The use of Actor-Network Theory and a Practice-Based Approach to understand online community participation

摘要: Participation in online communities is problematic. Take up of community technologies often patchy and subject to resistance, particularly organisational settings. Previous literature, mainly influenced by a cognitive tradition, tends explain this either through features the technology such as interface design or individual motivational structures. This study explores insights Actor-Network Theory (Callon, 1986; Latour, Law, 1986c; 1986b; 1992) practice-based approach (Gherardi, 2000; Orlikowski, 2002; Reckwitz, Schatzki, Nicolini et al., 2003; 2005; Gherardi, 2009b; Feldman 2011; Nicolini, Cox, 2012) provide more fully participation communities. The focuses on failure establish an supported collaborative part Human Resources project within multi-campus University Mexico. A range methods for data collection were used, however semi-structured interviews main basis analysis. Initially, analysing communication activity showed low levels participation, leading conduct 30 with actors playing different roles during project; 17 conducted initial stage 13 final stage. Work-related documentation observation meetings also used sources data. (ANT) (PBA), both members praxeological family theories (Reckwitz, 2002), sequential order inform analyses. During first research, ANT was explore how group aimed promote developing strategies enrol supporting into their network. By strengthening relations between other relevant network expected occur. The analysis reveals that lack arose from inability develop strong key actors; processes betrayal human technology; political power sponsoring community; incomplete internal translation existence competing actors. In second PBA further pre-existing practices shaped community. factors shaping included interconnection HR University; habits sense routinisation habituation reflected practitioners´ patterns interaction media use; concern practitioners did not support enactment shared knowings critical performance practices; being at odds Although offering distinct accounts, findings offered two perspectives deepen our current understanding foregrounding relational collective, historical emergent, highly contextualised character participation. On findings, provides series considerations might be relevance when conducing research phenomena. Bringing issues fore analysis, use alternative approaches better deal concerns, ethnographic methods, adoption angles observation, acknowledging emergent historically-shaped phenomena, need foreground socio-material phenomena are highlighted considerations.