Large-scale ICT innovation and policy

Drawing upon actor-network theory (ANT), this study presents a case analysis for a socio-technical framework to assess Korea´s strategy for the development of the ubiquitous city (u-city). The u-city initiative, a national development project, focuses on strengthening the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in urban planning and management. Analyzing empirical materials from u-city development, this study traces and unpacks the interaction occurring around the u-city innovation and also identifies patterns of innovation, concentrating on negotiation and translation implementation. ANT provides a framework of ideas for describing the process of innovation and developing stories that explain technology take-up. Results provide insight into the Korean IT environment by offering a socio-technical analysis of u-city development and how it involves the dynamics of industry, regulation, and technology.