Make technology invisible, or keep it visible? The role of intra-organizational transfer and integration of project outcomes

Abstract

Today's organizational renewal and change is conducted primarily within projects (i.e., temporary organizations), and, in varying degrees, includes information and communication technology (ICT) systems that should mediate or trigger intended changes. However, the definite duration of a project process and the indefinite duration of ICT-mediated change processes cause challenges for the permanent organization when intra-organizational transfer of intended and emergent project outcomes would be managed. However, when studying the interaction between ICT and an organizational context, it is of crucial importance to also include the ICT in the analysis. Accordingly, the aim this paper is to uncover technology features and their consequences for the permanent organization when intra-organizational transfer of intended and emergent project outcomes is managed. In order to achieve the aim of the paper, three case studies of ICT projects are analyzed and discussed. The ICT features predefmition of processes to change and the ease of making the ICT into an obligatory passage point will have consequences for the permanent organization's management of intra-organizational transfer of intended and emergent project outcomes. The conclusion is that these features of ICT have an impact on arrangements to be made by the permanent organization in order to support the intra-organizational transfer and integration of intended and emergent project outcomes. © 2007 International Federation for Information Processing.