The Social Study of Information and Communication Technology

Chrisanthi Avgerou is Professor of Information Systems at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her main research interests concern the relationship of information technology (IT) to organizational change, and the role of IT in socio-economic development. She is vice-chair of the IFIP Technical Committee 9 on social implications of IT and past chair of IFIP WG 9.4 on computers in developing countries. Among her latest publications is Information Systems and Global Diversity (OUP, 2002). Claudio Ciborra is Professor of Information Systems, Convenor of the Department of Information Systems, and PwC Risk Management Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research has focused on issues of technology, organization, strategy, and innovation. He also teaches at IULM University, Milan and is Visiting Professor at Oslo University. He is on the editorial board of a dozen academic journals, has consulted widely, and is a member of a number of IFIP working groups, including WG 8.2. He has published many articles and books on information systems. His recent books include The Labyrinths of Information: Challenging the Wisdom of Systems (OUP, 2002). Frank Land, FBCS, started his career in computing in 1953, working on the pioneering LEO Computer for J. Lyons. He joined the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1967 to establish teaching and research in systems analysis and was appointed Professor of Systems Analysis in 1982. In 1986, he joined the London Business School as Professor of Information Management. He retired in 1991 and received the title Emeritus Professor at the LSE's Department of Information Systems in 2002. He is also Visiting Professor at Leeds Metropolitan University and his many other visiting professorships have included the Wharton School and the University of Sydney. In 2003, he received from the Association for Information Systems the LEO Award for life-time contribution to the IS discipline.

Introduction ; PART I: FOUNDATIONS ; 1. Encountering Information Systems as a Phenomenon ; 2. Solution is the Problem: A Story of Transitions and Opportunities ; 3. On Using ANT for Studying Information Systems: A (Somewhat) Socratic Dialogue ; 4. Towards a Sociology of Information Technology ; PART II: THEORIES AT WORK ; 5. Knowledge as Infrastructure ; 6. An Ecology of Distributed Practice Involving Knowledge Work ; 7. Actor Network Theory and Cultural Aspects of Interpretive Studies ; 8. Farewell to Constructivism: Technology and Context-Embedded Action ; 9. Framing IS Studies: Understanding the Context of IS Innovation ; PART III: SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES AND APPLICATIONS ; 10. Bridging the Digital Divide: New Route to Development or New Form of Dependency ; 11. Re-Constructing Information Systems Evaluation ; 12. Reflections on Information Systems Strategizing ; 13. Socially Self-Destructing Systems