Prospecting Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems acceptance by road management teams through activity theory – a qualitative study
DOI: 10.1080/0144929x.2024.2301960
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Summary
This qualitative study investigates the acceptance of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) by road management teams, challenging traditional individual-centric models of technology adoption. The authors argue that existing frameworks, such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), fail to account for the complex, collective nature of professional work where multiple actors and organizations must coordinate. Instead, the paper proposes a framework based on third-generation Activity Theory, which views acceptance not as an individual attitude but as the outcome of evolving activity systems. The research aims to identify how the introduction of C-ITS—a system enabling real-time data exchange between vehicles and infrastructure—might resolve existing contradictions or generate new tensions within and between these interacting systems. The study focuses on French public road managers, specifically examining the interaction between two distinct groups: field workers from Maintenance and Intervention Centres (MICs) and operators from Traffic Management and Information Centres (TMICs). These groups collaborate to manage unexpected road events, such as accidents or obstructions, requiring efficient information circulation and coordinated action. The methodology involved field studies conducted in two French regions between 2016 and 2017. The primary researcher employed a shadowing technique, observing 10 participants (four MIC workers, three TMIC operators, and three managers) over 23 hours of work. Data collection included detailed observation notes, photos, and 116 pages of transcribed verbalizations and exchanges. The analysis involved coding these recordings to map the elements of the activity systems (subjects, objects, tools, rules, etc.) and to identify "disturbances" in information flow, which serve as observable symptoms of underlying structural contradictions. The findings reveal significant dysfunctions in the current workflow, particularly regarding the accuracy and timeliness of information transmission. Identified disturbances include inaccurate location data from external callers like gendarmes, events being reported twice or not at all, and the inability of operators to manage simultaneous alerts due to communication bottlenecks. These issues highlight tensions between the division of labor, community interactions, and the tools used for coordination. By mapping these disturbances, the study formalizes the current activity systems and identifies the specific contradictions that drive the need for change. The authors use these insights to propose scenarios for C-ITS implementation, suggesting that the technology acts as a mediator that can reconfigure the joint work between field agents and operators. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to both theory and practice. Theoretically, it advances third-generation Activity Theory by demonstrating its utility in prospecting technology acceptance in complex, multi-actor environments. Practically, it offers project managers a situated, systematic approach to digital transformation. By identifying root causes of workflow problems rather than focusing solely on user interface usability, organizations can design C-ITS implementations that address the collective needs of road management teams. This approach ensures that technological adoption supports the broader objectives of road safety and traffic fluidity, fostering a more participative and effective integration of new tools into professional ecosystems.
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| Stage | Outcome | Tool | Model | Prompt | Attempts | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discover | success | Crossref | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-25 |
| archive | success | unpaywall | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-26 |
| extract | success | cached | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-26 |
| clean | success | clean | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| chunk | success | chunk | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| embed | success | embed | Qwen/Qwen3-Embedding-8B | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| enrich | success | openalex | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| promote | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-25 |
| summarize | success | llm | qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant | summ-v5 | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| tag | success | vector_similarity | — | — | 6 | 2026-06-26 |
| verify | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.
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