A human resources project implementation An actor-network theory perspective

Resumen

Two main objectives are aimed at this paper. Firstly, to suggest the use of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as a suitable theory to inform the Implementation of a Human Resources Project (called ModeCo, Modelo de Competencias); and secondly, to shed some initial insights to understand some of the issues that shape the rhythm of this implementation. The paper draws on a qualitative study informed by ANT (Callon, 1986; Latour, 1987; Law, 1992) which is used as a ‘sensitizing device’ to describe how a Project Implementation (PI) takes place in a multi-campus University System in Mexico. We provide a number of statements that capture how ANT was useful in our study and suggest some issues that shaped the PI. We adopt an interpretive approach (Walsham, 1995; Walsham, 2006) and rely on data collected using a battery of different methods, including insights from 12 semi-structured interviews, project documents and attendance to online meetings. In terms of analysis our research rests on the principles of interpretive studies by Klein and Myers (1999).