The special issue aims to create a forum for state-of-the-art research on the processes, structures, and practices of organizing for and against emerging digital technologies across levels.
Organizations of the 21st century face a seemingly indeterminable array of emerging digital technologies that are radically novel and rapidly evolving, with profound transformative potential. These technologies generate such an impact because they are increasingly ‘autonomous’ and ‘intelligent’, which complements, augments, and even replaces human action. Another feature fueling the transformative potential of emerging digital technologies is their connectivity. Moreover, many current emerging digital technologies exhibit broad applicability across domains, and they are thus general-purpose technologies, advancing to essential infrastructures across markets. Finally, many of these emerging technologies exhibit an unprecedented pace of diffusion and adoption.
Building on a rich tradition in innovation theory and organization studies, scholars have examined the interplay of emerging digital technologies and organizing on multiple levels. It has been argued that relations should be put center stage, conceptualizing emerging digital technologies as being made of relations that are constantly evolving. Additionally, studies have shown the link between emerging digital technologies and organizations as sociomaterial, where the social and the material are intertwined and mutually influence each other.
At the industry level, institutional theory has emerged as an important lens to explain large-scale changes of enterprise systems, firms, and societies related to emerging digital technologies. Studies have shown that to promote these technologies, organizations redefine and work institutions by championing standards. Others have explored how the meaning and scope of these technologies were shaped by boundary work.
However, we still lack an in-depth understanding of the interrelated processes, structures, and practices through which individuals, collectives, and organizations push these technologies forward and try to push back. This special issue aims to create a forum for research addressing these themes through various contexts, particularly in critical infrastructure sectors.
We invite submissions that span a spectrum of approaches, from focused information systems studies to interdisciplinary research integrating insights from management, sociology, psychology, law, and other relevant fields. A list of research questions of interest is also provided.