Applying Theories for Information Systems Research

Actor-network theory
ANT is basically a social theory that is embedded within science and tech-
nologies. The core elements of ANT are the actor, network, and translation 
(Callon, 1986), others are blackbox, irreversibility, and immutable mobile. 
In ANT, actors are both human and non-human (Callon, 1991). Neither 
actor nor network can exist separately or independently of each other; the 
relationship happens in a recursive process through which the network 
matures or becomes stable (Heeks & Stanforth, 2015). Translation is the 
process of movement from one stage to another and it entails negotiations 
between the actors involved. There are four stages in translation referred to 
as moments of translation (Callon, 1986). Many IS studies have benefited 
from the use of moments of translation as a lens for analysis and interpre-
tation of qualitative data. ANT provides a lens to view how technology and 
social factors shape each other, which are often applied in the development, 
implementation or management of IT solutions.
ANT is concerned with the existence of social and technical factors, 
and the creation and maintenance of networks of human and non-human 
actors, which, in the case of IS, includes people, organisation, software, 
and hardware (Walsham, 1997). In ANT, the constituents of the network 

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8 Introduction
are constantly shifting, including the relationships between actors (Callon, 
1986). This is vital in investigating the complexity that often exists in the re-
lationship and interaction between actors in networks (Heeks & Stanforth, 
2015). In IS research, ANT is vital in four main ways – investigating how: 
(1) networks come into being (Callon, 1986); (2) associations or relationships 
exist; (3) actors are enrolled into a network (Doolin & Lowe, 2002); and (4) 
a network or networks become stable. It is thus useful in investigating social 
and technical factors that are involved in the development, implementation, 
and maintenance of IT solutions in an environment.