Ola Henfridsson: Sensemaking in IT-Adaptation: Inventing New Meaning for Technology in Organizations

This seminar is intended to explore Ola Henfridsson1s thesis manuscript; this exploration will be structured as a thesis defence, where four opponents have been assigned to provide their comments and questions about the thesis work.

The thesis itself examines the processes by which information technology (IT) is adapted and re-adapted in organizations. Observing how today1s organizations are increasingly dependent on IT for a broad range of organizational activities, the thesis puts the emphasis on human sensemaking as a basis for meaningful use and development of IT. Human sensemaking is important for coping with changes in the surrounding material and social context of the organization. Such changes require that the meaning of a specific IT-artifact be re-assessed over time. Evidence from two organizations – a software firm and a Swedish social services department – provides an empirical context for assessing how sensemaking processes affect the outcome of IT-adaptation. Conceptually, this assessment relies on Karl Weick1s thinking, introducing the 3double interact2 and the 3response repertoire2 as sensitizing concepts with which to understand the mechanisms generating adaptation of IT. Methodologically, this assessment relies on the interpretive case study, paying tribute to the 3hermeneutic circle2 as a guiding principle for the research process. The thesis draws some specific implications concerning how to manage sensemaking so that IT is adapted fruitfully.

Välkommna!

Per-Olof Ågren