Abstract
The authors argue for a monist view of sociotechnical analysis, and, following Fleck and his colleagues, discuss ICTs as laboratories where knowledge, activities and artefacts emerge across different sites and different stages of development. Researchers at a number of mature research sites (what Gieryn calls ‘truth spots’) have identified distinctive sociotechnical phenomena. These have been objectified and described in a scientific nomenclature that allows research to cumulate and comparisons to be made at a level that transcends the individual agent, the individual artefact and the local context. Five phenomena are discussed in detail: sociotechnical interaction networks; computerization movements; innofusion; configuration; multi-level social learning. The approach outlined in the paper, the authors suggest, may improve the focus of research in the IS domain.
Recommended Citation
Davenport, Elisabeth and Horton, Keith, "If ICTs are Laboratories..." (2008). AMCIS 2008 Proceedings. 312.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2008/312