Sospeter Oduor Odock¹, Stephen Ochieng Odock²

(1. Riara University, Kenya; 2. University of Nairobi, Kenya)

 

 

Abstract: The study aimed at analyzing the influence of social computing applications in corporate institutions in Kenya using an actor network perspective which was to be achieved through three objectives: (1) to establish motives of using social computing applications in corporate institutions. (2) to establish the patterns of use of social computing application. (3) to establish how use of social computing is influencing business process. The study used an actor network approach to identify actors who would eventually mitigate use of this technology. Case studies of two corporate institutions and one public institution were carried out and data was collected through in-depth interviews, observations and on line sources. An iterative content analysis of data was performed through the lens of ANT and major themes, concepts and constructs were realized, revealing that corporate institutions in Kenya are using several social computing applications for business process and social computing is a force that is influencing the way businesses are carrying out their processes. According to analysis through the lens of ANT corporate institution in Kenya are on the translation stage, this is where disparate interests of different institutions are being aligned to common interests.

 

 

Key words: social computing; social networks; social media; actor network theory

 

JEL code: M150