Modelling IT Use: An Archetypal Approach

Since Barley’s use of Giddens in 1986, structurational approaches have become an important theoretical perspective within the IS research community. This paper introduces an intermediate theory of this stream through three socio-technical archetypes, i.e. stylised socio-technical situations (neutral, regenerated and disrupted) and two appropriative trajectories, that is to say two a combination of archetypes (the balancing point and the improvisational dynamics). The resulting theoretical framework is then applied to four case studies illustrating the implementation of Intranets in French firms. Finally, the general relevance of the structurational reading-grid is demonstrated. But the study also sheds light on some limits of the conceptual scheme. Intranets are only an opportunity for very local and limited structuring processes. Besides, a third appropriative trajectory is also suggested (the catalytic dynamic) and the model is partly accommodated.