Literary analysis as a metaphor in processual research: A story of technological change

This paper suggests that elements of literary analysis such as a plot, characterization, theme and style can be used metaphorically to guide data analysis and write-up in processual research that entails telling a story of a particular sequence of events or actions. How literary analysis as a metaphor can be used not only to guide research but assess the completeness of a research report, is illustrated with a field study of technology adoption in a Finnish pre-press firm.