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245
The Nature of Theory in Information Systems
- MIS Quarterly
, 2006
"... The aim of this research essay is to examine the structural nature of theory in information systems. Despite the importance of theory, questions relating to its form and structure are neglected in comparison with questions relating to epistemology. The essay addresses issues of causality, explanatio ..."
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Cited by 289 (6 self)
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The aim of this research essay is to examine the structural nature of theory in information systems. Despite the importance of theory, questions relating to its form and structure are neglected in comparison with questions relating to epistemology. The essay addresses issues of causality, explanation, prediction and generalization that underlie an understanding of theory. A taxonomy is proposed that classifies information systems theories with respect to the manner in which four central goals are addressed: analysis, explanation, prediction and prescription. Five interrelated types of theory are distinguished: (i) theory for analysing; (ii) theory for explaining, (iii) theory for predicting; (iv) theory for explaining and predicting; and (v) theory for design and action. Examples illustrate the nature of each theory type. The applicability of the taxonomy is demonstrated by classifying a sample of journal articles. The paper contributes by showing that multiple views of theory exist and by exposing the assumptions underlying different viewpoints. In addition, it is suggested that the type of theory under development can influence the choice of an epistemological approach. Support is given for the legitimacy and value of each theory type. The building of integrated bodies of theory that encompass all theory types is advocated.
Toward a theory of knowledge reuse: Types of knowledge reuse situations and factors in reuse success
- Journal of Management Information Systems
, 2001
"... This paper represents a step toward a theory of knowledge reusability, with emphasis on knowledge ma nagement systems and repositories, often called organizational memory systems. Synthesis of evidence from a wide variety of sources suggests four distinct types of knowledge reuse situations accordin ..."
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Cited by 195 (1 self)
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This paper represents a step toward a theory of knowledge reusability, with emphasis on knowledge ma nagement systems and repositories, often called organizational memory systems. Synthesis of evidence from a wide variety of sources suggests four distinct types of knowledge reuse situations according to the knowledge reuser and the purpose of knowledge reuse. The types involve shared work producers, who produce knowledge they later reuse, shared work practitioners, who reuse each other’s knowledge contributions, expertise-seeking novices, and secondary knowledge miners. Each type of knowledge reuser has different requirements for knowledge repositories. Owing to how repositories are created, reusers ’ requirements often remain unmet. Repositories often require considerable rework to be useful for new reusers, but knowledge producers rarely have the resources and incentives to do a good job of repurposing knowledge. Solutions include careful use of incentives and human and technical intermediaries.
A Paradigmatic Analysis of Information Systems as a Design Science
- Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems
"... Abstract. The present essay discusses the ontology, epistemology, methodology and ethics of design science. It suggests that Information Systems as a design science should be based on a sound ontology, including an ontology of IT artifacts. In the case of epistemology, the essay emphasizes the irred ..."
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Cited by 59 (1 self)
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Abstract. The present essay discusses the ontology, epistemology, methodology and ethics of design science. It suggests that Information Systems as a design science should be based on a sound ontology, including an ontology of IT artifacts. In the case of epistemology, the essay emphasizes the irreducibility of the prescriptive knowledge of IT artifacts to theoretical descriptive knowledge. It also expresses a need for constructive research methods, which allow disciplined, rigorous and transparent building of IT artifacts as outcomes of design science research. The relationship between action research and design science research is also briefly discussed. In the case of ethics, the essay points out that Information Systems as design science cannot be valuefree.
IT to support knowledge sharing in communities, towards a social capital analysis
- Journal of Information Technology
, 2005
"... Marleen Huysman is professor at the department of Business Administration at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She studied sociology at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, got her PhD in the field of economics and business administration and worked as a research fellow at Stanford University and at Ha ..."
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Cited by 58 (7 self)
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Marleen Huysman is professor at the department of Business Administration at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She studied sociology at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, got her PhD in the field of economics and business administration and worked as a research fellow at Stanford University and at Harvard Business School. She conducts research in the field of knowledge management, organizational learning, social dynamics of information systems, (online) communities. 2
Theorizing about the Design of Information Infrastructures
- Design Kernel Theories and Principles, Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Environments, Systems and Organizations
, 2004
"... In this article we theorize about the design of information infrastructures (II). We define an II as a shared, evolving, heterogeneous installed base of IT capabilities based on open and standardized interfaces. Such IIs, when appropriated by a community of users offer a shared resource for deliveri ..."
