The Role of Technology in Institutional Transformation: A Theoretical Framework Proposal Based on a Case Study

This paper aims to propose a theoretical framework that highlights the institutional transformative capacities of technology. It seeks to move beyond the traditional dichotomy that confines technology to either a deterministic or a voluntarist perspective. These opposing views fail to grasp the organizational transformations driven by technology. In the era of ICTs, where technology becomes increasingly invisible yet profoundly impactful, adopting a paradigm capable of addressing this organizational complexity is essential. The constructivist paradigm provides a relevant framework for conceptualizing technology as a social construct with a dual dimension—both structured and structuring. The case study, focused on a water management entity, served as the empirical basis for developing this theoretical framework. By leveraging the structured and structuring dimensions of technology, this framework highlights its institutional transformative capacities while clarifying the origins of institutional arrangements. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of technology as a driver of institutional transformation within organizations, emphasizing its dual role as both a product and a catalyst of institutional dynamics.