Using Actor-Network Theory to Research the Adoption of Inter-Organizational Information Systems

Inter-organizational information systems depend at least as much on collaboration across organizational cultures as on the development of technical infrastructure for their success. Actor-network theory (ANT) is a useful approach for bringing together social and technical considerations. In this chapter we discuss key features of ANT and show how it might be applied to a particular case of IOIS adoption; this ANT approach is compared to co-evolutionary theory which was originally applied to this case. Some possible extensions to ANT are contemplated, and we offer advice to those attempting ANT-based research. We also give advice, based on ANT, to those undertaking IOIS development