A techno-cultural emergence perspective on the management of techno-change

Stephen Jackson and George Philip

International Journal of Information Management, 2010, vol. 30, issue 5, 445-456

Abstract: Using Cultural Theory derived from Anthropology as a theoretical lens, this paper investigates the role of culture in the management of techno-change (short for technological change). More specifically, using this lens, the relative effectiveness of three approaches in the management of techno-change, namely, technological determinism, cultural determinism and techno-cultural emergence perspective, is examined. Using findings from three in-depth interpretative case studies, the central thrust is that neither technological determinism, nor cultural determinism, will be successful in the management of techno-change and that what is required is a techno-cultural emergence perspective in the enabling forms of hierarchism, individualism/market, and egalitarianism for successful management of techno-change. Managers should avoid a top-down technocratic or culture-driven approach to implementing and managing techno-change. Instead an incremental/evolutionary approach with ad-hoc improvisation made to culture and technology over time and space makes for an effective techno-change solution.

Keywords: Organisational culture; Technological change management; Techno-change; Anthropology; Cultural Theory; Emergence perspective (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ininma:v:30:y:2010:i:5:p:445-456

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2010.01.008

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