|
Informing Science + IT Education Conference 2003 Proceedings
| Informing Science + IT Education Conference |
| Pori, Finland June 24-27, 2003 |
| Leveling Differences and Reinforcing Similarities: |
| The Interaction between Information and Communication Technologies and National Culture |
| Jan-Oddvar Soernes, Keri Stephens, Alf Steinar Saetre, and Larry Browning |
| The University of Texas at Austin, USA |
| Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway |
| The University of Texas at Austin, USA |
| This study compares how workers in Norway and the United States use Information and Communication |
| Technologies (ICTs). Our data—72 in-depth interviews of advanced ICT users – was coded and ana-lyzed using a |
| grounded-theory methodology. As our organizing structure of comparing the two coun-tries, we use Hofstede’s |
| four-dimensional framework of national culture. Our results show that ICTs have a homogenizing effect on cultural |
| differences—but also a reinforcing effect on existing similarities. We hypothesize possible explanations for these |
| findings, including tracing them to our focus on an ex-pert-user-c344 subculture and external triggering events. |
| Keywords: Culture, Information and Communication Technologies, Cross-cultural studies, Organiza-tional |
ISSN
1535-07-03
Unless otherwise indicated, this paper has undergone blind external review by three or more reviewers.
Types of Papers: A Best Paper, Regular Paper, Short Paper, Informal Paper,
Unrefereed Panel Paper
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