Title: Emerging technologies as change agent within and across organisational cultures

Authors: Heather Conboy, Alan Brine, Jane Clarke

Addresses: Faculty of Humanities, Clephan, 0.10, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK. ' Department of Library Services, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK. ' Eric Wood Building, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK

Abstract: E-learning policy and project implementation can be said to act as a driver of change in educational institutions, but institutions can change in markedly different ways. This paper reports on recent qualitative research focused on the implementation of Web2.0 approaches within a UK university. It argues that the embedded use of Web2.0 relies on the changing of working practices and people|s mindsets. We suggest that implementation may be problematic, resulting in change being more readily accepted by some groups and/or cultures than others. The way in which the Web2.0 concept is socially constructed in everyday discourses, events and learning communities is explored. The informal and participatory nature of these approaches, which may initiate the seeping of informal practices into otherwise more formal educational environments, can frame emerging technologies as |disruptive|.

Keywords: communities of practice; e-learning; change process; library; Web2.0; organisational culture; emerging technologies; staff development; case study; communication; online learning; electronic learning; web based communities; online communities; virtual communities; higher education; UK universities; Uniteed Kingdom; formal education; informal practices; change agents.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2010.033752

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2010 Vol.6 No.3, pp.269 - 283

Published online: 30 Jun 2010 *

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