Actors' misaligned interests to explain the low impact of an information system - A case study

The lack of success of information systems has been studied extensively. However, often only the implementation of an information system is studied without analysing the consequent effects on its adoption and later use. Our paper uses actor network theory to show how successful implementation and adoption can lead to a low level of later use and lack of achievement of the declarative goals. The same actors may form networks leading to a successful outcome in one particular situation but not in another. In such a way seamless implementation can hinder the subsequent use and hide problems from the management. An analysis of a case study of an information system's implementation, adoption and later use in a primary school allows a better understanding of the reasons for the subsequent low use.