Systems Development as Networking

The notion of networking is used to conceptualize systems development as a series of activities aiming at consecutively allocating resources at interrelated places in order to promote the development and use of computerbased systems. Applying concepts and terminology of actor-network theory, circulating and black-boxing commitments of the actors involved are identified as recurrent activities essential to achieve progress in system development projects, i.e. to encourage actors to contribute required resources in due time and place. The argument is exemplified in a case study of the implementation of an information system supporting the examination administration of a large university. In general, the networking approach offers a number of potentials for reflecting and managing the phenomena related especially to distributed development environments.