Understanding information technology appropriation in organisations

Understanding information technology appropriation in organisations

Fidock, J 2011, Understanding information technology appropriation in organisations, PhD Thesis, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University.

Document type:	Thesis
Collection:	Theses

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Title	Understanding information technology appropriation in organisations
Author(s)	Fidock, J
Year	2011
Abstract	This thesis develops understanding of the appropriation of information technology (IT) artefacts over time. Perceptions that the whole lifecycle of IT use, from pre-use, then initial use through to adaptive and stabilised use is not well understood were evaluated and supported in the initial part of the study. A generic lifecycle model of use, the model of technology appropriation (MTA), was chosen as the foundational theory for this thesis because it covers the entire IT use lifecycle, and it can be contextualised for different technologies, and user cohorts. The model was contextualised, tested and extended through data collected from three case studies that provided coverage of the entire lifecycle and involved a prototype information portal, a document management system that had been recently implemented, and an e-mail client. Defence was selected so as to provide an extreme organisational context which manifests strong structural and cultural imperatives to control use. Despite these imperatives, the findings demonstrated changes in users’ patterns of appropriations over time and heterogeneous patterns of appropriation across individuals. In addition, influences on patterns of appropriation differed throughout the lifecycle. The findings were used to contextualise the MTA by including case specific influences and patterns of appropriation. Contextualisation was followed by a critical evaluation of the fit between the core elements of the model and case findings, where the core elements represent those features of the model that exist prior to contextualisation. Whilst the MTA facilitates understanding of appropriation, the model was enhanced through: modifying core elements of the model; incorporating teleological, dialectic and evolutionary generative mechanisms; and including contextual features associated with appropriation of the IT artefacts studied. This research has produced a richer and more complete understanding of the use lifecycle in organisations than prior research. Achieving this enhanced view of the use lifecycle was supported by employing a combination of methods suited to examining the contribution of each of the generative mechanisms. This research therefore makes important theoretical and methodological contributions to the information systems field, as well as providing a basis for providing more informed guidance on how to improve the appropriation of IT artefacts in organisations.
Degree	PhD Thesis
Institution	RMIT University
School, Department or Centre	School of Property, Construction and Project Management
Keyword(s)	Technology appropriation IT artefacts organisations lifecycle of IT use teleology dialectic evolution

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Created:	Wed, 30 Nov 2011, 14:08:25 EST by Guy Aron