Information Visualisation and Knowledge Re-construction of RFID Technology Translation in Australian hospitals

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an evolving technology innovation that uses radio waves for data collection and transfer without human involvement. With its success worldwide in hospitals for improving efficiencies and thereby quality of care, the technology was piloted in Australian hospitals in late 2000s. However, existing literature (in 2013) reflects limited success in a full-scale implementation and emerging view that the socio-technical factors in implementation are not being considered. Information systems researchers in Australia had begun emphasizing sociotechnical approaches in innovation adoption and translation of technology in the context. A qualitative research study, with a multiple case study method was set in this premise in 2007 and aimed at addressing the knowledge gap. Information for the case studies was obtained through a rigorous data collection through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, concept mapping and documentation analysis. The findings were then validated for currency with practitioners in the field in 2013. Innovation Translation is an approach that regards that any innovation needs to be customised and translate in to context, before it can be adopted. To understand the ` social' aspects that may be involved in adoption, an Actor-Network Theory informed lens helps reconstruct the implementation process-investigating social networks and relationships that influenced innovation translation. The Innovation Translation approach to theorisation and knowledge abstraction, informed by Actor-Network Theory (ANT), removed the need for considering 'the social' and 'the technical' in separate modes. More importantly, an ANT informed lens acted as an augmented filter enabling in-depth view of the data and information visualisation of knowledge abstracted in this research investigation. The contributions of this research are in that it addresses the socio-technical gap evident in academic literature pertaining to RFID technology adoption in Australian hospitals; augments the body of knowledge concerning innovation translation in health informatics informed by the Actor-Network theory analysis. The ANT lens visualises that RFID was facilitating the re-negotiation and improvement of network relationships between the people involved, as well as the technology. The knowledge abstraction and visualisation enabled by ANT is a major contribution to the field. From a practical perspective, it is evident that RFID innovation translation requires commitment of a key stakeholder in Australian hospital operations who is able to influence others, a view that is validated by industry practitioners.