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2021 | Book

Introduction: Why Theory? (Mis)Understanding the Context and Rationale Read chapter Read first chapter

Advancing Information Systems Theories

Rationale and Processes

Editors: Nik Rushdi Hassan, Prof. Leslie P. Willcocks

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : Technology, Work and Globalization

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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About this book

The information systems (IS) field represents a multidisciplinary area that links the rapidly changing technology of information (or communications and information technology, ICT) to the business and social environment. Despite the potential that the IS field has to develop its own native theories to address current issues involving ICT it has consistently borrowed theories from its “reference disciplines,” often uncritically, to legitimize its research. This volume is the first of a series intended to advance IS research beyond this form of borrowed legitimization and derivative research towards fresh and original research that naturally comes from its own theories. It is inconceivable for a field so relevant to the era of the hyper-connected society, disruptive technologies, big data, social media, "fake news" and the weaponization of information to not be brimming with its own theories.

The first step in reaching the goal of developing native IS theories is to reach an agreement on the need for theory (its rationale) and its role as the most distinctive product of human intellectual activity. This volume addresses what theories are, why bother with theories and the process of theorizing itself because the process of developing theories cannot be divorced from the product of that process. It will lay out a research agenda for decades to come and will be invaluable reading for any academic in the IS field and related disciplines concerned with information, systems, technology and their management.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
1. Introduction: Why Theory? (Mis)Understanding the Context and Rationale
Abstract
This introduction sets the stage for what this series of volumes on information systems (IS) research seeks to accomplish, that is, to move the standards of IS research beyond its comfort zone of deriving legitimacy from its more established reference disciplines toward crafting fresh and original indigenous theory. The first step toward reaching this goal involves reaching an agreement on the need for theory, and the preeminent role of theory as the most distinctive product of human intellectual activity. Following Aristotle’s approach to addressing the “Why?” question by answering the “What?” question, this chapter reviews major discussions surrounding the definition of theory from multiple disciplines and proposes a novel, more inclusive view of theory that encompasses the views of these disciplines while, at the same time, highlights the unique goals that each theory category addresses. These unique communicative goals: theory as proposition, model, paradigm, worldview, grand theory, methodology, explanation, significant description, prescription, and metatheory offers researchers a wider space within which exciting and original theorizing can take place.
Nik Rushdi Hassan, Leslie P. Willcocks
2. Theoretical, Empirical, and Artefactual Contributions in Information Systems Research: Implications Implied*
Abstract
In this chapter, we explore different types of research contributions and research implications. We explain why such a distinction can be useful when discussing research outcomes both when crafting and when evaluating manuscripts for publication. By taking an incremental view of knowledge development, we identify three types of research contributions: theoretical, empirical, and artefactual. Because an implication always exists in relation to a contribution, we explore what implications these contributions lead to in research practice and domain practice. This leads us to propose an analytical framework that we hope can help increase the quality of researchers’ discussions about research contributions and implications, enabling researchers to pinpoint these aspects with higher accuracy. In addition, understanding the implications of research can provide guidance to reviewers and editors in their efforts to scrutinize and develop manuscripts evaluated for journals and conferences.
Pär J. Ågerfalk, Fredrik Karlsson
3. Theoretical Diversity in IS Research: A Causal Structure Framework*
Abstract
This chapter represents Markus and Rowe’s (MIS Quarterly, 42(4), 1255–1280, 2018) causal structure framework of ideal-typical positions on three dimensions: Causal Ontology, Causal Trajectory, and Causal Autonomy. The focus of the Causal Ontology dimension is: Does the theorist conceive of causality as existing in the human mind or in reality? The concern of the Causal Trajectory dimension is: How does the theorist conceive the “social space” related to technology and envision causal movements across it? The remit of the Causal Autonomy dimension is: How does the theorist apportion causal effects for processes or outcomes across human or social actors and technology? The first issue is a critical question for all scientists; the second issue is common to all social scientists; and the third issue is unique to scientists who study sociotechnical phenomena. The positions are illustrated with examples and metaphorical illustrations. The chapter offers a new discussion of the framework’s utility for research design and for promoting theoretical diversity while maintaining mutual intelligibility and coherence of research agenda.
Frantz Rowe, M. Lynne Markus
4. Theory Building: Neither an Art nor a Science, But a Craft*
Abstract
Researchers often hold a romantic view of theory, which they feel should be a complete, flawless, deep, and exhaustive explanation of a phenomenon. They also often hold a romantic view of theory building, which they envision either as emerging from trancelike writing or as the product of a straightforward deductive process. The perspective I offer is more realistic and pragmatic. I espouse the view that the outcomes of a researcher’s theorizing efforts are often incomplete explanations of a phenomenon, which, given a chance, may develop into rich theories. I propose a highly iterative spiral model that portrays theory building as a craft, which calls for care and ingenuity, and requires patience and perseverance. I also propose design principles that can contribute to the quality of the outcome of theorizing.
Suzanne Rivard
5. The Process of Information Systems Theorizing as a Discursive Practice*
Abstract
Although there has been a growing understanding of theory in the Information Systems (IS) field in recent years, the process of theorizing is rarely addressed with contributions originating from other disciplines and little effort to coherently synthesize them. Moreover, the field’s view of theorizing has traditionally focused on the context of justification with an emphasis on collection and analysis of data in response to a research question with theory often added as an afterthought. To fill this void, we foreground the context of discovery that emphasizes the creative and often serendipitous articulation of theory by emphasizing this important stage of theorizing as a reflective and highly iterative practice. Specifically, we suggest that IS researchers engage in foundational theorizing practices to form the discourse, problematize the phenomenon of interest and leverage paradigms, and deploy generative theorizing practices through analogies, metaphors, myths, and models to develop the IS discourse. To illustrate the detailed workings of these discursive practices, we draw on key examples from IS theorizing.
