NB: This is just one example structure but you are FREE TO USE YOUR OWN.
Introduction: (10%)
Refer to the statement your essay is designed to explore "Why is it important for business to address information technology as an assemblage?" - tell us how you plan on doing that, and why this is an important question to ask.
Main body: (80%)
Introduce your theory - what is Actor Network Theory (A.N.T), define key terms and give reasons why it is suitable for studying information technology and information systems.
Objective: Evaluate how Information Technology can be seen as an assemblage.
Story 1 - identify your actants, and categorise their scale, i.e. digital, software, hardware, human, cultural, structural
Story 1 - describe how some of these actants are acting on each other (the push/pull of actants)
Story 1 - what aspects of your analysis indicates an assemblage is taking place?
Story 2 - identify your actants, and categorise their scale, i.e. digital, software, hardware, human, cultural, structural
Story 2 - describe how some of these actants are acting on each other (the push/pull of actants)
Story 2 - what aspects of your analysis indicates an assemblage is taking place?
Objective: Identify how the information technology assemblage can enhance the transmission, storage and retrieval of information. Use business case studies to illustrate your argument.
Consider the IT object/system being discussed in your news story:
Story 1 - what actants are involved in enhancing transmission of information? How?
Story 1 - what actants are involved in enhancing storage of information? How?
Story 1 - what actants are involved in enhancing retrieval of information? How?
Story 1 - Has this object/system (or similar) been used to enhance management in other businesses - research the effects for that business?
Story 2 - what actants are involved in enhancing transmission of information? How?
Story 2 - what actants are involved in enhancing storage of information? How?
Story 2 - what actants are involved in enhancing retrieval of information? How?
Story 2 - Has this object/system (or similar) been used to enhance management in other businesses - research the effects for that business?
Objective: Critically analyse the issues/questions these actions raise for business. Do this by comparing and contrasting the viewpoints of relevant theorists and critics.
Each week we will look at yet another author, and what they consider the "big issues" of information technology - use these as much as possible to create debate and counter-debate.
Conclusion: (10%)
Refer back to the statement your essay is designed to explore "Why is it important for business to address information technology as an assemblage?". Did you answer the question? Was A.N.T. an appropriate theory to use for your analysis? Did you complete the challenge you set in your introduction?
References:
Harvard referenced list of all sources cited in your essay (including the stories you used, case studies cited, and where you obtained quotes and ideas from other authors)