User interpretations of future information system use: A snapshot with technological frames

Integrated information systems for managing patient data transform the nature of hospital work to the extent that the work practices, the responsibilities, even the professional identities are likely to undergo major changes. Therefore, during the organizational implementation of the IS, attention should be paid to the future users and how they understand and see what is going on. Here the focus is on these interpretation processes, analyzed as technological frames. That is, people develop different assumptions, expectations and knowledge concerning new technology. During this sense-making process they build their idea of that technology, its technological frame. We analyzed the pre-implementation frames that could be discerned in 24 interviews of hospital personnel. Main influences on the frames in this case were the work role in the organization, knowledge about the new system, and attitudes toward the old systems. The social context appeared to have a significant influence in the users’ interpretation processes and the frames seemed to be congruent within one group. So far, the incongruence between groups appeared to have caused no major problems for the implementation.