Misunderstandings and Misjudgments about Security: A Dialogical Narrative Analysis of Global IT Offshoring

This paper explores the patterns of technology use in a global enterprise. We use the concept of narrative networks to understand interactions between technology and organizations and the emergent implications. The paper is based on empirical work undertaken in the context of offshoring electronic medical records and billing systems from a group of US physician practices to service providers in India. Findings from our research suggest technology, represented as information security and privacy, as playing a central role in determining outcome of actions and the performances thereof. The narratives in technology in use and enactment of organizational forms display multiple third men, with features that modify the initial understandings of an agreement to implement technical systems.