Bracketing off the actors: Towards an action-centric research agenda. Issue 3 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pentland, Brian T.; Pentland, Alex P.; Calantone, Roger J.
• Is Part Of: Information and organization. Volume 27:Issue 3(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 137
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Information resources management -- Periodicals; Organizational change -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Accounting -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Management information systems -- Periodicals; Comptabilité -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Systèmes d'information de gestion -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 658.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2017.06.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-7727

Abstract

Abstract: Widespread digitization is creating new sources of data that record sequences of actions and events. These action sequences can be used to trace coherent streams of activity in social, economic and business processes. These sources of data, along with new computational methods, create an opportunity to visualize, analyze and compare patterns of actions as a unit of analysis. This paper discusses the connections of this idea to a variety of related fields and maps out some first steps of an action-centric agenda for research. Highlights: We suggest action networks as an alternative to the current actor-centric approach to information systems research. We discuss how action networks relate to social networks, actor-networks, activity systems and work systems. We describe some steps towards an action-centric research agenda.