The quantum effect applied to the usage of an Enterprise system : Generalization to AI and blockchain - A human agency perspective

The implementation of new information technologies (IT) brings with it significant social and organizational challenges. Contemporary research on information systems has transcended the notion of technological determinism and the examination of IT impact. In the post-adoption phase, users have the capacity to utilize information technology (IT) in a variety of ways, thereby exerting an influence on information system (IS) performance. According to Lamb and Kling (2003), the end-user can be considered a "social actor" that merits close attention from both managerial and academic perspectives. A substantial corpus of user-centered studies in IS research has been developed, drawing upon Giddens' structuration theory (Orlikowski et al., 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008; De Sanctis and Poole, 1994) or the theory of human agency developed by Emirbayer and Mische (1998). This theoretical framework has been employed in the context of IS research by Boudreau and Robey (2005), Cousins and Robey (2005), and Chu and Robey (2008). Baird and Maruping's (2021) seminal work posits that the IS use, the prevailing theoretical framework for elucidating how users employ IS artifacts to achieve their objectives, prioritizes human agency within the user-IS artifact relationship. According to Emirbayer and Mische (1998), the human agency perspective is an approach that focuses on the actions implemented by individuals that subsequently shape roles, structures, and processes within an organization. Wagner et al. (2011) argue that the behavior of social actors is an outcome of the simultaneous influence of three temporal elements: past practices, future possibilities, and present contingencies. This methodological approach enables the comprehension of the divergent user behaviors that emerge in response to identical technological stimuli. Within the domain of information technology (IT), the paradigm of human agency contradicts the concept of a well-ordered relationship between users and their environment. As Boudreau and Robey (2005) argued, the existence and interest of a technology arise solely from the interactions that are operated with the actors (Leonardi, 2011). A substantial literature gap exists in this area. The long-term repercussions of the IS on the firm are partially elucidated during the post-implementation phase (Saint Léger et al., 2014; Govette et al., 2015; Ruivo et al., 2014). This stage occurs after the implementation of an ERP system. Its quantitative study based on a sample of 2,127 firm-year observations found that ERP systems in the post-implementation stage were associated with reduced firm risk, and that the risk reduction effect was stronger for ERP systems with a greater scope of functional and operational modules, especially functional modules (Feng and Sean Xin, 2015). In this case study, we reinterpret and explore the long-term change processes or transformations (Archer, 1995) that have occurred in the context of ERP system utilization. A correlation has been identified between the subjective utilization of a given relationship over time and the occurrence of continuous organizational modifications. The present study draws on the research conducted by Azan et al. (2020) regarding organizational drivers in technological change in the long run and the use of human agency to explain organizational change (Boudreau & Robey, 2005). The present paper adopts an interpretative research approach (Klein and Myers 1999; Walsham 1993) to describe the practices of IT end-users and to examine their perceptions of IT tools, such as ERP, in their daily activities. Robey and Boudreau's model (2005) is claimed to have three distinct advantages. Firstly, the model is predictive, yet it does not operate in a deterministic manner. Secondly, the system is scalable. Thirdly, its applicability to different contexts is noteworthy. The objective of this study is to extend the investigation of this model and to propose a conceptual framework that incorporates emerging technologies, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence. A previous study conducted by Azan and Beldi (2009) demonstrated that the Reinvention phase is a pivotal step in the success of ERP post-implementation . Moreover, the present study makes a significant contribution to the field by demonstrating the importance of the human agency theory in enhancing our understanding of long-term integrated IT usage. The study is reinterpreted in light of the concept of quantum effect applied to project management analysis, which was observed following the implementation of ERP in a French electricity distribution company. The ERP project at the company has been identified as a high-risk IS project due to the simultaneous change in the company's structure, ownership, and the implementation of new integrated IT applications. The long-term success of the project can be attributed to the significant involvement and creativity exhibited by the firm personnel. The ERP project manager was pleased with the outcome, which exceeded their initial expectations. The preliminary outcomes, which were not anticipated, necessitate a thorough examination of the relationship between human agency and material agency in the context of an IT project that is being pursued over an extended period (Potosky et al., 2012; Østerlie et al., 2012; Orlikowski et al., 2008; Orlikowski, 2009; Orlikowski, 2007; Leonardi, 2011). The findings of this study demonstrate that the implementation of an ERP system can serve as a catalyst for significant organizational transformation, thereby redefining its fundamental structure. Additionally, we advocate for emerging technologies, recognizing the transformative impact of advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. The objective is to contemplate the radical transformation evident in the post-implementation of ERP, wherein users employ novel tools that represent quantum effects in their respective fields. The objective of this study is to forecast changes. It is hypothesized that the advent of emerging information technologies is precipitating a quantum effect, akin to that observed in blockchain or AI (Scott and Orlikowski, 2025). These phenomena, while analogous in nature, exhibit a significantly more pronounced intensity. The theory of human agency, agentic realism (Barad, 2007) and quantum physics and its complementarities will be analyzed in this study. It is proposed that the observed alterations will manifest in a manner analogous to that of AI and BCs, albeit with distinct scope and intensity. The chapter is divided into four sections. The initial section of the text provides an analysis of the genesis of the theory and the influence of quantum mechanics. It also demonstrates the relevance of the human agency theory in the context of the case study under consideration. The subsequent section delineates the case study and undertakes a thorough investigation into the evolution of ERP usage through a meticulous post-implementation phase analysis. The study extends an existing ERP usage observation period that has been in place for a considerable duration, spanning a total of 12 years. This particular IT project was examined over a protracted period. In summary, the third section of this study provides an illustration of the manner in which human agency theory contributes to the explanation of end-users' usage over an extended period in the context of several emerging technologies.