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Cited by 38 (1 self)
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In this article we theorize about the design of information infrastructures (II). We define an II as a shared, evolving, heterogeneous installed base of IT capabilities based on open and standardized interfaces. Such IIs, when appropriated by a community of users offer a shared resource for delivering and using information services in a (set of) community. Iis include complex socio-technical ensembles like the Internet or EDI networks. Increased integration of enterprise systems like ERP or CRM systems has produced similar features for intra-organizational systems. Our theorizing addresses the following challenge in designing information infrastructures: how to tackle their inherent complexity, scale and functional uncertainty? These systems are large, complex and heterogeneous. They never die and evolve over long periods of time while they adapt to needs unknown during design time. New infrastructures are designed as extensions to or improvements of existing ones in contrast to green field design. The installed base of the existing infrastructure and its scope and complexity influence how the new infrastructure can be designed. Infrastructure design needs to focus on installed base growth and flexibility as to avoid technological traps (lock-ins). These goals are achieved by enacting design principles of immediate usefulness, simplicity, utilization of existing installed base and modularization as shown by our analysis of the design of Internet and an II for health care in Norway. 1
Socio-Theoretic Accounts of IS: The Problem of Agency,” Scandinavian
- Journal of Information Systems
"... Rose, Jones, and Truex (RJT) start out by making the statement that a “longstanding debate in the IS literature concerns the relationships between technology and organization. ” I think they could make a stronger statement. This relationship is indeed the very core issue of IS. At the same time—and ..."
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Cited by 37 (4 self)
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Rose, Jones, and Truex (RJT) start out by making the statement that a “longstanding debate in the IS literature concerns the relationships between technology and organization. ” I think they could make a stronger statement. This relationship is indeed the very core issue of IS. At the same time—and in spite
Toward a complexity theory of Information systems
- Development,” forthcoming, Information Technology and People
, 2006
"... The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0959-3845.htm ..."
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Cited by 24 (0 self)
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The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0959-3845.htm
The Role of Theory and Theorising in Design Science Research
- in: Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology
, 2006
"... The literature on Design Science (or Design Research) has been mixed on the inclusion, form, and role of theory and theorising in Design Science. Some authors have explicitly excluded theory development and testing from Design Science, leaving them to the Natural and Social/Behavioural Sciences. Oth ..."
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Cited by 22 (0 self)
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The literature on Design Science (or Design Research) has been mixed on the inclusion, form, and role of theory and theorising in Design Science. Some authors have explicitly excluded theory development and testing from Design Science, leaving them to the Natural and Social/Behavioural Sciences. Others propose including theory development and testing as part of Design Science. Others propose some ideas for the content of IS Design Theories, although more detailed and clear concepts would be helpful. This paper discusses the need and role for theory in Design Science. It further proposes some ideas for standards for the form and level of detail needed for theories in Design Science. Finally it develops a framework of activities for the interaction of Design Science with research in other scientific paradigms.
A theory of tailorable technology design
- JAIS
, 2007
"... Tailorable technologies are a class of information systems designed with the intention that users modify and redesign the technology in the context of use. Tailorable technologies support user goals, intentions, metaphor, and use patterns in the selection and integration of technology functions in t ..."
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Cited by 15 (9 self)
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Tailorable technologies are a class of information systems designed with the intention that users modify and redesign the technology in the context of use. Tailorable technologies support user goals, intentions, metaphor, and use patterns in the selection and integration of technology functions in the creation of new and unique information systems. We propose a theory of tailorable technology design and identify principles necessary for the initial design. Following a Kantian style of inquiry, we identified four definitional characteristics of tailorable technology: a dual design perspective, user engagement, recognizable environments, and component architectures. From these characteristics, we propose nine design principles that will support the phenomenon of tailoring. Through a year-long case study, we refined and evidenced the principles, finding found that designers of tailorable technologies build environments in which users can both interact and engage with the technology, supporting the proposed design principles. The findings highlight a distinction between a reflective environment, where users recognize and imagine uses for the technology, and an active environment in which users tailor the technology in accordance with the imagined uses. This research contributes to the clarification of the role of theory in design science, expands the concept of "possibilities for action " to IS design, and proposes a design theory of a class of information systems for testing and refinement.
ON EPISTEMOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN DESIGN SCIENCE -- NEW VISTAS FOR A DESIGN-ORIENTED IS RESEARCH?
, 2007
"... Information System (IS) research can be seen as a rich tapestry of paradigms, methods, and research approaches. Amongst others, design science is an established approach in IS research and the literature provides us with a comprehensive and useful debate on the basic concepts. However, many research ..."
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Cited by 14 (1 self)
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Information System (IS) research can be seen as a rich tapestry of paradigms, methods, and research approaches. Amongst others, design science is an established approach in IS research and the literature provides us with a comprehensive and useful debate on the basic concepts. However, many researchers advocating the stance of design science, neglect the influence of basic philosophical and epistemological issues on design science. Here, design science is often advocated as a third paradigm that adds up to positivism and interpretivism. Instead, we argue that the understanding of such concepts as ‘research rigor’, ‘research validity ’ and ‘research quality ’ depends heavily on the underlying epistemological understanding, and this certainly applies to design science! In order to demonstrate and operationalize our argument, we analyze Hevner et al.’s guidelines for design science in IS research (2004), taking an interpretivist perspective influenced by Klein & Myers’s set of principles for conducting and evaluating interpretive field studies (1999). Instead of arguing in favor of a specific epistemology, we seek to develop opportunities for epistemological diversity in design-oriented IS research and wish to
