Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/4154
Title: Machines and machinations: The integrated care record service in the UK national health service
Authors: Gandecha, R
Atkinson, C
Papazafeiropoulou, A
Stergioulas, L
Keywords: Actor Network Theory (ANT);Machination;Information Systems (IS);Integrated Care Record Service (ICRS) Implementation;UK National Health Service (NHS)
Issue Date: 2005
Publisher: International Information Management Association
Citation: Journal of International Technology and Information Management. 14(4): 1-12
Abstract: This paper examines the use of Actor Network Theory (ANT) as a lens to get a better understanding of the implementation of the Integrated Care Record Service (ICRS) in the UK National Health Service (NHS). Actor Network Theory has been deployed in various environments to achieve a better understanding of the roles of not only the humans but also the artifacts that constitute, in this case, healthcare networks of services and organisations. The theory is used as a means of supporting real world interventions, providing a richer understanding of complexities involved and thereby helps management to make better decisions. This study also explores Latour’s concept of machines as machinations, whose role is to translate other actors into the network. We propose ICRS as a fruitful empirical context for the use of ANT to support decision making for actors in health care provision. Actor Network Theory (ANT) is well-suited for use in the socio-technical evaluation of IS into the ICRS project because this approach treats human and non-human actors symmetrically. This approach facilitates a more thorough examination of the ways in which information technology is enabled or restricted in social processes.
URI: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/4154
Appears in Collections:Computer Science
Dept of Computer Science Research Papers

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