The Vague Plague -The continual innovation and spread of BPR and IT in Enterprise Networks.

Christian Koch

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    The empirical point of departure of this article is the erosion of enterprise boundaries, which create new conditions for enterprise actors, i.e. they are to an increasing extent forced to operate in networks. They are confronted with a number of unstable and developing change drivers. The focus here is on the combination of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) and crosscutting IT. The theoretical point of departure is newer sociology of technology which is acting as a mainly implicit analytical frame for the understanding of the couple BPR and IT. The spread and development of BPR-concepts and IT in Denmark are the central interest. It is accompanied by a parallel analysis of the American and international development. In Denmark a public discourse on BPR emerged in 1992, and there continues to be parallel and disparate processes of development going on. The account is thus multiple even from the early take up of BPR from USA. The paper tries to demonstrate that BPR internationally and in Denmark is continually developing and becoming rather widespread and differentiated in content on a number of points. This does not mean that BPR are endlessly shapeable, but rather that a societal closure of the meaning of BPR doesn't occur and the different concepts reflect different networks of actors -in particular enterprises and consultants. The interpretation is further that the accompanying IT- implementation does not lead to a closure of the enterprise impacts. Even standard systems with a momentum as a "plague" like SAP R/3, are actually reshaped by the enterprises.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of Cost A4 workshop
    Place of PublicationBruxelles
    PublisherCost A4, EU
    Publication date1998
    Publication statusPublished - 1998
    EventCOST A-4 workshop: Social Issues about Information Technology: Organizational Models, Decision Processes. - San Sebastian
    Duration: 1 Jan 1997 → …

    Conference

    ConferenceCOST A-4 workshop: Social Issues about Information Technology: Organizational Models, Decision Processes.
    CitySan Sebastian
    Period01/01/1997 → …

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