Adaptive Structuration Theory

Adaptive structuration theory (AST) offers an explanation for the use and effects of technologies in organizations. AST focuses on the dynamic relationship between the structures provided by technologies (e.g., document sharing) and the ways in which those structures are used by organizational members (e.g., collaboratively produced documents). The outcomes of technology use are ultimately contingent upon the way in which structures are appropriated (e.g., some groups might choose to work on a document in series, others in parallel). An overview of AST is provided including a discussion of its conceptual foundation, core components, applications, and critiques of the theory.