ICTkonteksteissa

ICTkonteksteissa is a Finnish term used in information and communication technology research to denote analyses conducted within ICT contexts. The phrase frames technology as embedded in social practices, organizational routines, and cultural norms rather than as a neutral, context-free tool. In scholarly usage, ICTkonteksteissa guides inquiry into how digital technologies are shaped by, and in turn shape, users, institutions, and infrastructures.

Applications cover a range of contexts, including education, workplaces, public services, healthcare, and households. Researchers examine issues such as access and digital literacy, interface design, policy implications, privacy and ethical considerations, and how local conditions influence adoption, use, and outcomes. The emphasis on context helps explain variation in success or failure of ICT initiatives across different settings.

The concept draws on theoretical traditions such as activity theory, sociomateriality, and actor-network theory, employing qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. ICTkonteksteissa is an analytic lens rather than a technology category, asking how specific tools are appropriated, adapted, or resisted within particular social and organizational environments.

Significance: It supports nuanced evaluation and design of ICT interventions by acknowledging contextual constraints and opportunities, thereby informing policy, education, and technology development. Critics note that focusing on context can complicate comparability across studies and require richer data to capture situated practices.