Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Knowledge ...

Table 2: Number <strong>of</strong> words per category
Alexander K. K<strong>of</strong>inas and Abdallah Al-Shawakbeh
Mythology Quotes Political quotes
1 : Alliances 6379 7318
2 : Autonomization - Colleagues 4140 4914
3 : Links and knots Understanding 8687 8121
4 : Mobilization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world 6372 5696
5 : Public Representation 2552 2817
Table 3: Number <strong>of</strong> references in <strong>the</strong> total <strong>of</strong> interviews
Mythology Quotes Political quotes
1 : Alliances 76 95
2 : Autonomization - Colleagues 51 61
3 : Links and knots Understanding 106 113
4 : Mobilization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world 71 68
5 : Public Representation 30 39
The material was reiteratively coded first along <strong>the</strong> five ANT loops described in <strong>the</strong> literature review
and <strong>the</strong>n coded along <strong>the</strong> two main <strong>the</strong>mes <strong>of</strong> this paper: <strong>the</strong> political dimension and <strong>the</strong> mythological
dimension. The following quotes table indicates <strong>the</strong> kind <strong>of</strong> material coded under each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cells <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> matrix:
Table 4: Type <strong>of</strong> material coded for each category
1 : Alliances
2 : Autonomization
Colleagues
3 : Links and knots
Understanding
Mythology Quotes Political quotes
“1997-8: In PharmaCo <strong>the</strong> infection people were
ahead <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir times. They wanted to use <strong>the</strong>
genomes <strong>of</strong> various bacteria to perform
comparative genomics research.”
(1 st Director <strong>of</strong> Bx 1997-9)
Relevance:
The alliance between <strong>the</strong> infection people and
<strong>the</strong> newly formed Bx group was instrumental to
start <strong>the</strong> Bx Function and <strong>the</strong> myth that Bx tools
are ahead <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir times is reinforced by
association (<strong>the</strong> association <strong>of</strong> Bx to infection)
“It is reminiscent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soviet central planning
bureaucracies and everything takes too long.
The Bx group started because scientists were
not getting what <strong>the</strong>y wanted from CIS
department. Bx was about small “quick and
dirty” solutions whereas IS favours big projects
with lots <strong>of</strong> people involved. Should look at
what is important and focus on benefits but
with not so much bureaucracy”
(Bx scientist 2)
Relevance:
An interesting example <strong>of</strong> myth-making: this
bio-informatician sees a difference between
scientists, IS specialists and bio-informaticians
thus reinforcing <strong>the</strong> unique identity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bioinformatician
which is getting lost.
“The DxIx matrix where everybody becomes
Mr Smith. The activity becomes a process.
Creative people are leaving. The IS mode is
taking over <strong>the</strong> Ix mode. It is <strong>of</strong>ten easier to
learn IS than to go through <strong>the</strong> demand and
1015
The stakeholder community is
bewildering - >60 just for <strong>the</strong> current
work in progress. DxIx, purchase,
RAs (global/local/regional) as <strong>the</strong>
same function (for example
purchasing) can be very different in
different parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world.
(2 nd Director <strong>of</strong> Bx 2004-5)
Relevance:
The demonstration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> complexity
that <strong>the</strong> Bx Function was facing at <strong>the</strong>
height <strong>of</strong> its power shows <strong>the</strong>
importance <strong>of</strong> political manoeuvring
for <strong>the</strong> Bio-informaticians.
“There is a blame culture in CIS and
PharmaCo and a lack <strong>of</strong> willingness to
take risks within CIS. It is strange cause
PharmaCo is a high-risk company so
why parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> organisation are not
encouraged to take risks? The maturity
<strong>of</strong> CIS function should be about taking
more risks being more vocal.”
(CIS manager 1)
Relevance:
The differences between Bx and CIS
are highlighted to some degree. Also
<strong>the</strong> sense <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> special culture within
CIS is highlighted here.
“What researchers need is quicker,
faster, experimental. DxIx can not cope
with this research and experimental
mentality. Can not wait for DxIx to
deliver after a long term. DxIx wants it