Making Information Systems Material through Blackboxing

Author(s):  
Jim Underwood ◽  
Edin Tabak

In this paper, a case study of the evolution of an organisational intranet is used to compare the concepts of “materiality” with actor-network theory’s black-boxing. The authors argue that information systems need to become material through “due process”. Through this paper, questions arise as to what types of material allies are useful in this process, and whether these allies can co-evolve (or “co-materialise”) with the system. In this case there seemed to be existing technical actors, but the authors question whether this is always the case.

Author(s):  
Jim Underwood ◽  
Edin Tabak

In this paper, a case study of the evolution of an organisational intranet is used to compare the concepts of “materiality” with actor-network theory’s black-boxing. The authors argue that information systems need to become material through “due process”. Through this paper, questions arise as to what types of material allies are useful in this process, and whether these allies can co-evolve (or “co-materialise”) with the system. In this case there seemed to be existing technical actors, but the authors question whether this is always the case.


2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Rodon ◽  
Joan Antoni Pastor ◽  
Feliciano Sesé ◽  
Ellen Christiaanse

Although inter-organizational information systems (IOIS) implementation has been widely studied, mainstream literature has not focused on understanding how implementation unfolds and how the existing components of the installed base shape the process. This paper addresses this gap by conducting a socio-technical, process-oriented, and multilevel study. Based on a longitudinal in-depth case study of the implementation of an industry IOIS, we develop an explication of IOIS implementation that considers the role of the installed base. Using the lens of actor-network theory (ANT), we counter the mainstream IOIS literature by showing that IOIS implementation cannot only be explained by a fixed set of independent factors; instead, the dynamic mutual shaping of socio-technical actors throughout implementation complements existing factor-based models in explaining the evolution and the outcome (success or failure). The study also shows the importance of complying with the technical and non-technical components of the installed base for an IOIS to be successfully initiated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6792
Author(s):  
Alessio Faccia ◽  
Pythagoras Petratos

Accounting information systems (AISs), the core module of any enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, are usually designed as centralised systems. Nowadays, the continuous development and applications of blockchain, or more broadly—distributed ledger technology (DLT), can change the architecture, overcome and improve some limitations of centralised systems, most notably security and privacy. An increasing number of authors are suggesting the application of blockchain technologies in management, accounting and ERPs. This paper aims to examine the emerging literature on this field, and an immediate result is that blockchain applications can have significant benefits. The paper’s innovative contribution and considerable objective are to examine if blockchain can be successfully integrated with AIS and ERPs. We find that blockchain can facilitate integration at multiple levels and better serve various purposes as auditing compliance. To demonstrate that, we analyse e-procurement systems and operations using case study research methodology. The findings suggest that DLT, decentralised finance (DeFI), and financial technology (FinTech) applications can facilitate integrating AISs and ERP systems and yield significant benefits for efficiency, productivity and security.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 213
Author(s):  
Alicia Ramírez-Orellana ◽  
Daniel Ruiz-Palomo ◽  
Alfonso Rojo-Ramírez ◽  
John E. Burgos-Burgos

This article aims to explore the perceptions of banana farms managers towards environmental sustainability practices through the impact of innovation, adoption of information systems, and training employees through a case study in the province of El Oro (Ecuador). Furthermore, the paper assesses how farmers’ perceptions could guide public policy incentives. PLS-Structural Equation Modeling are used as the framework by which the constructs is represented within the model. The model explained 59% of the environmental sustainability practices of Ecuadorian banana farms. The results indicate that environmental sustainability practices were positively influenced mainly by training employees, innovation, and adoption of information systems. Additionally, both the adoption of information systems and training employees indirectly influenced sustainable practices through innovation as a mediator. We may conclude that in the Ecuadorian banana farms, changes in environmental practices are derived from innovation strategies as an axis of development of useful information and training employees in public policies.


2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Bateman

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