The path biography methodology: Analyzing self-reinforcing mechanisms on technical and organizational levels
Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
Authors
While studies on self-reinforcing mechanisms in information systems (IS) research rely on methodologies that focus on the technical level without fully accounting for such effects on the organizational level, management research relies on methodologies that concentrate researchers’ efforts on the organizational level. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Path Biography Methodology, a qualitative approach that helps researchers capture and analyze self-reinforcing mechanisms on and between technical and organizational levels. By synthesizing insights from IS and management research, we develop four principles that researchers should consider when applying the Path Biography Methodology. Using a path biography study of a university and its information system, we illustrate how researchers may apply this methodology to analyze self-reinforcing mechanisms. Overall, this paper lays the groundwork for a research methodology that enables researchers to capture and analyze self-reinforcing mechanisms on and between technical and organizational levels.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 36th International Conference on Information Systems |
Number of pages | 20 |
Publisher | Association for Information Systems |
Publication date | 13.12.2015 |
ISBN (electronic) | 978-0-9966831-1-1 |
Publication status | Published - 13.12.2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
- Management studies - Qualitative research, path biographie, self-reinforcing mechanisms, Path dependence