Actor-network theory and Discourses of systems development

Jim Underwood
School of Computing Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney

Tuesday 16 November at 11am

Abstract

Actor-network theory (Callon and Latour) , whose origins are in technology studies, is a species of stakeholder analysis, in which the stakeholders (human and nonhuman) are connected by the translation of scripts. Discourse (or discursive formation) theory (Foucault) traces historical changes in major concepts. I have drawn these theories together to interpret a systems development project as the creation of meaning among a network of actors.

Short resume

Jim Underwood is a lecturer in information systems at UTS; in the distant past he was a systems analyst, a school teacher and a mathematician. His ongoing interests are systems, democracy, the nature of technology and saying what is actually happening in information systems development and use rather than what should happen.

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last updated December 01, 2003 10:37 AM
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