Presuppositions in information systems design: From systems to networks and contexts

Abstract

What seems to be a main conclusion of the Hirschheim, Klein and Lyytinen paper, the need for pluralism in ISD research, can be framed as the very problem that social action theory cannot grapple with. Pluralism is questioned in terms of its meaning in political science, and in face of the elusiveness of their central concept of “orientation”. The call for pluralism ignores both political and ethical realities of power versus justice and love in the Christian tradition. The goal of the paper to be “purely generative and analytic” is thereby also questioned, as well as its purpose to explain and understand. Its merit is mainly that it is not concerned with only technical matters, and that it can be used as an ordered bibliographical source of academic readings. In this respect the bibliography must be completed with more references to technology, human-computer interaction, computer-supported cooperative work, design, and privacy as related to justice, power and profitability. Ultimate explanation and understanding of information systems development requires research on its presuppositions, including the paradigmatic limitations of social action theory as compared with other approaches. Today's shift from systems thinking towards learning and networking, where the latter includes conversational sense-making, argumentation, and accommodation or negotiation, is unfortunate and requires careful scrutiny.