Narrative Networks: Patterns of Technology and Organization

Abstract

T his paper introduces the narrative network as a device for representing patterns of "technology in use." The narrative network offers a novel conceptual vocabulary for the description of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and their relationship to organizational forms. We argue that as ICTs have become increasingly modular and recombinable, so have organizational processes and forms. The narrative network draws on concepts from structuration theory, actor network theory (ANT), and the theory of organizational routines. A narrative network expresses the set of stories (performances) that have been, or could be, generated by combining and recombining fragments of technology in use. This paper discusses how thinking of technology and organizations as narrative networks influences our understanding of design.

Estratégias de preço na difusão de inovação: simulação baseada em agentes aplicado ao mercado brasileiro de carros elétricos

“…Esta lacuna é calcada vastamente em construções teóricas formado por "caixas pretas"pouco elucidativas,a priori, sobre a convergência de micro fenômenos em padrões de maior escala (ABELL; FELIN;FOSS, 2007;KLEIN;DANSEREAU;HALL, 1994).Um dos caminhos para diminuir esta janela está no foco das ações individuais de múltiplos agentes e o resultado das interação entre eles (PENTLAND; FELDMAN, 2007;ARTHUR, 1999;CHANG, 1991;KEEN, 2001;BEINHOCKER, 2006).Porém,só recentemente estas duas áreas de pesquisa começaram a convergir, uma vez que a complexidade inerente de unificá-las apenas pôde ser atacada pela difusão de máquinas com alta capacidade de processamento e o consequente uso de novos métodos computacionais, como as simulações por agentes (MITCHELL, 2006). Portanto nessa junção de linhas de pesquisa, o principal propósito deste trabalho é investigar a difusão de novos produtos -mais especificamente, carros com matriz energética 100% elétrica no mercado nacional -utilizando arcabouço teórico e aplicado dos sistema complexos (DELRE, 2007;ECK;LEEFLANG, 2011;DEFFUANT;HUET;AMBLARD, 2005).Maior ênfase será dada nas variáveis controladas diretamente pelas empresas no processo de difusão.Para tanto,serão investigados 3 aspectos principais:…”

Alliance strategy: context, process, and requirements

“…A third and final foundational element concerns the composite and relational nature of content. It consists of elements (features such as activity steps, resources) that can be combined into narratives (Pentland and Feldman, 2007). Research on technology in organizations posits that features of technology and organizations could clash and get adapted (DeSanctis and Poole, 1994).…”

“…Adjustment of content (often between multiple types of content) takes centre stage (DeSanctis and Poole, 1994), especially in the context of innovation (Leonard, 1988). In this first philosophy, the process by which content gets combined and changed receives less attention or serves merely as a hermeneutic instrument for eliciting patterns (Pentland and Feldman, 2007) and meaning (Schreier, 2015). Content consists of elements that together become meaningful in a cross-sectional manner, e.g.…”

“…elements of a customer journey (Tax, 2013). The distinction of elements that together form a pattern -one could metaphorically imagine a swarm -implies that researchers focus on consistency, coherence or narrative patterns across these elements (Ibarra and Barbulescu, 2010;Pentland and Feldman, 2007;Weller, 2012).…”

“…trash at the same day and within the same time slot (Turner and Rindova, 2012). Narratives of felt difficulty can be constructed that weave elements of felt difficulty into common stories (Pentland and Feldman, 2007). Researchers can bracket the first step in a pragmatist study by describing narratives.…”