network theory (ANT) has been understood as a method, as a way of engaging in the social world and also transform it. The purpose of this paper is to show the ANT methodological aspects, provide an empirical demonstration of this approach as a method, and promote a debate about the implications and importance of understanding it as a method and not just as a theory. Design/methodology/approach By analyzing the criticisms of ANT seminal concepts and its repercussions, the authors have offered an understanding of its methodological aspects and its implications for the practice of research. An empirical study conducted in Brazil is presented to exemplify the use of ANT as a method. Findings The methodological reflection of this approach starts from the recognition that the methods are part of the social world that they research; they are totally imbued with theoretical representations of this world; they are social because they also help to constitute this social world. As a method, ANT seeks to understand the process of stabilizing practices, negotiations and controversies that are established when such practices are in the process of being. In that sense, following the relational disputes that build a practice before their stabilization is the task to be accomplished for the researcher in the field. Research limitations/implications The paper offers relevant contributions to the understanding of ANT as a method. The authors encourage other researchers to venture into the development of this approach in future studies that further explore its methodological character. Originality/value There are not many studies on ANT as a method. If ANT is also a method, can we apply it to any research? The authors hope to bring this matter to discussion, understanding and questioning the use of this theoretical-methodological approach in the research fields.

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