A Purposeful Framework for IS

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Author(s): Gaye Lewis (University of South Australia, Australia)
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 4
Source title: Managing Worldwide Operations and Communications with Information Technology
Source Editor(s): Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, D.B.A. (Information Resources Management Association, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-929-8.ch060
ISBN13: 9781599049298
EISBN13: 9781466665378

Keywords: Information Science Reference / IT Research & Theory / IT Research and Theory / Library & Information Science

Abstract

This paper highlights the need for theories in IS that assign a key role to the influences of human intentionality. Ulrich’s (1983) critical systems heuristics and activity theory both satisfy this requirement. A model based on the combination of these two theories is developed and explored in some detail. The background and description of Ulrich’s (1983) critical systems heuristics is presented first and then the integration of activity theory with Ulrich’s (1983) approach is examined within the context of IS. It is argued here that the combination of these two theories provides a powerful conceptual tool with practical applicability in the range of areas covered by the domain of IS.

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