Cultural consciousness and the effective implementation of information and communication technology

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss how culture, influenced by the project setup and contextual issues, impacts on information and communication technology (ICT) engagement, through a multiple perspective approach to cultural assessment. A "cultural lens" is used to understand the level of ICT engagement in project organisations. Design/methodology/approach: Cultural analysis (CA) is employed as the overarching research methodology. The CA investigates the conflicts between the "espoused values" and "actual beliefs" of members to understand culture. A pre-existing CA framework with established "espoused values" for ICT implementation is used in this study. Ethnographic interview in a case study setup is employed to extract actual cultural beliefs. These beliefs are then analysed through the CA framework to explain cultural environment and its impact on ICT implementation. Findings: The ICT-related behaviour of the project team members is contextual to a project environment. This implies that effective ICT adoption requires careful consideration of the cultural traits in the design and implementation phases. It is suggested that neither a simple linear prescription nor overlooking specific contextual aspects is beneficial for effective ICT implementation. Originality/value: This paper contributes in developing an understanding of: how CA framework through deciphering "espoused values" and "actual beliefs" can assist in studying organisational issues; and how the contextual issues shape the culture in a project organisation leading to "integrated" or "fragmented" ICT implementation.