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.

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.

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).

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.

Using Actor-Network Theory to Identify Factors Affecting the Adoption of E-Commerce in SMEs

2011 ◽  
pp. 152-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Tatnall ◽  
Stephen Burgess
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Medium Enterprise ◽  
Human Actors

Just because e-commerce seems like a useful tool that may assist a small to medium enterprise (SME) do its business better, it does not necessarily follow that it will be adopted by this business. The implementation of an e-commerce system in an SME necessitates change in the way the business operates, and so should be considered as an innovation and studied using innovation theory. In this chapter we will argue that the decision to adopt, or not to adopt, a new technology, has more to do with the interactions and associations of both human and non-human actors involved in the project than with the characteristics of the technology. Information systems are complex socio-technical entities and research into their implementation needs to take account of this complexity. This chapter describes three case studies of adoption (or, in one case, of non-adoption) of e-commerce by small business. The chapter describes a research approach based on actor-network theory and innovation translation that we show can be usefully employed in many socio-technical situations involving technological innovation.

scholarly journals The Delphi Method in Information Systems Research (2004-2017)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Alarabiat ◽  
Isabel Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Delphi Method ◽  
Is Research ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Research ◽  
Innovative Techniques ◽  
Delphi Studies ◽  
Procedural Recommendations ◽  
Do So

After almost 30 years of being used in the information system (IS) discipline, only a few studies have focused on how IS scholars apply the method's guidelines to design Delphi studies. Thus, this paper focuses on the use of the Delphi method in IS research. To do so, articles published between 2004 and 2017 in the Senior IS Scholars' collection of journals of the Association of Information Systems (AIS), describing Delphi studies, were analised. Based on analysis of sixteen (16) retrieved IS studies, we concluded that IS researchers have applied the method’s most important phases and the procedural recommendations to promote rigor were considered in the majority of the analised studies. Nonetheless, IS researchers still need to include detailed information about (1) the steps taken to ensure the validity of the achieved results, (2) better describe the process of selecting and recruiting the experts, and (3) experiment with innovative techniques to keep participants involved in the Delphi process.

Studying DNA

2014 ◽  
pp. 196-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Quinlan
Keyword(s):  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Methodological Challenges ◽  
Feminist Thought ◽  
Intellectual Traditions

Feminist methodologies and Actor-Network Theory (ANT) have often been considered opposing theoretical and intellectual traditions. This chapter imagines a conversation between these seemingly divergent fields and considers the theoretical and methodological challenges that ANT and particular branches of feminist thought raise for the other. This chapter examines an empirical project that calls for an engagement with both ANT and feminist methodologies. Through the lens of this empirical project, four methodological questions are considered, which an alliance between ANT and feminist methodologies would raise for any research project: 1) Where do we start our analysis? 2) Which actors should we follow? 3) What can we see when we begin to follow the actors? 4) What about politics? The potential places where ANT and feminist methodologies can meet and mutually shape research on scientific practice and technological innovation are explored. In doing so, this chapter moves towards envisioning new intersections between feminist methodologies and ANT.

New Financial Technologies, Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain, and Challenges

2020 ◽  
pp. 85-102
Author(s):  
Burcu Sakiz
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Information Systems Research ◽  
The World ◽  
Start Ups

As technological innovation transforms our economies, companies and start-ups all over the world are performing developments on financial technologies called “FinTech/fintech” for a chance to thrive. It even sparked the invention of blockchain and the inception of cryptocurrencies (digital/virtual money) such as Bitcoin. The blockchain technology provides Bitcoin's public ledger, an ordered and timestamped record of transactions. Blockchain is one of a kind decentralized technology mainly used by fintechs and it is a distributed as well as decentralized ledger that presents a radical, new, modern, and disruptive way of conducting all manner of transactions over the internet. Blockchain-based applications provide many opportunities to create a more sustainable world. With this research agenda, this chapter contributes to the discussion on future avenues for sustainability and information systems research on fintechs, especially cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based platforms and services.

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