Using structuration theory in action research: A intranet development project

Structuration theory, Giddens' meta theory of social practice, has been used for theorizing the IS field and for analyzing empirical case studies, but has been little used in any practical or action research context. In the action research project reported here, which concerns the development of an intranet in a university department, structurational analysis was woven into the action research framework. This enabled social insight and reflections, which would not have been the primary focus of an analyst using a conventional systems development methodology, and facilitated the shaping of future developments for the intranet. Many of these developments have been implemented and proved successful.