How Should Technology-Mediated Organizational Change Be Explained? A Comparison of the Contributions of Critical Realism and Activity Theory

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37.3.08
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Abstract
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. 04/05/13
Additional Details
Author David K. Allen, Andrew Brown, Stan Karanasios, and Alistair Norman
Year 2013
Volume 37
Issue 3
Keywords Critical realism, activity theory, theory, information systems, organization change, evaluation
Page Numbers 835-854
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