This contribution reports on the development of a theoretical framework as a foundation for the understanding of the influence of enterprise system implementation on organizational knowledge and learning. Our conceptualization of enterprise systems as symbolic systems gives rise to the study of enterprise system implementation in terms of semiotic and linguistic categories. While drawing on the concept of "model power," on the notion of "programming as theory development," and on the weak interpretation of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, we are able to show how enterprise system implementations influence organizational knowledge and organizational learning via linguistic processes.

Enterprise systems are located within the antinomy of appearing as generic product, while being means of multiple integrations for the user through configuration and customisation. Technological and organisational integrations are defined by architectures and standardised interfaces. Until recently, technological integration of enterprise systems has been supported largely by monolithic architectures that were designed, and maintained by the respective developers. From a technical perspective, this approach had been challenged by the suggestion of component-based enterprise systems that would allow for a more user-focused system through strict modularisation. Lately, the product nature of software as proprietary item has been questioned through the rapid increase of open source programs that are being used in business computing in general, and also within the overall portfolio that makes up enterprise systems. This suggests the potential for altered technological and commercial constellations for the design of enterprise systems, which are presented in different scenarios. The technological and commercial decomposition of enterprise software and systems may also address some concerns emerging from the users' experience of those systems, and which may have arisen from their proprietary or product nature.

Special Issue Information Infrastructures typically evolve in an incremental fashion, through partly planned and unplanned processes. A significant mechanism of growth is when previously unconnected systems are integrated, facilitating the transition from networking to inter-networking. Conversely, failure to integrate systems contributes to the lack of evolution of the infrastructure. Integration seems crucial for evolving infrastructures; however, there is little consensus on what it entails, as can be seen when different connotations of ‘integration ” are unpacked. In contrast to the dominant view of integration as a largely technical concern, our focus is on how political and institutional interests are embedded in efforts to achieve integration. More specifically, we explore strategies for institutional integration that take into account uneven distribution of political influence. The paper builds on empirical material from our ongoing (2001 – 2008) involvement with the problem of fragmented information systems in the health care sector in India. The case is seen from the perspective of one small actor offering free, open-source software that is already being used in several other developing countries. Choosing to focus on a small actor highlights the asymmetric power relations among the actors; our actor has no other option than to seek to align with bigger and more influential actors. We analyse the strategies, the configurable politics, and the outcomes of the distinct configurations that emerge from this form of asymmetric integration.

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Coordination bodies that attempt to overcome coordination barriers in humanitarian relief face many challenges. Among them are general organizational barriers to coordination as well as functionally-oriented barriers arising specifically from information management (IM) and information technology (IT) issues. Based on data collected from three coordination bodies, the research presented here examines IM and IT-related barriers, identifying similarities and differences between them as well as requirements for resolving them. The research finds that while many similarities exist, resolving IM issues typically requires higher levels of organizational change as compared to IT-related barriers. The research concludes that coordination bodies need to address a mixture of IT and IM related issues both to foster better coordination but also to ensure their efforts are successful.

Research article Design theory for dynamic complexity in information infrastructures: the case of building internet

The past decades yielded fundamental changes to the ways in which value creation is being organized. Globalization and market deregulation motivate businesses to expand into new, often remote markets, which requires them to

Since the 1990’s integrated information systems, better known as Enterprise Resource Planning, really started to take off as a potential solution for the integration of all core business areas in the organizations, allowing more visibility by consolidating all the information in one shared database, in real time. On the other hand, implementing a ERP system causes profound changes in the way employees perform their tasks. Research of the concerning literature suggests that ERP systems increase visibility and control within the company, the better access to information contributes to the empowerment of the employees, in the same way that the procedures of the ERP systems engage employees in self discipline and reflection on work practices. The literature review addresses concepts such as Foucault’s view of disciplinary power, organizational control and empowerment. The study adopted a quantitative methodology through a survey conducted in a multinational organization with 213 respondents, revealed that the visibility offered by the ERP system fosters autonomy making empowerment easier and that the respondents do not feel more controlled by their superiors or peers. In contrast to previous research, which relates reflexion to improve working practices, the present study relates reflexion with commitment to performing the system’s standardized tasks.

The economic crisis and the financial scandals highlight the significance of corporate governance. The internal audit function has gained great attention for assuring good corporate governance. ERP systems significantly change the information processing environment in organisations and act as a means of corporate governance change. ERP systems have embedded structures and institutional logics which could conflict with the corporate governance institutional logics in use. The internal audit function should be changed in terms of practices and structure to maintain its legitimacy as a corporate governance tool that adds value. In this paper, the authors articulate institutional theory to formulate a primary conceptual framework to explore how does the internal audit function respond to the misalignment between the ERP systems institutional logics and the corporate governance institutional logics. Internal auditors can respond to the misalignment with acquiescence, compromise, avoidance, defiance or manipulation strategies. This conceptual framework will be validated by conducting two case studies in Egypt and two in the UK in the banking sector.