Implementing Open Network Technologies in Complex Work Practices: A Case from Telemedicine

New non-desktop technologies may turn out to be of a more open and generic nature than traditional information technologies. These tech­ nologies consequently pose novel challenges to systems development practice, as the design, implementation, and use of these technologies will be different. This paper presents empirical material from a project where multimedia technology was introduced into a complex medical work practice (surgery). The implementation process is analyzed at the micro-level and the process is found to be highly complex, emer­ gent, and continuous. Using actor-network theory, we argue that con­ ceptualizing the process as cultivating the hybrid collectif of humans and non-humans, technologies and non-technologies (Calion and Law 1995) is a suitable and useful approach. This concept may capture the open-ended and emergent nature of the process and indicate the suitability of an evolutionary approach.

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