Technological innovation: a structrational process view

The central aim of our research is to describe and explain how the introduction of a computer-based technology, which supports co-operative work in engineering departments, induces change processes. The employment of computer-based technologies in product development organisations to support co-operative work practices has become a major practical and theoretical issue over the last years. Although there seem to be many technological possibilities to realise this kind of support, in practice, outcomes of technological change processes are usually different from those anticipated by management. We aim at explaining this phenomenon by investigating the relationship and interaction among the two major components - computer-based technology and organisation – focussing on the interrelationship, rather than on the components themselves.