Translating technological change – implementing technology into a hospital

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand how changes in technological devices, implemented to increase productivity and enhance performance are translated by medical professions in their clinical work. As organizations become more technology dependent by digitalization, deeper understanding of change processes will enhance change outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach A case study based on interviews, observations, on site and document analyses is undertaken to study the use of electronic speech recognizer (SR). An actor network theory (ANT) approach is used to address practice.

Findings Doctors diversely adjust to the new technology. The use of the SR technology was negotiated and translated by the doctors. The technology was continuously re-designed and interacting with the human actors. In the translation process, powerful actors (doctors) influence outcome of changes, and thus, they affect the effectiveness of the change initiatives.

Research limitations/implications The theoretical approach enables a detailed and rich understanding of the sociology of technology. Future research should go deeper into case studies in other contexts.

Practical implications Technology is not deterministic entities, and politicians and managers should pay attention to how technology interact with key actors in implementation of system (technology) changes. The design and use phases implicate on the effect of such changes.

Social implications In order to successfully manage change processes, powerful actors should be motivated to actively participate in the design and the implementation phases in order to design and redesign the functions and roles of technologies.

Originality/value The theoretical approach (ANT) addresses technology according to the concept of sociomateriality. This approach enables understanding technology, people and organizations as entangled (integrated). The theoretical concepts developed knowledge to gain deeper and wider understanding of the role of technology in managing of performance and productivity initiatives.