Controversies as method for ANTi-history: An inquiry into public administration practices

Organization ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 135050842110153
Author(s):  
César Tureta ◽  
Bruno Luiz Américo ◽  
Stewart Clegg
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Public University ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Focal Points ◽  
Translation Process ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Multiple Realities ◽  
The Past ◽  
Actor Networks

Drawing on Actor-Network Theory and the cartography of controversies, we present a method for ANTi-History research to investigate the implementation of a contract between a labour services company and a public university hospital in Brazil. The research question focuses on how the past is enacted in the present. The method is a general guideline based on five focal points used to organize the fieldwork: identifying controversies; mapping the actor-network; drawing out the translation process; politics of actor-networks and multiple reality/power relations. The proposed method makes two contributions to ANTi-History literature. First, although these focal points have been discussed by ANTi-History scholars, they are scattered throughout the literature. We unite them to offer a guide to doing historically embedded research. Second, we show how controversy analysis can be helpful for mapping the politics of actor-networks and describing multiple realities in the construction of history.

scholarly journals Translators’ Agency in the Translation Network of Chinese Literature

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Honghua LIU
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Chinese Literature ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Translation Process ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
External Constraints ◽  
Ability To Act ◽  
Translation Stage

<p>Translators’ agency is defined in this paper as the willingness and ability to act after active negotiations with various actors (humans and non-humans alike), highlighting the translator’s power over other actors involved in each translation activity, namely, his or her intentional acceptance or refusal of the influence from external constraints. What is being investigated, is not what influence the translator’s agency exerts, but the extent to which its influence (or ‘weight’) is exerted upon the final product. We bear these two questions in mind: <a>(1) Does the translator’s agency influence all stages of the translation process</a><a>[1]</a>? (2) If it does not, in which stages does it exert influence and to what extent? Which stages does it not exert influence and what other agencies exert their influences at these stages? Drawing on available studies and archival primary sources and adopting Latour’s Actor-Network Theory to make sense of the findings, this article tries to assess the different extents to which a translator could exercise their agency, by determining the interplay between translators and other actors in the translation network of <i>Chinese Literature</i>. The findings of this report are that translators can exercise no agency in the selection, editing and revision stages, because they can’t participate in these. It is in the translation stage, that translators can participate and have the chance to negotiate with other actors. Translators can often exercise their agency to the largest extent, here, regardless of how powerful other actors might be. </p>

The Use of Structuration Theory and Actor Network Theory for Analysis

2012 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Tiko Iyamu ◽  
Dewald Roode
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Structuration Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Prima Facie ◽  
It Strategy ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Global Competitiveness ◽  
Fresh Perspective ◽  
Actor Networks

In the current climate of global competitiveness, many organisations are increasingly dependent on their IT strategy – either to increase their competitiveness, or often just to survive. Yet little is known about the non-technical influencing factors (such as people) and their impact on the development and implementation of IT strategy. There would therefore seem to be prima facie evidence that there is a need for a new approach to examining the relationships between social factors, technology and the organisation with respect to the development and implementation of IT strategy. This article seeks to make a contribution in this regard. Structuration Theory and Actor-Network Theory were employed to analyse how non-technical factors influence IT strategy. Structuration Theory holds that human actions are enabled and constrained by structures. Structures are rules and resources that do not exist independently of human action, nor are they material entities. Giddens describes them as ‘traces in the mind’ and argues that they exist only through the action of human beings. Actor Network Theory (ANT) provides a fresh perspective on the importance of relationships between actors that are both human and non-human. By their very presence, actors work to establish, maintain and revise the construction of organisational networks of aligned interests and gradually form stable actor-networks. ANT emphasises the heterogeneous nature of actor-networks which consist of and link together both technical and non-technical elements.

