Journal of Information Technology

, Volume 21, Issue 2, pp 86–98 | Cite as

Information technology and the modalisation of organisational behaviour: a theoretical framework

Research Article
First Online:

Abstract

Information technologies can transform an organisation's capacity to act effectively and achieve its performance aims. This theoretical paper presents a framework, adapted from the work of the semiotician A.J. Greimas, for qualitatively analysing this shaping of organisational behaviour and effectiveness around the use of IT. This framework permits various forms of capability or constraint in organisational action to be distinguished, in terms of the functional capacities of IT systems or key dimensions of social structure. A multi-faceted consideration of positive and negative outcomes of IT-based activities is thus supported. The use of this framework is demonstrated through brief case examples that illustrate its utility in providing a dynamic perspective on organisational performance and alignment in the use of IT. This theoretical framework equips IS interpretive studies to analyse the shaping of IT-based organisational activity from a standpoint of structures of behaviour or significance in a context of purposeful action.

Keywords

behaviour social IT use contradictions alignment semiotics 
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Copyright information

© Association for Information Technology Trust 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Operations Research and Information SystemsWarwick Business School, University of WarwickCoventryUK

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