Power Operation in ISD: Technological Frames Perspectives

This paper investigates the power operation in information system development (ISD) processes. Due to the fact that key actors in different departments possess different professional knowledge, their different contexts lead to some employees supporting IS, while others resist it to achieve their goals. We aim to interpret these power operations in ISD from the theory of technological frames. This study is based on qualitative data collected from KaoKang (pseudonym), a port authority in Taiwan. We attempt to understand the situations of different key actors (e.g. top manager, MIS professionals, employees of DP-1 division, consultants of KaoKang, and customers (outside users)) who wield power in ISD in different situations. In this respect, we interpret the data using a technological frame. Finally, we aim to gain fresh insight into power operation in ISD from this perspective.