Nik Rushdi Hassan, Lars Mathiassen, Paul Lowry
6. Theorizing Digital Experience: Four Aspects of the Infomaterial
Abstract
With the goal of finding new philosophical foundations upon which indigenous theory can be built in information systems (IS), this chapter proposes building around the notion of infomateriality inspired from Henri Bergson’s focus on our experience of time that is both objective and subjective. Infomateriality may be understood via a process philosophy in which our exchange of information and the digital tools with which we now undertake that exchange become constitutive of the physical context in which we live and distinctions between mental and physical have become blurred. Empirically, such digital experience manifests are being studied in an ongoing Understanding Digital Events qualitative research project that reveals the nature of those experiences with the help of four aspects of the infomaterial—embeddedness, decoupling, representation and generativity.
David Kreps
7. Design Science Theorizing: The Contribution of Practical Theory
Abstract
Information systems research is often conducted as engaged scholarship—collaborative work with practitioners to somehow improve the world and articulate new knowledge through gained experiences and reflection. In information systems, engaged scholarship often manifests as design science research. In this chapter, we argue that the design science discourse has been biased towards theorizing with a focus on design knowledge for a particular domain of artifacts and practices. We propose that design science also offers an opportunity to theorize instrumentalities through and for inquiry. Drawing from pragmatist epistemology as well as ideas on theorizing in management research, we adopt a case view on design science. We outline a view on the theorizing process in design science and propose practical theories as instrumental and emergent tools for design inquiry and as viable and important knowledge outcomes of design science. Finally, we discuss implications for design science research cases and how this can contribute to a cumulative knowledge evolution.
Göran Goldkuhl, Jonas Sjöström
8. Pathways to IT-Rich Recontextualized Modifying of Borrowed Theories: Illustrations from IS Strategy*
Abstract
While indigenous theorizing in IS has clear merits, theory borrowing will not, and should not, cease completely due to its appeal and usefulness. In this chapter, we aim at increasing our understanding of IT-rich recontextualized modifying of borrowed theories. We present a 2 × 2 framework in which we discuss how two recontextualization approaches of specification and distinction help with increasing the IT-richness of borrowed constructs and relationships. In doing so, we use several illustrative examples from IS strategy. The framework can be used by researchers as a tool to explore the multitude of ways in which a theory from another discipline can yield some IT-rich understanding.
Mohammad Moeini, Robert D. Galliers, Boyka Simeonova, Alex Wilson
9. Pluralist Theory Building: A Methodology for Generalizing from Data to Theory*
Abstract
We propose Pluralist Theory Building as a methodology that leverages the power of multiperspective inquiry to develop new theory from data. The chapter presents the rationale for the methodology, its combination of generalization and pluralism, and the process involved in its application. When researchers use Pluralist Theory Building, they move between description and theory and between single and multiple perspectives through four iterative steps with specific deliverables: Create Perspective Accounts, Synthesize Multiperspective Account, Create Theory Fragments, and Synthesize Pluralist Theory. Drawing on a study that served as experiential background for developing the methodology, we offer insights into the challenges involved in using the methodology and the activities in which researchers may engage to address these challenges. In conclusion, we argue that Pluralist Theory Building offers a novel and practically useful approach to empirically based theorizing that leverages Mingers’ pragmatic approach to pluralism (2001) and extends Lee and Baskerville’s (Generalizing generalizability in information systems research. Information Systems Research, 14(3), 221–243, 2003) generalization framework into a detailed iterative process with steps, deliverables, challenges, and activities.
Sune Dueholm Müller, Lars Mathiassen, Carol Saunders
10. Revitalizing Thoughts on Theory, Theorizing, and Philosophizing in Information Systems
Abstract
This book chapter provides revitalizing thoughts on the meaning of theory, theorizing, and philosophizing in the field of Information Systems (IS). More specifically, the chapter scrutinizes and explicates central definitions of theory, theorizing, philosophy, and philosophizing, in the context of developing theoretical implications as a part of a larger theory development project. Additionally, the chapter introduces the concept of kernel philosophies and conceptualizes different spaces for theory development projects in IS. Finally, the chapter ends with concluding remarks on philosophy and philosophizing as supportive medium for the theorizing process in IS.
Amir Haj-Bolouri
11. Reviving the Individual in Information Systems Theorizing
Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to explore the IS field from a position where the individual is considered on par with the social and material in IS theorizing. The exploration is based on the foundational assumption that the individual and the social mutually constitute each other. The social realm is seen as a communal infrastructure, comprised of individual, neurobiological factors and communal, institutionalized factors. These factors enable and constrain individual actions, which in turn modify these factors; a process we refer to as communalization. In such a perspective, information is seen as constituted by the individual from integrating previous experiences and sensations emanating from the environment into an actionable percept. Communalization renders the IT artifact into a community-relevant Information System, comprised of individual factors and the artifact. Consequently, information, the IT artifact, and ISs are seen as dialectically related phenomena—one cannot be understood without the others. The practical relevance of the approach is demonstrated by the communalization of an IT artifact in the telecom industry. We discuss how mainstream IS research areas such as communication, sociomateriality, digitalization, and the essence of the IS discipline, can be advanced towards the dialectical position. In conclusion, we claim that a dialectical perspective opens up new avenues for advancing IS theorizing.
Lars Taxén
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Advancing Information Systems Theories
Editors
Nik Rushdi Hassan
Prof. Leslie P. Willcocks
Copyright Year
2021
Electronic ISBN
978-3-030-64884-8
Print ISBN
978-3-030-64883-1
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64884-8

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