A Constructionist Approach to the Study of IS Development Failures How semantics as the construction of meaning influences our theoretical approach to information systems

This paper reflects on the use of socially constructed categories in the analysis of a failed attempt to introduce a standardised information system (ISIS) in the Irish League of Credit Unions. Beginning with a brief overview of the various definitions of social constructionism and a description of the ISIS project, the paper then outlines two previous interpretations of the failed implementation. The first of these uses an interpretive lens of power and identity to analyse the implementation phase of the project, while the second study asks who is responsible for the project’s failure. We then suggest that these interpretations relied on socially constructed categories which created artificial distinctions in the credit union movement and thus equally contributed to the failure of the project. Finally, we discuss the consequences of using social constructionist ideas and suggest that it has far-reaching consequences for IS research.