A deeper understanding of evolution of the role of the object in organizational process: The concept of 'mediation object'

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze the different roles and natures of objects inrnorganizational process. Furthermore, the concept of the mediation object is developed to understandrnhow the objects help to structure interactions and collective activities over time.rnDesign/methodology/approach - The paper employs data from a case study (the Pupitre Virtuel)rnin order to highlight and illustrate the relevance of a process analysis of the roles and natures ofrnobjects.rnFindings - The paper demonstrates that the roles and natures of objects evolve over time throughrncontroversies and compromises. On one hand, the evolution of interactions drives the evolution of thernroles and natures of objects. On the other, the evolution of objects help the actors to structure theirrninteractions and activities.rnOriginality/value - The paper argues that, rather than a static analysis, human-object interactionrnneeds to be understood and observed through a process analysis, taking into account the evolution ofrnobjects and interactions. This paper shows that mediation objects can play three roles - as carriers ofrncontroversies, of compromises, and of prescriptions - and that it can appear in one of three aspects -rninterpretable, modifiable, and non-interpretableon-modifiable.