Not another methodology what ant tells us about systems development

Jim Underwood

pp. 258-268

in: Trevor Wood Harper, Nimal Jayaratna, Bob Wood (eds), Methodologies for developing and managing emerging technology based information systems, Berlin, Springer, 1999

Abstract

This paper proposes an interpretive technique for understanding IS development which uses complementary features of actornetwork (ANT) theory and Foucault's theory of discourse. The technique is being applied to a loosely structured project which is working towards the construction of a flexible teaching and learning environment based on the internet. The paper traces the fortunes of two of the non-human actors in this setting. The combination of ANT/discourse theory is found to be an effective descriptive tool for IS development but it is not clear how it could contribute to a methodology. Some possible directions are suggested and balanced against possible organisational and psychological barriers to using such a methodology.

Cited authors

Foucault Michel