Title
Contextual dynamics during health information systems implementation: an event-based actor-network approach
Abstract
Despite its information-intensive nature and considerable investments, healthcare continues to lag behind other industries in effectively exploiting information technology (IT). This paradox suggests that the healthcare industry presents particular challenges for successful implementation of information systems. As a result, there is an increasing interest in research into how information systems implementation efforts are shaped in interaction with the healthcare context. This paper contributes to this emerging body of knowledge by applying Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to explore the implementation of a radiology network system in a Swedish hospital. The analysis of the process reveals how complex contextual dynamics had disruptive effects. First, we identified important dynamics related to implementation content; these were mainly expressed as tensions between the radiology network system and medical work practices. Second, we found important dynamics related to implementation context; these were mainly expressed as tensions between shifting networks of actors within the implementation project and the broader institutional setting. Seeking to understand contextual dynamics during healthcare information systems implementation, we use events to focus, structure, and present the ANT analysis. This event-based approach furthers our understanding of how researchers can apply ANT to study IT-based change in general.
Year
DOI
Venue
2008
10.1057/ejis.2008.49
EJIS
Keywords
Field
DocType
information science,business model,accounting information systems,computer information systems,business information systems,information management,strategic information systems,information systems technology,information technology,information security,soft system methodology,management science,geographic information systems,health information systems,computer information technology,information systems management,information system,management information systems,health information system,information management system
Information system,Management information systems,Body of knowledge,Information management,Soft systems methodology,Information technology,Computer science,Information science,Knowledge management,Strategic information system,Management science
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
17
6
1476-9344
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
44
1.63
39
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Sunyoung Cho19810.58
Lars Mathiassen21477123.85
Agneta Nilsson3937.70