EXPLAINING AN E-IDENTIFICATION FRAMEWORK IMPLEMENTATION USING DIALECTICS

This article analyses the challenges of implementing a new electronic identification (eID) framework in Finland. We employ the theoretical lens of dialectics to explain how two opposing forces in the form of public and private actors, the government and banks respectively, engaged in a process of resistance and acquiescence. By interviewing the key organizations from both sides, we identify the rationale of the conflict, mechanisms that have led and may lead to further conflict, and the outcome. The root cause of the problems with the framework include the conflicting goals of the government and banks: the regulators’ interests to create more competition in the market, generate cost savings, decrease the dependence on banks vs. the objectives of the banks to maintain the status quo. Moreover, the framework implementation practices, such as the hard enforcement strategy, an inherent infrastructuring mindset of the government and communication problems, have considerably contributed to further conflict development. As a result, divergent views on the framework architecture and the pricing models are the outcomes of the confrontation. Our findings emphasize the importance of strategic and operational coherence in the governance of a changing ecosystem with a proprietary banking platform playing a role in a national eID scheme

EXPLORING TENSIONS IN COLLABORATION AMONG PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS ON SHARED IT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

This research-in-progress paper examines the dialectical tensions in inter-organisational collaboration on shared information technology (IT) resources in the public sector. Collaborating public sector organisations are encouraged to explore shared IT resources to align and harmonise multiple IT assets, human resources, and processes. However, the bureaucratic nature of public sector organisations can lead to tensions between individual organisational needs, policymakers\u27 objectives, and joint efforts. This paper presents a preliminary exploration of the problem. The study focuses on the context of UK police services collaborating with other police services and emergency services to create and manage large-scale shared IT infrastructures. The research fills a gap in the literature by exploring dialectical tensions in inter-organisational collaboration of public sector organisations seeking to collaborate for policy implementation. The analysis revealed four tensions arising from disagreements on motivations, objectives, norms, and interpretations, which affect different aspects of the enactment process. The paper concludes by presenting governance mechanisms emerging from the cases to manage the dialectical tensions

Dialectical Inquiry in Information Systems Research: A Synthesis of Principles

Although dialectical inquiry has been sporadically and selectively applied in the Information Systems (IS) discipline, and premier IS journals increasingly welcome dialectical inquiries, we lack methodological guidance on its application and evaluation, hindering its adoption as an important and valid IS research method. In response, we present a critical analysis of general dialectics literature and 63 extant IS dialectical inquiry publications in 18 journals spanning three decades, revealing that there is a growing and sizeable community of IS researchers using dialectical inquiry explicitly or implicitly to examine how sociotechnical phenomena change. Based on this analysis, we synthesize six principles for dialectical inquiry that are firmly rooted in dialectical philosophy, evidenced in IS publications, clearly distinct from each other, and together comprehensive. As such, our contribution can help IS researchers, reviewers, and editors to extend and solidify their methodological repertoire

The public procurement of information systems: dialectics in requirements specification

When acquiring information systems, public entities face a dilemma. On the one hand, they want to procure the system that best suits their needs, which often requires lengthy dialogues with vendors. At the same time, they are restricted by government regulations that mandate limited dialogue in the interests of transparency and equal opportunities for all vendors. To examine how public entities deal with this, we followed three procurement projects in Norway. We show that this dilemmamanifests itself as a dialectic between the thesis of getting the systemrequirements right and the antithesis of strictly adhering to regulations. Public entities search for a resolution of this dialectic through two syntheses: selecting an appropriate tendering procedure, and learning how to specify requirements through networks of peer public entities. Our findings reveal that the syntheses are possible because the dialectic is actually complimentary, both the thesis and the antithesis are needed to create the joint outcome that satisfies both. The resolution of the dialectic unfolds differently over time. Our study contributes to the relatively neglected stream of IS research on dialectics that explicitly searches for a synthesis while revealing the complementarity of the dialectic. We show how time plays a nuanced role in the resolution of the dialectic situation

Dialectic Tensions in the Context of Inter-organizational Integration

This study compares the perspectives on inter-organizational integration of information between stakeholders of the architecture, engineering, construction, and facilities management (AEC/FM) industry in Finland. Our findings are grounded on semi-structured interviews with practitioners that participated in a project of the Finnish government. Applying the theoretical framework of dialectical analysis, we identified six dimensions where conflicting points of view may arise regarding shared information: Ontology, standards, storage, openness, monetization and the involvement of the public sector. We argue that stakeholders will have stronger motivation to integrate with new actors if they share the same vision about one or more of such challenge areas. Awareness of these tensions helps to understand and guide the development of inter-organizational information systems in networked industries

Stakeholder Contradictions in Early Stages of eHealth Efforts

Use of information and communication technology (ICT) in healthcare has increased substantially over the past decades. Implementation of ICT in municipal health services (eHealth) involves a variety of stakeholders, and may lead to changes in the roles of providers and patients. Coordination, communication, early identification and involvement of key stakeholders in eHealth projects have been highlighted as important. However, research often takes a narrow perspective and pays scant attention to conflicting drivers. This study used a qualitative approach to identify and investigate contradictory stakeholder interests in the early phase of a municipal eHealth project. Analysis using Stakeholder Theory (ST) and Dialectic Process Theory revealed two important contradictions; 1) effective service versus efficient service and 2) technology enthusiasm versus reluctance to change. The analysis illustrated the usefulness of combining these theories in eHealth efforts. Implications from our research suggest that stakeholder management should be considered to prevent conflicts in eHealth projects

Dialectics and Dilemmas Arising from COVID 19 Immunity Testing: Presenting A Workforce Management Paradox

Purpose Covid-19 has caused many businesses to rethink their short and potentially long-term workforce operations. The use of lateral flow serology can provide a clinically convenient approach for the assessment of prior infection with Covid-19. However, its widespread adoption in organisations seeking to use it to test for workforce immunity is controversial and confusing. This paper explores the paradoxical dilemmas and dialectics immunity workforce testing creates. Methodology This study involved capturing the ethnographical participation of a CEO dealing with the experience of managing the outcomes of Covid-19 workforce immunity testing. The aim was to take a snapshot in time of the CEO’s empirical world, capturing their lived experiences in order to explore how management actions resulting from Covid-19 immunity testing can played out. Findings Providing staff with immunity tests at first glance appears sensible, decent and a caring action to take. Nevertheless, once such knowledge is personalised by the workforce they can through dialectic dialogue feel disadvantaged and harbour feelings of unfairness. Subsequently this paper suggest that immunity testing may only serve to raise awareness and deepen the original management dilemma of whether testing is a worthwhile activity. Originality This paper aims to be amongst the first works to empirically explore the workforce management challenges that arise within small businesses within the service sector following the completion of Covid-19 immunity testing of their staff. It seeks to achieve this via utilizing the robust theoretical framework of paradox theory to examine Covid-19’s impact upon small business workforce management thinking and practice