The Essential Dynamics of Information Infrastructures

Stefan Henningsson, Ole Hanseth

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

    Abstract

    This paper inquires into the complexities of contemporary IT solutions based on a case study of the EU’s eCustoms initiatives using Manuel DeLanda’s Assemblage Theory. Technological innovations have enabled information infrastructures with dramatically increased number and heterogeneity of included components, and their dynamic and unexpected interactions. Unfortunately, lack of understanding of how the increasing complexity influences development initiatives is hampering effective information infrastructure development. Assemblage Theory can be seen as holistic synthesis of previous research streams seeking to explain how information infrastructures evolve in social contexts. Accordingly, in this paper it helps us getting a holistic grasp of the complexity of contemporary IT solutions and the “essence” of their dynamics. Through Assemblage Theory we explain how the European eCustoms information infrastructure has through a dialectic between stabilizing and destabilizing processes assumed its current shape - a result of decisions taken decades ago, path dependency, complexity, and accumulated emergence.

    This paper inquires into the complexities of contemporary IT solutions based on a case study of the EU’s eCustoms initiatives using Manuel DeLanda’s Assemblage Theory. Technological innovations have enabled information infrastructures with dramatically increased number and heterogeneity of included components, and their dynamic and unexpected interactions. Unfortunately, lack of understanding of how the increasing complexity influences development initiatives is hampering effective information infrastructure development. Assemblage Theory can be seen as holistic synthesis of previous research streams seeking to explain how information infrastructures evolve in social contexts. Accordingly, in this paper it helps us getting a holistic grasp of the complexity of contemporary IT solutions and the “essence” of their dynamics. Through Assemblage Theory we explain how the European eCustoms information infrastructure has through a dialectic between stabilizing and destabilizing processes assumed its current shape - a result of decisions taken decades ago, path dependency, complexity, and accumulated emergence.

    LanguageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems : ICIS 2011
    EditorsDennis F. Galletta, Ting-Peng Liang
    Number of pages19
    Place of PublicationAtlanta, GA
    PublisherAssociation for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)
    Date2011
    ChapterPaper 14
    ISBN (Print)9780615559070
    StatePublished - 2011
    EventThe 32nd International Conference on Information Systems. ICIS 2011 - Shanghai, China
    Duration: 4 Dec 2011 → 7 Dec 2011
    Conference number: 32
    http://icis2011.aisnet.org/

    Conference

    ConferenceThe 32nd International Conference on Information Systems. ICIS 2011
    Number32
    CountryChina
    City Shanghai
    Period04/12/2011 → 07/12/2011
    Internet address

    Keywords

      Cite this

      Henningsson, S., & Hanseth, O. (2011). The Essential Dynamics of Information Infrastructures. In D. F. Galletta, & T-P. Liang (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems: ICIS 2011 Atlanta, GA: Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL).
      Henningsson, Stefan ; Hanseth, Ole. / The Essential Dynamics of Information Infrastructures. Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems: ICIS 2011. editor / Dennis F. Galletta ; Ting-Peng Liang. Atlanta, GA : Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL), 2011.
      @inproceedings{dcc5900c77f54216b0dbb275d62f92be,
      title = "The Essential Dynamics of Information Infrastructures",
      abstract = "This paper inquires into the complexities of contemporary IT solutions based on a case study of the EU’s eCustoms initiatives using Manuel DeLanda’s Assemblage Theory. Technological innovations have enabled information infrastructures with dramatically increased number and heterogeneity of included components, and their dynamic and unexpected interactions. Unfortunately, lack of understanding of how the increasing complexity influences development initiatives is hampering effective information infrastructure development. Assemblage Theory can be seen as holistic synthesis of previous research streams seeking to explain how information infrastructures evolve in social contexts. Accordingly, in this paper it helps us getting a holistic grasp of the complexity of contemporary IT solutions and the “essence” of their dynamics. Through Assemblage Theory we explain how the European eCustoms information infrastructure has through a dialectic between stabilizing and destabilizing processes assumed its current shape - a result of decisions taken decades ago, path dependency, complexity, and accumulated emergence.",
      keywords = "Information Infrastructures, Assemblage Theory, eCustoms, Complexity, Emergence",
      author = "Stefan Henningsson and Ole Hanseth",
      year = "2011",
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      editor = "Galletta, {Dennis F.} and Ting-Peng Liang",
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      }

      Henningsson, S & Hanseth, O 2011, The Essential Dynamics of Information Infrastructures. in DF Galletta & T-P Liang (eds), Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems: ICIS 2011. Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL), Atlanta, GA, Shanghai, China, 04/12/2011.

      The Essential Dynamics of Information Infrastructures. / Henningsson, Stefan; Hanseth, Ole.

      Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems: ICIS 2011. ed. / Dennis F. Galletta; Ting-Peng Liang. Atlanta, GA : Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL), 2011.

      Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

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      T1 - The Essential Dynamics of Information Infrastructures

      AU - Henningsson,Stefan

      AU - Hanseth,Ole

      PY - 2011

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      N2 - This paper inquires into the complexities of contemporary IT solutions based on a case study of the EU’s eCustoms initiatives using Manuel DeLanda’s Assemblage Theory. Technological innovations have enabled information infrastructures with dramatically increased number and heterogeneity of included components, and their dynamic and unexpected interactions. Unfortunately, lack of understanding of how the increasing complexity influences development initiatives is hampering effective information infrastructure development. Assemblage Theory can be seen as holistic synthesis of previous research streams seeking to explain how information infrastructures evolve in social contexts. Accordingly, in this paper it helps us getting a holistic grasp of the complexity of contemporary IT solutions and the “essence” of their dynamics. Through Assemblage Theory we explain how the European eCustoms information infrastructure has through a dialectic between stabilizing and destabilizing processes assumed its current shape - a result of decisions taken decades ago, path dependency, complexity, and accumulated emergence.

      AB - This paper inquires into the complexities of contemporary IT solutions based on a case study of the EU’s eCustoms initiatives using Manuel DeLanda’s Assemblage Theory. Technological innovations have enabled information infrastructures with dramatically increased number and heterogeneity of included components, and their dynamic and unexpected interactions. Unfortunately, lack of understanding of how the increasing complexity influences development initiatives is hampering effective information infrastructure development. Assemblage Theory can be seen as holistic synthesis of previous research streams seeking to explain how information infrastructures evolve in social contexts. Accordingly, in this paper it helps us getting a holistic grasp of the complexity of contemporary IT solutions and the “essence” of their dynamics. Through Assemblage Theory we explain how the European eCustoms information infrastructure has through a dialectic between stabilizing and destabilizing processes assumed its current shape - a result of decisions taken decades ago, path dependency, complexity, and accumulated emergence.

      KW - Information Infrastructures

      KW - Assemblage Theory

      KW - eCustoms

      KW - Complexity

      KW - Emergence

      M3 - Article in proceedings

      SN - 9780615559070

      BT - Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems

      PB - Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)

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      Henningsson S, Hanseth O. The Essential Dynamics of Information Infrastructures. In Galletta DF, Liang T-P, editors, Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems: ICIS 2011. Atlanta, GA: Association for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). 2011.

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