6 Competing Values Regarding Internet Use in “ Free ” Philippine
Social Institutions
Erwin A. Alampay, Joselito C. Olpoc, and Regina M. Hechanova
The Internet is used within institutions to expand access to knowledge, to improve
communications, to manage information, or to increase productivity. But users also
download movies, write blog posts, and chat with friends. In other words, people do
not always use the Internet for the original purpose for which an institution provided
it. Though it is value neutral, there are often competing values in the intentions of
those who use Internet technology in an organization: between openness and control,
privacy and security, participation and effi ciency. These competing values are not
necessarily emphasized equally, and may differ from unit to unit, even within the
same type of institution. Emphasizing one value can hamper the pursuit of another,
depending on the context and structures infl uencing an organization ’ s choice.
1 Quinn
and Rohrbaugh in their model on competing values, for instance, hypothesize that
common tensions arise out of internal versus external issues, and between concern
for control and a desire for fl exibility.
2
Since information systems can be designed for a range of purposes, it is relatively
easy to observe how competing values lead to tensions in access and use. In the case
of the Internet, how it is used and adopted within institutions also undergoes similar
contestations, even in countries such as the Philippines, where access to it is relatively
unfettered.
3
This chapter explores three institutions in the Philippines: the government, educational institutions, and private corporations. Through a series of case studies, we
analyze how these institutions struggle with implementing policies on Internet use,
while highlighting competing values among stakeholders on how to take advantage
of the benefi ts that the Internet provides. These cases highlight some of the issues,
concerns, and competing views with respect to using Internet facilities in the workplace that emerged from two separate surveys conducted by OpenNet Asia in 2008 –
2009. The fi rst survey collected the views of information and technology managers
and human resources managers on why they provided Internet in the workplace and
how they monitored and disciplined employees. The second survey investigated the
same issues from the perspective of the employees. Comparing the views of both sides,
Social Institutions
Erwin A. Alampay, Joselito C. Olpoc, and Regina M. Hechanova
The Internet is used within institutions to expand access to knowledge, to improve
communications, to manage information, or to increase productivity. But users also
download movies, write blog posts, and chat with friends. In other words, people do
not always use the Internet for the original purpose for which an institution provided
it. Though it is value neutral, there are often competing values in the intentions of
those who use Internet technology in an organization: between openness and control,
privacy and security, participation and effi ciency. These competing values are not
necessarily emphasized equally, and may differ from unit to unit, even within the
same type of institution. Emphasizing one value can hamper the pursuit of another,
depending on the context and structures infl uencing an organization ’ s choice.
1 Quinn
and Rohrbaugh in their model on competing values, for instance, hypothesize that
common tensions arise out of internal versus external issues, and between concern
for control and a desire for fl exibility.
2
Since information systems can be designed for a range of purposes, it is relatively
easy to observe how competing values lead to tensions in access and use. In the case
of the Internet, how it is used and adopted within institutions also undergoes similar
contestations, even in countries such as the Philippines, where access to it is relatively
unfettered.
3
This chapter explores three institutions in the Philippines: the government, educational institutions, and private corporations. Through a series of case studies, we
analyze how these institutions struggle with implementing policies on Internet use,
while highlighting competing values among stakeholders on how to take advantage
of the benefi ts that the Internet provides. These cases highlight some of the issues,
concerns, and competing views with respect to using Internet facilities in the workplace that emerged from two separate surveys conducted by OpenNet Asia in 2008 –
2009. The fi rst survey collected the views of information and technology managers
and human resources managers on why they provided Internet in the workplace and
how they monitored and disciplined employees. The second survey investigated the
same issues from the perspective of the employees. Comparing the views of both sides,