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Mechanisms of power inscription into IT governance: Lessons from two national digital identity systems
Author(s) -
Medaglia Rony,
Eaton Ben,
Hedman Jonas,
Whitley Edgar A.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
information systems journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.635
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2575
pISSN - 1350-1917
DOI - 10.1111/isj.12325
Subject(s) - corporate governance , power (physics) , identity (music) , politics , inscribed figure , political science , process (computing) , public relations , business , public administration , sociology , law , computer science , physics , geometry , mathematics , finance , quantum mechanics , acoustics , operating system
Abstract Establishing IT governance arrangements is a deeply political process, where relationships of power play a crucial role. While the importance of power relationships is widely acknowledged in IS literature, specific mechanisms whereby the consequences of power relationships affect IT governance arrangements are still under‐researched. This study investigates the way power relationships are inscribed in the governance of digital identity systems in Denmark and the United Kingdom, where public and private actors are involved. Drawing on the theoretical lens of circuits of power, we contribute to research on the role of power in IT governance by identifying two distinct mechanisms of power inscription into IT governance: power cultivation and power limitation.