Using Actor-Network Theory to Research the Implementation of a B-B Portal for Regional SMEs in Melbourne, Australia

E-commerce portals come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: they all involve interactions between information technology and people. Information systems are complex socio-technical entities and research into their implementation needs to take account of this. This paper describes the research approach used in investigating the implementation of a business-to-business ecommerce portal for small to medium enterprises in the western region of Melbourne, Australia. The research approach is based on actor-network theory and innovation translation, and this paper shows how this approach can be usefully employed in socio-technical situations involving technological innovation.