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Infopolitics

Infopolitics

Copyright: © 2014 |Pages: 40
ISBN13: 9781466659865|ISBN10: 1466659866|EISBN13: 9781466659872
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-5986-5.ch006
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MLA

Bob Travica. "Infopolitics." Examining the Informing View of Organization: Applying Theoretical and Managerial Approaches, IGI Global, 2014, pp.182-221. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-5986-5.ch006

APA

B. Travica (2014). Infopolitics. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-5986-5.ch006

Chicago

Bob Travica. "Infopolitics." In Examining the Informing View of Organization: Applying Theoretical and Managerial Approaches. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2014. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-5986-5.ch006

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Abstract

This chapter discusses informing politics (infopolitics), which is defined in terms of power, agendas, and flight/fight behaviors related to organizational informing agents. The phenomena of infopolitics are tracked back to the relevant literature in the fields of information systems and organization theory. The central concept in infopolitics is that of infopower. Infopower is defined, illustrated by examples from the literature, and grounded in structuration theory. Manipulative communication techniques, which may go unnoticed in organizations, are discussed and their relationships with infopolitics demonstrated. The discussion further covers a three-member categorization of resource-based infopower: data/IT control, expert power, and meaning management. In addition, alternative ontological views based on the premises of symbol, institution and object are proposed as a way of expanding theorizing on infopower. It is argued that information systems could impose themselves as the symbols of autonomy and domination (symbol infopower), and act adrift from designer's intentions (actant's informing influence). The chapter also discusses other elements of infopolitics. Infopolitical agenda is conceptualized in terms of goals, strategies, and tactics related to achieving and maintaining infopower. Infopolitical fight is defined in terms of a struggle for achieving one's infopolitical agenda, and infopolitical flight is referred to negotiations and coalition making aiming at achieving one's infopolitical agenda. All these concepts are traced to the relevant literature and demonstrated by a case study.

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