The Role of Ethnography in the Organizational Implementation of IT - 2 August 2008

Ethnographic research in design often focus on the initial analysis of existing work practices in order to inform the subsequent design and implementation of new information technologies (IT). However, ethnography may also prove efficient in identifying, analyzing, and evaluating changes to work practices that emerge from using an IT system. In this article we investigate how nurses’ work was affected by the introduction of a large, shared Electronic Health Record (EHR) display in two highly collaborative work situations: the nursing handover, and the interdisciplinary team conference at which all clinicians on shift are present. The use of a display led to unanticipated and interesting new ways of collaborating among the nurses and between nurses and physicians. Evaluations of the initial use of new IT can establish a potentially important role for ethnography within iterative approaches to design as well as within the organizational implementation of IT.