The Social Shaping of Internet-Based Systems in Global Organizations: An Interpretive Study

This paper examines multiple interpretations organizational members have of Internet-based information systems (IS) by carrying out an interpretive investigation into the evolution of such systems in a large organization. The findings indicate that exploring interpretive schemes relating to the nature and application of Internet-based IS offers a better understanding of the choices made regarding the design and use of Internet-based IS. This paper illustrates that differences in the interpretive schemes of social groups may lead to differences in actions around Internet-based technologies and were also seen as a source of innovation. The implications of the findings for theory and practice are discussed.