HOW SHOULD TECHNOLOGY-MEDIATED ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE BE EXPLAINED? A COMPARISON OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CRITICAL REALISM AND ACTIVITY THEORY

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Allen, David K.; Brown, Andrew; Karanasios, Stan; Norman, Alistair
• 署名单位: University of Leeds; University of Leeds
• 刊物名称: MIS QUARTERLY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0276-7783
• DOI: 10.25300/MISQ/2013/37.3.08
• 发表日期: 2013
• 页码: 835-854
• 关键词: information-systems success; user acceptance; implementation; management; CONTRADICTIONS

摘要

In this paper, critical realism and activity theory are compared within the context of theorizing technology-mediated organizational change. An activity theoretic analysis of the implementation of large-scale disruptive information systems in a public sector setting (in particular concerning paramedic treatment of heart attack patients and ambulance dispatch work activity) is used to illustrate how activity theory makes a significant contribution to critical realism, by (1) locating technology within activity systems and theorizing change through contradictions and congruencies within those systems; (2) developing recent critical realism-inspired theorization of the inscription of cultural and social relations within technology; and (3) developing recent insights of critical realist researchers regarding the way in which the performance management agenda is mediated through IS.