An actor-network theory perspective to study the non-adoption of a collaborative technology intended to support online community participation

Abstract

collaborative technology intended to support online community participation Abstract Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to explore the value of Actor-Network Theory as an approach to explaining non-adoption of collaborative technology.Design/Methodology/Approach. The notion of translation and related concepts from ActorNetwork Theory are used to explore the case of non-participation in an organizational online community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty HR professional of a Multi-campus University System in Mexico.Findings. The study shows that participation in the online community did not take place as expected by those promoting its use. An initial inductive analysis showed that the factors that undermine participation had to do with the interface design of the technology and the individual motivations and benefits derived from participation. A second analysis, using ANT showed how processes of negotiation, conflict, enrolment, alignment, and betrayal that occurred during the emergence and evolution of the new network played a critical role in technology adoption leading to the dissolution of the initiative to adopt the collaborative technology.Originality/Value. The study shows the value of ANT to better understand the adoption and use of a collaborative technology. The analysis goes beyond existing explanations of participation, which tend to focus attention on such matters as the interface design or the personal motivations and benefits derived from participation. It does so by moving away from solely looking at what occurs within the boundaries of a community and understanding the context within which it is being introduced. It prompts analysis of moments of problematization, interessement, enrolment and mobilization to explore the process of adoption, including the role of non-human actors.

Concept-driven Design for Democracy: Advancing Co-creative Media to Support Citizen Participation and Democratic Engagement

“…In doing so, a large number of actors within a network may emerge to support a proposed inscription, which could lead to black-boxing, meaning the broad acceptance of an inscription and the stability of its associated relationships. In spite of this, the possibility remains for those who will not follow their spokespersons to dispute or reject the proposed inscription (Rivera & Cox, 2016) and challenge a network's spokesperson by questioning "the validity or reliability of the representation" (Ritzer, 2005, p. 3). When this occurs, as Callon (1986, p. 224) explains, "translation continues but the equilibrium has been modified [...] reality begins to fluctuate".…”