ethnography of infrastructure

An analysis of the infrastructure of the Canadian Postal Service according to Star's (1999) ethnographic analytical framework:

Embeddedness: Canada Post is embedded into our Canadian postal system as well as the international postal service. Canada Post is embedded into our infrastructure as it is subsidized by tax dollars and is not a private company.  Canada Post mailboxes and service centers are accessible throughout the country in both small towns and major cities.  Mailboxes can be found on street corners and mail centers are found in shopping malls, pharmacies, among other locations.

Transparency: The postal service provides consistent service for each user, the same fees, packaging options, and delivery methods are available.

Reach or Scope: Canada Post is a recognizable service provided throughout Canada. It has mail trucks, planes, and people (mailmen/mailwomen) who provide the routine service. In addition, Canada Post has online access, and phone services for customer assistance.

Learned as part of membership: While the postal service can initially seem confusing for new members, it becomes a relatively easy system to use with practice, once the rules and procedures are learned. The system is straightforward, and with the guidance of a postal service worker, can be managed simply.  

Links with conventions of practice: There are standard fees for mailing letters, additional costs depend on the size and weight of the item, the base price will vary significantly across nations (for example Canada and the United States). It is convention that letters use an envelope and stamp, that packages by well taped, and everything mailed must be clearly labeled or the item will be returned to the sender.

Embodiment of standards: As a government service, Canada Post has standards for their employees and for the people using the service.  In order to use the service people must abide by the rules (including employees).

Built on installed base: Canada Post has developed over time and with advances in technology has modified the services they are able to provide, including speed and method of delivery. Additionally, the postal service delivery system has changed along with urbanization. The system is maintained so that there is not an overlap of routes.

Becomes visible upon breakdown: The postal service is ingrained in the infrastructure of the city, to the extent that when there are postal strikes, it causes a crippling effect in the delivery of mail. Postal strikes cause a breakdown of the system, people cannot receive their local mail, send packages, or use any other service provided by Canada Post.

Is fixed in modular increments, not all at once or globally: Canada Post is based in Canada. In order to navigate postal shipments throughout the world, they must coordinate with other national mail systems. Canada Post has interconnected branches throughout the nation, which serve the distinct populations that surround them, sometimes resulting in multiple locations in a city.