Paper Info
Title
Information sysems development and the participatory ethos
Abstract
Abstract Participatory--also called emancipatory--information systems development,(ISD) approaches claim systematic and meaningful user involvement, workplace democratization,and reduced worker,alienation. Grounded,in a humanist,view of information systems (IS) as social systems, participatory ISD advocates open and non-distorted communication, reasoned argumentation, cooperation and mutual understanding between IS users and developers. However, the critical theoretical foundation of participatory ISD was contested and its practical value called into question (Wilson, 1997). Moreover, participatory ISD was criticized as serving the interests of capital by,co-opting workers,and thereby weakening their resistance (Asaro, 2000). Given the controversy surrounding participatory ISD, its objectives, theoretical foundation, and application in practice, further studies are warranted. Drawing on a longitudinal field study, this paper provides insight into a company that successfully implemented participatory practices in organizationa l decision-makin g including ISD. By exploring ISD in a broader organizational context, this paper re-examines conditions for participatory ISD and sheds light on the subtle difference between ISD practices that liberate and empower, and those that colonize and disempower.
Year
Venue
Keywords
2003
ECIS
social system,information system,social theory,critical social theory,field study
Field
DocType
Citations 
Information system,Critical theory,Computer science,Ethos,Argumentation theory,Knowledge management,Social system,Democratization,Humanism,Citizen journalism
Conference
0
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.34
3
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Marius A. Janson117337.52
Dubravka Cecez-Kecmanovic219228.19