REFLEXIVE STANDARDIZATION: SIDE EFFECTS AND COMPLEXITY IN STANDARD MAKING.

Author List: Hanseth, Ole; Jacucci, Edoardo; Grisot, Miria; Aanestad, Margunn;
MIS Quarterly, 2006, Volume 30, Issue 0, Page 563-581.
This paper addresses the general question proposed by the call of this special issue: "What historical or contingent events and factors influence the creation of ICT standards, and in particular, their success or failure?" Based on a case study conducted over a period of three years in a Norwegian hospital on the standardization process of an electronic patient record (EPR), the paper contributes to the current discussion on the conceptualization of standard-making in the field of Information Systems. By drawing upon the concepts of logic of ordering adopted from actor-network theory and upon reflexivity and the unexpected side effects adopted from reflexive modernization, the paper makes three key contributions: (1) it demonstrates the socio-technical complexity of IS standards and standardization efforts; (2) it shows how complexity generates reflexive processes that undermine standardization aims; and (3) it suggests a theoretical interpretation of standardization complexity by using ideas from complexity theory and the theory of reflexive modernization. These research questions are addressed by offering an historical and contingent analysis of the complexity dynamics emerging from the case.
Keywords: electronic patient records; reflexive moderation; side effects; socio-technical theory; Standards
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#163 0.163 critical realism theory case study context affordances activity causal key identifies evolutionary history generative paper events lead mechanisms evolution change
#224 0.146 complexity task environments e-business environment factors technology characteristics literature affect influence role important relationship model organizational contingent actual map dimension
#117 0.138 standards interorganizational ios standardization standard systems compatibility effects cooperation firms industry benefits open interoperability key heterogeneous vertical propose vendors collective
#222 0.127 research researchers framework future information systems important present agenda identify areas provide understanding contributions using literature studies paper potential review
#127 0.108 systems information research theory implications practice discussed findings field paper practitioners role general important key grounded researchers domain new identified
#100 0.074 affective concepts role questions game gaming production games logic play shaping frames future network natural processes evidence addresses reference theorizing
#196 0.056 health healthcare medical care patient patients hospital hospitals hit health-care telemedicine systems records clinical practices physician electronic physicians longitudinal outcomes