Towards a Dynamic Network Theory of Organizing and Emerging Technology
by
Jan Recker
Alexander-von-Humboldt Fellow
Chaired Professor for Information Systems
University of Cologne
Friday, Nov 13
10 – 11 am | Zoom
(send an email to ayabakan@temple.edu to get the Zoom link)
Abstact:
Current thinking about emerging technology tends to focus on features and affordances of single artifacts, often in isolation, inserted into one existing way of organizing, often a single process. In contrast, we propose a theory that is focused on networks of relations between technology-enabled actions in a dynamic network of organizing. Our theory offers a novel explanation for how emerging technology can generate rapid, transformative change in how we organize our actions. We build on current theories of network dynamics and technology-in-use and consider what happens to an on-going pattern of action when new artifacts arrive on the scene, i.e., when emerging technology influences the emergence of organizing paths in the network. We use a computer-based simulation to demonstrate our theory. Our specific contribution resides in the focus on network paths as a central explanatory mechanism for emergent, transformative change.