Deconstructing information sharing

Within previous work we explained how data structures are critical to ‘scaffolding’ intra-institutional ontology. The current paper extends this theorization of the institutional ‘mechanics’ of data structures by examining the role that data structures play in constituting inter-institutional ontology. Building upon the work of Searle, we also explain how data structures are critical to inter-institutional deontology - the constitution of rights and responsibilities associated with inter-institutional actors and action. We ground our theorization in the case of information sharing in the supply chain and describe how this mundane domain of inter-institutional action is form-ed through the articulation of data structures. We also explain how certain breakdowns in inter-institutional action can be made sense of in terms of the scaffolding of data structures.