ABSTRACT
The insights provided by studies investigating the development of computer-based systems in practice suggest that there are three groups of perspectives on the nature of the implementation process. Managerial rationalism departs from the preceding perspective in that the process of introducing an innovation into an organization is regarded as solely technological in nature. One issue that has been taken for granted in the preceding exploration of various perspectives on implementation is the notion of success and failure. The perspectives of technological determinism, managerial rationalism and social interactionism highlight the variety of interpretations that have been developed of the relationship between technology and organizations and also the consequences that this has for the implementation of innovations. Implicit within the discussion has been the assumption that geographic information system should be regarded as a form of technology and perhaps more particularly an innovative technology.
