McGivern, Gerry and Dopson, Sue. (2010) Inter-epistemic power and transforming knowledge objects in a biomedical network. Organization Studies, Vol.31 (No.12). pp. 1667-1686. ISSN 0170-8406

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Abstract

We examine a multidisciplinary network established to translate genetics science into practice in the British NHS. Drawing on theory about epistemic communities and objects, we describe three stages in their lifecycle (vision/formation, transformation and reincarnation) and epistemic clashes over knowledge objects. Medical academics captured jurisdiction over the network at formation, through their superior knowledge of the nascent genetics discipline, producing epistemic objects reflecting their interests. A governmental community challenged medical academics for jurisdiction but, unable to transform objects by changing their space of representation in performance reporting, ceased funding the network, which then closed. Afterwards, however, a NHS community successfully ‘reincarnated’ a discarded epistemic object into a technical object in NHS practice. We make a theoretical contribution by developing a processual framework for understanding biomedical innovation, focusing on transforming objects situated between different wider knowledge/power structures. This explains how objects were transformed at micro-level through the interaction and relative power of local communities, influenced by macro-level rules about knowledge formation in wider epistemic, organizational and governmental communities.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Medical innovations, Knowledge, Sociology of
Journal or Publication Title:	Organization Studies
Publisher:	Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN:	0170-8406
Date:	2010
Volume:	Vol.31
Number:	No.12
Page Range:	pp. 1667-1686
Identification Number:	10.1177/0170840610380808
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	National Institute for Health Research (Great Britain) (NIHR)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/45256

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