Divisive and integrative political strategies in the IS adaptation process: the MAC Initiative

摘要

The MAC Initiative project is described as seen through the eyesof users at one university. These subjective interpretations aredescribed in terms of five different assumptions about politics andpower. We show that information system users and developers holdmultiple perspectives of events and switch between them in order toempathise with others, and that it is this perspective switchingwhich enables them to behave coherently. One advantage of thisability to switch perspectives is shown by the software developer'sability to switch from a 'zero sum' perspective (a divisive politicalstrategy) to a 'socially shaped' perspective (an integrativepolitical strategy) as a means of managing the adaptation process.