This paper describes the research Approach of Phenomenography. A research question that has been addressed by this method is used to allow comparison between Phenomenography and Actor- Network... Show More

This paper describes the research Approach of Phenomenography. A research question that has been addressed by this method is used to allow comparison between Phenomenography and Actor- Network Theory as approaches to questions involving the adoption of new techniques in information systems projects.

Consumer culture theory helps us take note of the cultural forces and dynamics in which technology consumption is entangled. It enables people to articulate the cultural processes (ideological... Show More

Consumer culture theory helps us take note of the cultural forces and dynamics in which technology consumption is entangled. It enables people to articulate the cultural processes (ideological, mythic, ritualistic, etc.) through which cultural meanings become granted to or denied to technological innovations, thus shaping the value of technologies as cultural resources sustaining consumer identities. In its urge to shed light on these aspects, CCT tends to reinforce the gaps and asymmetries between the “socio-cultural” and the “techno-material”, leaving plenty of room for further study. The authors outline the strengths and limitations of CCT to offer several tentative suggestions as to how ANT and CCT might draw on each other to enrich our understanding of technology consumption.

This article introduces two theoretical perspectives on users' creative appropriations of new products which underline that product adoption goes beyond the moment of buying a product. It points out... Show More

This article introduces two theoretical perspectives on users' creative appropriations of new products which underline that product adoption goes beyond the moment of buying a product. It points out that successful and sustainable product adoption arises from enabling users' concrete action to creatively adopt and integrate a product into existing or emergent practices. Within the discipline of design, users' everyday life has been acknowledged to be full of hacks and workarounds. Everyday life has been recognized as a highly variable and complex unit of analysis which, according to some sociologists, gets continuously shaped and re-shaped by materials, images and skills within the boundary of what is called ‘a practice'. This paper will elaborate on two perspectives – design in-use and practice theory – to articulate an extended view on product adoption that could take into account the dynamics and the relevance of users' creative efforts in their everyday lives. It will suggest some guidelines for innovation managers, product developers and others who deal with issues related to product adoption.

Creativity is often conceptualized as actions and outcomes related to the creation of novel and useful ideas within the context of the development of new products. It is usually positioned in the... Show More

Creativity is often conceptualized as actions and outcomes related to the creation of novel and useful ideas within the context of the development of new products. It is usually positioned in the activities of designers who play the role of “the creator”. In this paper the authors suggest “changing the subject” to consumers by claiming that creativity plays a key role in the adoption phase when they attempt to address their needs and preferences by appropriating the use value of everyday technological products. They emphasize that the product value perception which makes a potential consumer buy is the result of this consumer's own activities and efforts. Thus, the intensity of consumers' creative activities becomes a critical adoption factor. The authors suggest that activity-based approaches such as actor-network theory and activity theory could be quite appropriate in studying the dynamics and the design of new product adoption, and offer a comparative analysis indicating that actor-network theory has a greater potential to contribute to the interplay between consumer creativity and technology adoption research.