IT alignment through ANT: A case of sustainable decision in the educational sector

Abstract

This paper presents a social approach to IT governance centered on the alignment of interests of the actors involved in the decision, implementation, and control processes. Grounding our proposal on Actor-Network Theory (ANT), we provide a conceptual reference to help identify and solve social issues in IT governance. The exploratory case study of an IT decision process in a Latin American university shows how distinct actor-networks were dynamically shaped according to the stage of IT governance. ANT analysis aided managers in minimizing resistances in a long decision-making process. We conclude arguing that the balance of the actors' interests through the IT governance stages contributed to the sustainability of this IT decision. ©2009 IEEE.