Personification of the computer: a pathological metaphor in IS

Authors:
Nanette Monin;D. John Monin
Affiliations:
Department of Management Systems, Massey University, New Zealand;-
Venue:
SIGCPR '94 Proceedings of the 1994 computer personnel research conference on Reinventing IS : managing information technology in changing organizations: managing information technology in changing organizations
Year:
1994

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Introduction

The machine as metaphor and tool
Interpreting Information Systems in Organizations

Interpreting Information Systems in Organizations

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Abstract

Semantic and syntactic aspects of metaphor are explored and explained as a preface to an exposition of the impact on Information Systems (IS) personnel of a popular root metaphor: the personification of the computer. It is suggested that since action metaphors determine attitudes and future directions, this personification may be responsible for confusing both end-user and researcher: that if the potential of computers is to be more fully realised and utilised, our perceptions of the language in which we describe them should be illuminated. There is a danger, it is argued, that if human attributes are ascribed to the computer, personnel in IS begin to act out the metaphor pathologically.