Cultural metaphors and KMS appropriation: drawing on Astérix to understand non-use in a large French company

Aurélie Dudézert (), Nathalie Mitev () and Ewan Oiry ()
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Aurélie Dudézert: LITEM - Laboratoire en Innovation, Technologies, Economie et Management (EA 7363) - UEVE - Université d'Évry-Val-d'Essonne - Université Paris-Saclay - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], IMT-BS - TIM - Département Technologies, Information & Management - TEM - Télécom Ecole de Management - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris]
Nathalie Mitev: DRM - Dauphine Recherches en Management - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ERCIS - European Research Center for Information Systems [Münster] - WWU - Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster = University of Münster
Ewan Oiry: ESG UQAM - Département de management et de technologie - UQAM - Université du Québec à Montréal = University of Québec in Montréal, CEREGE [Poitiers, La Rochelle] - Centre de recherche en gestion [EA 1722] - UP - Université de Poitiers = University of Poitiers - ULR - La Rochelle Université

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Abstract: Management research is increasingly using fiction as an insightful way to analyze complex organizational dynamics. Focusing on user appropriation of Knowledge Management Systems, we describe how we used the popular Astérix, a well-known French cartoon to better understand KMS appropriation. We came to use this approach in an action research project in a large French construction firm initially designed to help Chief Knowledge Officers address KMS non-use. After our first findings showed paradoxical cultural issues, and based on the idea that culture is central to sensemaking and appropriation, we used the notion of the cultural metaphor to help better understand the cultural aspects associated with KMS appropriation. These results contribute knowledge in three different areas. First, we underline the role of cultural metaphors in information systems appropriation. Second, we enrich the literature on the role of fiction in management by illustrating the role of cultural metaphors. Third, we report on how this can be used in an action research project to help better understand KMS appropriation issues, which has the potential of leading to practical managerial action.

Keywords: Knowledge management systems; Information systems appropriation; Astérix; Cultural metaphor; Action research; French organizations; Chief knowledge officers; Sustainable Development Goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-06
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03227049v1
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Published in Information and Organization, 2021, 31 (2), pp.100352. ⟨10.1016/j.infoandorg.2021.100352⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03227049

DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2021.100352

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