The family resemblance of technologically mediated work practices
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Permanent lenke
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/298344Utgivelsesdato
2012Metadata
Vis full innførselSamlinger
Sammendrag
Practice-based perspectives in information systems have established how, in every
instance of use (i.e., work practices), the user exercises considerable discretion in
their appropriation of the technology with local workarounds and situated
improvisations. We analyse the relationship between technologically mediated work
practices separated in time and space. Specifically, we analyse how similarity in work
practices is achieved. Achieving absolutely similar (or ‘best’) practices is
unattainable. Drawing on a longitudinal (2007 – 2011) case of ambulatory
maintenance work in the oil and gas sector, we identify and discuss three constituting
strategies (differentiation, assembling and punctuation) through which a family
resemblance of – similar but not the same – work practices is crafted. We discuss
how, in the absence of an essentialist criterion, similarity is subject to pragmatic but
also political negotiations.
Keywords: Practice-based perspectives, mediating role of technology, work practices,
standardisation