The purpose of this article is to present two existing information systems (IS) theories and the notion that theyrnare not mutually exclusive as accepted presently, but are actually two parts of a larger reality when viewedrnholistically. The study explores the question of whether technology (I.e., Information Technology specifically)rnis an enabler for change (as accepted in sociotechnical theory) in business processes or is it a driver of thatrnchange (as proposed by technological determinism)? It argues that theory of determinism and the theory ofrnsociotechnical change are not mutually exclusive but that the theories are part of the evolution of thernrelationship between technology and business processes. Specifically, information technology starts out as arntool to facilitate work processes, but then develops to a iopoint of optimizationll and, from that point on, itrndictates changes in business processes. Examples and cases are used to strengthen this thesis.
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