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Communication Practices as Functions, Rituals and Symbols: Challenges for Computerization of Paper‐based Information Systems
Author(s) -
Mosse Emílio,
Nielsen Petter
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the electronic journal of information systems in developing countries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.41
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 1681-4835
DOI - 10.1002/j.1681-4835.2004.tb00119.x
Subject(s) - citizen journalism , context (archaeology) , knowledge management , relation (database) , information and communications technology , information transmission , icts , symbolic communication , sociology , communication studies , computer science , public relations , political science , world wide web , social science , geography , database , computer network , archaeology
Communication within organizations is more than functional transmission of information between different actors. Communication practices are also composed of ritualistic and symbolic aspects, together building a relation between context and practice. This paper discusses communication practices within and among different levels of the health information system in Mozambique and efforts to implement ICTs to support these paper‐based practices. The analysis builds on a case study, based on participatory observations and interviews revealing these different aspects of communication practice. Applying our analytical lens, we describe the ongoing communication practice as shaping and shaped by the context.