The differences between the LPS and the Zimbabwe bush pump

As mentioned in the introduction the approach in the thesis is inspired by de Laet & Mol (2000) and their account of the Zimbabwe bush pump. Having concluded the analysis this poses a question of whether using the approach by de Laet & Mol (2000) to go about analyzing a seemingly very different object has revealed any new insights to the notion of a fluid object. Relating the findings from the analysis the third and final question was:

2) How does the account of the LPS differ from the account of the Zimbabwe bush pump?

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Similar to the Zimbabwe bush pump, the LPS accounted for in this thesis was proposed as a fluid.

There were, however, differences between the two:

In the account of the Zimbabwean bush pump the vantage point of observing durability was multifaceted. The analytical levels spanned from engineers, to individual villagers setting it up and using it, to the village as a whole and moreover to the Zimbabwean nation as a whole. This was exactly de Laet & Mol’s argument of durability: the multiple networks in which it was enmeshed relieved it of any ‘global’ essence. Even though it could break down in one network it remained in existence in other networks or spaces: what made it break down in one space did not make it break down in another space. De Laet & Mol were, however, occupied with an object that came in multiple numbers. They interchangeably discussed a particular pump and a type of pump that came in thousands. When they discussed the particular pump, there was definitely vulnerability involved.

Even though the particular pump comprised several networks and was reparable to a certain extent, it could cease to exist. Durability was in this situation only secured because de Laet and Mol switched vantage point and focus on a different particular pump or the pump on a ‘type’ level.

In this thesis the analytical vantage point was different. The focus was on a particular object that existed in several networks, but the analysis was not broadened to a study of a ‘type’. The life of the LPS was, for example, not examined in scientific communities, in yearly statements in consultancy companies, in publishing companies or in other construction projects. If that perspective was applied, then the account of LPS durability would have been ever much longer. One could go as far as stating that this thesis did not really investigate a fluid object, since it was only occupied with the particular. This is though a fragile argument: Though the thesis was only concerned with the particular, the particular came in many faces; the networks in which the LPS performed were multiple. It is therefore proposed that the ability of the LPS to play many roles exclusively in its particular, does also qualify for an account of a fluid object.

In addition, de Laet & Mol (2000) did not focus on any potential interdependency of identities in their account of durability of fluid objects. As they used the method of shifting vantage points, from

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particular to type, the issue of interdependency between identities became less critical to the creation of an account of a fluid object. If the object broke in the particular, they shifted vantage point to type. In that way they avoided discussing how interdependencies in identities in the particular could influence durability in the particular. The explanation of the absent discussion of interdependencies could reside in the fundamental definition of the fluid object. If there are interdependencies between identities, does one then actually analyse a fluid object that jumps across networks, or does one analyse an object that occupies only one? In other words, if there are interdependencies in identities, is one then not occupied with a fluid anymore? In this thesis it is proposed that the LPS was a fluid object, but since the thesis is occupied only with an object in particular, it is not possible to use the method of shifting vantage point to type. One can, however, imagine a kind of space where there is room for multiple object identities, some intricately related, some loosely coupled and then again some not really related. In that way it is possible to discuss interdependencies of identities in relation to object durability and still maintain the idea of fluidity.

In the account of the LPS in the case study the multiple identities that the LPS assumed throughout the renovation project were addressed. It was argued that it was precisely because of its two-sided structure facilitating a separation of strategy from controls and the assuming of additional identities (even in its particular) that it remained durable. So far a discussion of interdependencies between identities has not been brought to the fore. In the following part this discussion is therefore embraced, though it remains speculative, since the empirical analysis was concluded long before these ideas came up.

Methodologically, the analysis in this thesis was structured around the two-way distinction of analysing diffusion ability. The selection and separations between strategy and controls within the identity of planning and evaluation were discussed isolated from the discussion of additional identities and the additional identities were likewise discussed separately in the second part of the analysis. But the question of interdependencies between the separations and identity additions remains unanswered. If a separation of a control lead to incoming identities, or when incoming identities influenced the controls or enactment of strategy, then interdependencies would have significance for the object’s durability. Furthermore, if additional identities influenced the potential

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for even more identities to flourish or break down, it would have significance for the durability of the object. Below is a re-listing of the identities discussed in this thesis:

- A planning and control device - A forum for claiming rigidity - Performer of skilled management

- Facilitator of a harmonic relationship between project managers and consultants - A branding device for the main contractor

It would be no surprise if the identity of the LPS as a branding device for the main contractor allowed the LPS a position of being a planning and evaluation device. This is a trivial point in accounting literature. It is, however, by no means certain that this was the case. One does not necessarily have to find the reason in one argument. It could very well be a mixture of arguments meaning that, for example, both the potential of the device to improve production flow and its branding effects played a role in its implementation in the renovation project. Alternatively, the idea of using the LPS as a branding device could have raised out of its planning and control use in the field study accounted for in this thesis or in earlier construction/renovation projects. The relation between these two identities could therefore be influential, conditional, an effect or independent.

Regrettably, the empirical study does not offer information on this matter, but the potential for interdependency between identities is high.

The identity of claiming rigidity for the foremen could easily be an effect of the function of planning and control that the object maintained. Without its disciplining mechanism in planning, it would not be interesting or relevant for the foremen to attend the weekly meetings and claim rigidity. The mechanism of claiming rigidity could therefore be conceptualised as an effectual identity. The object’s identity of demonstrating skilled management and its facilitation of a harmonic relationship between project managers and consultants could be viewed as independent identities that are consequences of the mere presence of the consultants in the renovation project.

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De Laet & Mol (2000) were not interested in interdependencies in the particular. The above discussion has opened up for the possibility of examining interdependencies in object identities in the particular and potentially linking them to concepts of influential, conditional, effectual or independent. It can be speculated that independency affords durability and robustness against individual identity breakdowns, whereas close interdependency affords intense object use in the particular, though making the object fragile in cases of identity breakdowns, since the close connection can affect a chain reaction of multiple identity breakdowns. It can therefore be speculated that issues of interdependencies between identities influence durability.

The investigation of interdependencies between identities in the particular poses the question of the feasibility of methodologically splitting up the analysis into two separate parts, as has been done in this thesis. If it was chosen not to split up the analysis, the potential of focusing on

interdependencies could have been realised more easily. On the other hand, the analysis would have become rather fuzzy. In this thesis it was chosen to clarify the two-way distinction in analysing LPS durability leaving the interdependency discussion to this section. This is a matter of choice on methodology.

Having accounted for the differences between the LPS and the Zimbabwean bush pump, the three research questions have been answered. There is still, though, a few threads that need be bound.

Accounting for the LPS as a fluid object does not necessarily provide any credible information to management practitioners to go about re-examining their use of the LPS. In the following and final chapter the thesis it concluded by discussing how to use the findings from the thesis in a

management oriented perspective.

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