Tatnall, Arthur (2012) Why is ANT a useful framework for investigating technological innovation? In: Social influences on information and communication technology innovations. Tatnall, Arthur, ed. IGI Global, Hershey, Pennsylvania, xii-xxii.

Abstract

This preface discusses Actor-Network Theory (ANT), and in particular Innovation Translation – its approach to innovation adoption and its value as an analytical framework for theorising technological innovation. It begins by noting the controversy with the name: actor-network theory (ANT), and whether this should be changed to something like “actant-rhyzome ontology” of “the sociology of translation.” It then makes use of a number of early classic papers by Latour, Callon, and Law to show why ANT provides a useful framework for handling socio-technical situations without privileging the social over the technical or vice-versa. A process of technological innovation making use of an approach involving the four moments of Innovation Translation is illustrated and an argument made for its value in other socio-technical situations involving technological innovation.

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