An Interview with Daniel Robey
On February 21, 2006, following his visit to Indiana University where he gave a talk for RKCSI, Dr. Robey responded to an email interview about his interactions with Dr. Rob Kling and his thoughts about Social Informatics. The complete interview follows…
How did you first come to know Dr. Kling? In what capacity(ies) did you know him? Can you share with us any interesting anecdotes?
I was invited to an NSF sponsored conference on the social aspects of computing at Lake Arrowhead in 1979. We met in the morning following an evening reception that I did not attend. En route to Lake Arrowhead, I encountered other conference attendees who seemed to disrespect some of my early heroes (e.g., Herbert Simon). I was not sure what to expect, which is probably why I missed the social reception.
What were the most valuable things you learned from Dr. Kling?
I was impressed by his Computing Surveys paper outlining the approaches to research on the social analysis of computing. I read this paper over and over and was impressed by the breadth of vision he took on the subject. I also read a chapter in a book by Boland and Hirschheim, in which Rob mapped out the difference between discrete entity view of computing and the web views. This affected me a lot and has guided much of my work over the past 15-20 years.
What are you doing now - specifically as it relates to Social Informatics?
I mostly deal with the organizational level of social analysis, drawing from work by Walsham, Orlikowski and others. I like sociological theory and have been attracted to theories of human agency undertaken from a sociological perspective. It’s interesting to see sociology try to accommodate human agency, given its historical preoccupation with social structure and networks. I adopt a pragmatic perspective, seeking to learn about applications of IT in organizations through social theory. It’s real interesting!
What words of wisdom would you like to pass on to others involved in Social Informatics research?
Perhaps the most important words of wisdom are to remain suspicious of the claims of technologists (promoters of new IT-based solutions to social issues). During President Bush’s debates with Democratic candidate John Kerry in 2004, the President suggested using “IT” to help solve the problem of healthcare in the U.S. I reflected on a rather long familiarity with similar claims in many other fields and realized that the “simple answer” to throw IT at social problems was still conventional wisdom. We should be suspicious of such simple solutions and demand a more intricate appreciation of the ways in which IT and social systems interact. This was Rob Kling’s message in 1980 and it still needs hearing in 2006.
Where would you like to see the field of Social Informatics go? Are there specific opportunities that should be seized or threats to be dealt with?
I don’t see Social Informatics as a field that might attract students into particular careers. This is a problem for the field as it tries to establish a professional school identity. As the field of IS in business schools flaps in the current breezes trying to regain students for its degree programs, I am not sure what to project. Clearly, the subject matter is important at all levels: from individual business uses of IT to public policy.
Is there anything else you would like to share about Dr. Kling, Social Informatics, or your own research and ideas?
We shared an interest in music and hi fi. We even got a chance to talk about these topics (and social theory) during a week in Copenhagen in the 1990s. That was special. I’m pleased to be a member of Rob’s living legacy.