A Socio-Technical Interpretation of IT Convergence Services

2009 ◽  
pp. 308-328
Author(s):  
Myeong Ho Lee
Keyword(s):  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Actor Networks

The trend toward convergence, initiated by advances in ICT, entails the creation of new value chain networks, made up by partnerships between actors in unrelated industries. Such a process of convergence, however, can create a new dimension of network complexity, precipitating dynamic behavior among actors. In this paper we seek to understand how different actors in value chain networks have co-evolved in practice with the development of convergence services. Interpretative case studies on two different converged services in Korea (mobile banking, and One phone services) are undertaken to examine how different actor network adapted in different ways to shape the overall complexity of the converged service. The case study analysis is innovative in being conducted within a combined framework of Complex Adaptive Systems and Actor Network Theory. This synthesis offers a way to characterize the drivers of co-evolutionary behavior, capturing the translation processes undergone by actor networks.

Beyond ANT

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Till Jansen
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Fundamental Problem ◽  
Human Agency ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Theoretical Design ◽  
The Social ◽  
Actor Networks

Actor-Network-Theory (ANT) offers an ‘infra-language’ of the social that allows one to trace social relations very dynamically, while at the same time dissolving human agency, thus providing a flat and de-centred way into sociology. However, ANT struggles with its theoretical design that may lead us to reduce agency to causation and to conceptualize actor-networks as homogeneous ontologies of force. This article proposes to regard ANT’s inability to conceptualize reflexivity and the interrelatedness of different ontologies as the fundamental problem of the theory. Drawing on Günther, it offers an ‘infra-language’ of reflexive relations while maintaining ANT’s de-centred approach. This would enable us to conceptualize actor-networks as non-homogeneous, dynamic and connecting different societal rationales while maintaining the main strengths of ANT.

Men on board: Actor-network theory, feminism and gendering the past

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence T. Corrigan ◽  
Albert J. Mills
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
The Past

Exploring nurses’ reactions to electronic nursing documentation at the point of care

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 809-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lemai Nguyen ◽  
Nilmini Wickramasinghe ◽  
Bernice Redley ◽  
Peter Haddad ◽  
Imran Muhammad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Science ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Acute Hospital ◽  
Work Process ◽  
Translation Process ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate nurses’ attitudes, perceptions, and reactions to a new point-of-care information system for documenting nursing care. Design/methodology/approach A design science research methodology (DSRM) was used to examine the feasibility and usability of a novel nursing informatics solution in the context of acute hospital care. Data were collected using focus groups and non-participant observations. Analyses were guided by the theoretical lens of actor-network theory (ANT). Findings The findings unpack an understanding of the potential value of a new technology, rather than a binary understanding of positive or negative value. Using the ANT lens, the study reveals the dynamics of the nurse-technology relationships and consequent disruptions throughout the translation process. The findings highlight the central role of negotiation in the socio-technical construction of the hybrid actor-network during the implementation of new technology in acute hospital contexts. Research limitations/implications Further studies are needed to investigate the dynamics and complexity of the translation process that occurs during technology adoption, reactions of the involved actors to the emerging network and impacts on their role and work process. Practical implications Engaging nurses early during development and testing; aligning the new system’s functionality and interface with nurses’ interests and work practices; and supporting changes to clinical work process to enable an effective heterogeneous actor-network to emerge and become stable. Originality/value This study presents a novel use of ANT in a DSRM to understand an enterprise-wide system involving nurses and real clinical settings. The emerged actor-network provides insights into the translation process when nurses adapt to using new technology in their work.

scholarly journals How can the loggerhead sea-turtle survive? Exploring the journeys of the Caretta caretta using ANT and critical realism

Organization ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 781-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe O’Mahoney ◽  
Hannah O’Mahoney ◽  
Ismael Al-Amoudi
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Caretta Caretta ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Loggerhead Sea Turtle ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Actor Networks

The endangered loggerhead sea-turtle ( Caretta caretta) nests on the shores of the Mediterranean, but faces threats to its existence from a variety of sources. Answering the question of how this species can survive is complex as it involves examining the relationships between the turtle, its natural environment, local tourists, property developers, conservation organisations, governments and law-makers. We argue that actor-network theory provides a powerful methodology for tracing these relations and identifying crucial actors which enable the survival of this animal. Using a rich ethnography and drawing on insights from 116 interviews, we trace three actor-networks that highlight factors important to the survival of the species. Yet, we also highlight the conceptual difficulties that result from using an actor-network theory ontology for understanding socio-ecological interactions and argue that these may be ameliorated by embedding the actor-network theory methodology within a critical realist ontology. We argue that this engagement between critical realism and actor-network theory offers researchers a powerful method for understanding relations between socio-ecological actors while overcoming some of the theoretical difficulties of actor-network theory.

