Information technology as disciplinary technology: being critical in interpretive research on information systems
Abstract
This paper argues that interpretive researchers need to consciously adopt a critical and reflective stance in relation to the role that the information technologies which they describe play in maintaining social orders and power relations in organizations. The concern of the paper is to highlight-potential shortcomings in the treatment of technology in interpretive research on information systems, but also to present a specific approach to studying information technology and organization which may overcome these weaknesses. By utilizing a perspective drawn from the discursive and disciplinary work of Foucault and recent work on the sociology of technology, we can complement the thick description of interpretive research with the broader sweep of critical social theory.
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In interpretative case studies, researchers can usefully draw on a critical, reflective perspective that takes into account the wider social and political environment that has shaped the case.
“Doolin has, for example, noted that in the context of undertaking interpretative case studies, researchers can usefully draw on a critical, reflective perspective which seeks to take into account the wider social and political environment that has shaped the case[11].”
From The case study approach (2011) · cites this paper as [11]
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References 76 · Cited by 125
- Authors
- Doolin, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Waikato (NZ)
- Corresponding author
- Doolin, Bill
- ORCID
- Doolin, Bill
- Venue
- Journal of Information Technology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1998-12
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 301-311
- ISSN
- 0268-3962 (ISSN-L)
- 1466-4437
- OpenAlex
- W2090841742
- Cited by
- 125
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 4.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Information Technology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Information Systems Theories and Implementation
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Foucault, Power, and Ethics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Keywords
- information technology, interpretive research, critical stance, Michel Foucault, disciplinary technologies, sociology of technology, power relations, social order, information technology and organizations, critical social theory, thick description
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