associations. These groups represent interests of broad
technical or commercial specialties, and they often operate
like nonpro t organizations. They may or may not
collect member fees, and they may exercise some regulatory
powers in relation to their members.
We assume that in EDI adoptions reaching beyond the
bilateral relationships—that is, in cases where the infrastructural
nature of the EDI becomes more prominent—
the role of intermediating actors becomes vital in making
the adoption successful (Damsgaard, 1996; Damsgaard &
Lyytinen, 1997). They help align interests of diverse actors
and inscribe behaviors, which make the adoption possible
(Callon, 1992). Among the most prominent ones are trade
and industry associations.5