Routine dynamics and sociomateriality: insights into technological artifacts and their roles
International Journal of Organizational Analysis
ISSN: 1934-8835
Article publication date: 7 May 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss artifacts and how they influence the performative scheme of the routine and human agency. Artifacts emerge from a heterogeneous network of technical and social elements, which implies assuming that they strongly influence the performance of a routine and the organizing.
Design/methodology/approach
This essay starts from an established theoretical framework to develop reflections and propose that the artifacts entangle part of organizational knowledge and that the artifact's role is structured by their enactment in performing a routine, which gives them meaning and a sense of purpose.
Findings
The propositions contribute to theoretical and empirical advances by offering new insights for analysing the role of artifacts in routine dynamics. The main arguments presented are about (i) the existence of a potential role and a performed role for artifacts, (ii) that the artifacts' role evolves from knowledge and know-how embedded in routines and their actants and (iii) that artifacts are connected through networks of routines, and they embed a vast repertoire of knowledge and expertise.
Originality/value
Also, it proposes a fruitful research agenda based on the main reflections. Finally, the thoughts presented open a pandora's box to reflect on the intertwining between human and artifacts, not just in organizing but also in everyday social life.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Citation
Costa Júnior, J.C.d., Nascimento, L.d.S., Silva, M.V.S.d. and Jerônimo, T.d.B. (2024), "Routine dynamics and sociomateriality: insights into technological artifacts and their roles", International Journal of Organizational Analysis, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-09-2023-3970
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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