Information and Communication Technologies in Action: Linking Theories and Narratives of Practice

The stories in this book introduce readers to individuals talking about how they communicate today via information ad communication technologies (ICTs) in business or organizational contexts. The theories, presented in accessible language, illuminate the implicit patterns in these stories.

Contents c Preface .......................................................................................................................... xiii Introduction...................................................................................................................xv Stories as Sources of Information ........................................................................................................ xvi The Narrative Approach ................................................................................................................... xvi Concepts in the book ........................................................................................................................ xviii Practical Questions ' Stories/Concepts ............................................................................................... xx Story Summaries ...............................................................................................................................xxii 1. Media Choice and ICT Use ...................................................................................... 27 Determinism or Social Construction? ................................................................................................... 27 Technological Determinism: Richness and Conscious Choice ................................................................. 28 Figure 1-1: Visual Representation of Media Richness Theory ............................................................... 28 The Social Construction of ICTs ..........................................................................................................30 Figure 1-2: Social Influence Model ......................................................................................................30 Figure 1-3: Dual Capacity Model ....................................................................................................... 31 Comparing Deterministic and Social Constructionist Perspectives ......................................................... 33 Pulling Theory Together to Guide an Understanding of Narratives of ICT Use ..................................... 34 2. The Role of Credibility and Trust in ICT Studies: Understanding the Source, Message, Media, and Audience........................................ 37 Source Credibility ............................................................................................................................... 37 Message Credibility ............................................................................................................................. 40 Media Credibility ............................................................................................................................... 41 Audience Considerations.....................................................................................................................42 Fluid Model Depicting Credibility Considerations ............................................................................... 42 Relating Theory to Practice ................................................................................................................. 43 Figure 2-1: Factors Affecting Overall Perceptions of Credibility ........................................................... 43 3. Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations .............................................................................. 47 Figure 3-1: Rate of Adoption ..............................................................................................................48 Opinion Leadership and Peer Leadership ............................................................................................. 49 Examining ICTs as an Innovation in Norway and the U.S. ................................................................50 The Relativity and Uncertainty of Innovations ..