The Influence of Power in the Development of an Information Infrastructure

Authors:
Leila Lage Humes;Nicolau Reinhard
Affiliations:
School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil 908 05508-900;School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil 908 05508-900
Venue:
EGOV '08 Proceedings of the 7th international conference on Electronic Government
Year:
2008

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Abstract

This study addresses the role of power in the development of an information infrastructure. It examines an information system which, once implemented, was institutionalized, expanded and integrated into a network of independent systems and services which originated an information infrastructure. It describes how powerful or empowered agents contributed to develop the analyzed, information infrastructure and put into practice the first attempt to introduce e-gov, in the Brazilian State of Sao Paulo. Its implementation was initially based on the government discourse on transparency and control of public finances. However, knowledgeable actors used it to change the role they played in their institutions. Power is examined using the circuits of power framework adapted by Silva and Backhouse [1] for the information systems area. Hanseth's infrastructure theory is adopted to study development of the information infrastructure and is complemented by disclosing the role played by power in the development of this information infrastructure.