The technological flood : A multidimensional case study of technological resistance within the Swedish public sector

Abstract: We are currently living in a society that is undergoing a rapid digitalization, spurring organizations to adapt and evolve their ways of operating through technology. But is it realistic to accept that all these technological changes come without some form of resistance? Technological resistance is not a new term, tracking back several centuries it is considered to be one of the side-effects that has followed the development of technology. The study utilizes a case study to investigate a department in the swedish public sector that is currently being introduced to intelligent automation (IA). By collecting insights through interviews from the perspectives of essential parties connected to the automation-project, we came to the understanding that the perceptions of a resistance can differ between actors. In this case, the technological resistance boiled down to a fear of technology’s limitations. It also became clear that the organizational form, the implementation, confusion about roles/responsibilities and the system itself were contributing factors to the technological resistance experienced in the case. The study shows the multifacetedness of technological resistance as well as how factors connected to an organization can impact the perception of the phenomenon.