Information systems complexity Actor Network Theory

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Information systems complexityActor Network
Theory
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The challenges (or the crisis )

• National/global networks Telemedicine, EDI,
  e-business infrastructures, web-services, the
  Internet, .
• Integrated systems ERP, EPR, integrated
  portfolios,
• Not systems open, indefinite, generic
  technologies, use not pre-defined
• Discretionary, not mandated use (from users to
  customers)
• Developing over looooong time
• Informating, enabling new ways of working not
  automating
• Open (indefinite) networks
• Dramatically increased COMPLEXITY

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Basic concepts old and new

• System
• Tool
• Requirements specification
• Planning and control
• Modelling
• Iplementation

• Network
• Infrastructure
• Bootstrapping an installed base
• Flexible standards
• Lock-in
• Gateway
• Boomerang effects

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Complexity

• Mathemathical theories irrelevant!
• Unpredicable (or uncontrollable) interactions,
  unpredicatable (or uncontrollable) outcomes
• Emergence, history matters
• Autonomous Technology, Risk Society, Normal
  Accidents Theory
• High Reliability Theory
• Networks
• Heterogeneous networks Actor Network Theory
• Interactions (propagation of side-effects)
  Network Economics and Reflexive Modernization

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Managing Complexity

• Reducing Complexity
• Standardization
• Abstraction, better theories (models?)
• Avoiding complexity
• Managing Complexity
• Reducing, avoiding it
• Better tools
• High Reliability Theory
• Cultivating infrastructures

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Actor Network Theory

• Understanding heterogeneity interaction between
  the social, technical, institutional,
• Network of actants
• Origin Social studies of science
• The interaction between social, political,
  technological, institutional elements in
  construction of scientific facts and theories
  (Kuhn)
• The third way Between determinism and
  constructivism

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Actor Network Theory 2

• Theory/fact and technology heterogeneous network
• Science and and technological development
• Transforming/building networks
• Actors (heterogeneous) networks

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Actors

• Always heterogeneous network
• No assumptions about differences between human
  and technology
• There ARE differences constructed - not given
• Inscriptions of rules and programs-of-action,
  delegations of roles and competences, ..
• Humans are different
• Technologies are different
• Ideal for studying interaction between humans,
  organizations and technology (I.e. the role of
  the technology. Compare with Orlikowskis
  technological artefact/technology-in-use
  distinction)

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Concepts

• Actants
• Associations/networks/collectives (of hunas and
  non-humans)
• Translation, composition, enrollment
• Interference
• Inscription, delegation
• Program-of-action
• Black-boxing
• Irreversibility

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Assumptions

• Everything theories, facts, technologies,
  humans are networks/collectives
• Network building is a political process
• All actors have interests
• Building alliances
• Power strength size of the network
• The process is embedded in the product

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Example Lab reports

• Lab reports - Furst
• Solution sequence of translations (of interests
  and existing solutions and technologies)
• Interests and translations
• More customers
• Better service
• Electronic transmission
• Specific design

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Lab. orders - continued

• Integration with medical record system
• Giving away modems for free
• Integration with local practices
• For each translation the network (collective)
  grows, alignment is maintained

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Order

• Interests lab improved results -gt cost
  containment --gt cut manual registration work
  doctors ? patients security, vendors,
  authorities, standardization bodies, standards,
  ????

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Order continued...

• EDIFACT solution failed to enroll doctors
• Failed to align standardized solution and
  doctors interests
• First Post ordering
• Appears to be impossible to align with settled
  standards

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Prescriptions

• Social security cost containment more strict
  control
• Pharmacy Cutting manual registration work,
  improved logistics
• Patients Less waiting (reiterated prescriptions
  ?)
• Physicians Quality control
• Failed to make a solution that anybody would pay
  for
• Failed in translateing the interests into an
  alignet network

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More on Prescriptions

• Failed standardizationComplex socio-technical
  networks (failed to understand the complex
  network of relations between the social and the
  technical)
• Focused isolated on standardization
• Didnt address the need for translating
  technology into use
• Blind for interests

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Design Making inscriptions

• of programs-of-action
• which one?
• How?
• Who?
• How strong is the inscription?
• Can users change it?
• Flexibility!!