scholarly journals Bibliotekarerne - en profession der former og formes af et aktør-netværk

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-20
Author(s):  
Trine Schreiber
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Actor Networks ◽  
Ethnographic Methodology ◽  
Data Collection Procedure

Using actor network theory (ANT) as a starting point, the aim of the paper is to describe relationships between heterogenous actors in a particular kind of library work and to discuss how these relationships might potentially be part of a preliminary actor-network representing a profession of librarianship. The particular kind of library work involved in the discussion is user teaching and -guidance in libraries affiliated with educational institutions. The paper draws on this particular kind of work to illustrate the use of ANT in a discussion about the profession of librarianship. The data collection procedure has been guided by ethnographic methodology considerations. As an actor-network, a profession is not a static entity organised around fixed connections. It is undergoing shifts in character as new actors or relations are forged and old ones wear out. Regarding the particular kind of library work, the paper has a focus on actors such as librarians, teachers, students, digital technologies, and political paradigms of control. The author examines how librarians in the particular kind of library work create and maintain relationships with teachers and students. The paper provides a description of the ways influential actors such as digital technologies and political paradigms of control intervene in these processes. The paper concludes that through these relationships, new areas of work and new understandings of professions are under way to be established. These processes might lead to an actor-network intertwined with those many other actor-networks that librarians in general are involved in because of other practices and relationships.

scholarly journals Spatial Evolution Path of Historical International Community from the Perspective of Actor Network: A Case Study of Gulangyu Island

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Li ◽  
Jing Guo ◽  
Long Zhao ◽  
Yiping Chen ◽  
Cheng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
International Community ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Modern China ◽  
Spatial Evolution ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Evolution Path ◽  
Carrier Space ◽  
Actor Networks ◽  
Community Space

Abstract Gulangyu Island is a special case of social development and changes since modern China. In the past, Chinese and foreign people lived together and Chinese and Western cultures coexisted, resulting in an international community with outstanding cultural diversity and modern quality of life. As a functional carrier, space is of great reference significance to the research on the spatial evolution path of Gulangyu international community with the accelerating globalization and rapid expansion of urbanization. Based on the interpretation of historical maps and the integration of historical geographic information, this paper explores the evolution path of Gulangyu community space in modern times from the perspective of actor network theory. It is found that: (1) The change of key actors promotes the spatial evolution of Gulangyu international community. (2) In the stage of foreign culture dissemination (1840-1902), foreign nationals, as key actors, promoted the formation and development of actor networks through administrative recruitment and other means, and promoted Gulangyu Island to change from a traditional Minnan community to a modern community form, with the embryonic form of an international community beginning to emerge. (3) In the stage of multicultural integration (1903-1940), overseas Chinese returning home became key actors. The concept of combination of Western cultures was not only embodied in community management, but also acted on space practice to promote the multicultural integration of Gulangyu international community. This paper summarizes the effects of various factors on the evolution of community space, in order to provide reference for other coastal cities to rationally develop islands and promote the multicultural integration of local communities.

scholarly journals The Tale of Two 1001-Night Cities An Actor-Network View on the Role of Social Structures and the Motives and Intentions of Agents in Spatial Development of the Medieval Bagdad and Isfahan

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. p13
Author(s):  
Arash Salek
Keyword(s):  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Spatial Development ◽  
Local Identity ◽  
Urban Identity ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Actor Networks ◽  
Path Dependent

This contribution analyses the urban identity and historical patterns of spatial development in ancient Baghdad and Isfahan, according to Actor Network Theory (ANT) and Actor-Relational Approach (ARA). In the case of two different historical urban hubs (Baghdad and Isfahan).This article demonstrates how in the course of history, those interactions between various path-dependent networks have produced various, but specific types of urbanity in this region. It aims to show how ANT could clarify the embeddedness of dynamic actor-networks within the Middle Eastern urban spaces. This contribution argues that the institutional settings, customs, and use might even be more crucial for the issue of local identity, precisely because in effect they influence and shape urban living, institutions, form and infrastructures through time.

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