The struggle towards an understanding of theory in information systems - Information Systems Foundations: Constructing and Criticising - page 3

1. The struggle towards an
understanding of theory in information
systems
Shirley Gregor, School of Business and Information Manage-
ment, The Australian National University
Abstract
Information systems (IS) is a relatively new discipline with many researchers having
their foundation studies in other disciplines. The IS discipline is moving towards some
sense of its own identity and some agreement on what constitutes suitable foci of research.
Coming from other fields of study, however, our researchers bring perspectives on
particular modes of enquiry and methodological paradigms as well as perspectives on
what is meant by 'theory'. The argument of this paper is that IS needs to critically ex-
amine the types of theorising relevant to its own discipline and recognise the unique
nature of the theory that is needed. Perspectives found useful come from the philosophy
of science (excluding positivism), interpretivism and Herbert Simon's depiction of the
sciences of the artificial. It is shown how these perspectives can be melded, leading to
a typology of interrelated theories that is unique to information systems.
Introduction
This paper is, logically, a precursor to an earlier paper that sets out the different interre-
lated types of theory that can be employed in information systems research, namely: (i)
descriptive theory, (ii) theory for understanding, (iii) theory for predicting, (iv) theory
for explanation and prediction, and (v) theory for design and action (Gregor, 2002).
What that paper failed to do was show clearly why the distinctive nature of the inform-
ation systems discipline requires a perspective on theorising all of its own. The aim of
this current paper is to show clearly how ideas can be combined from some views of
theory in supporting disciplinary areas to give a typology of theories that is appropriate
for information systems research.
The information systems discipline is relatively new. Many researchers studied originally
in disparate areas ranging from physics and chemistry to mathematics, psychology and
sociology. It is perhaps natural that researchers will bring with them from these areas
different views on the nature of theory, knowledge and epistemology. It is unfortunate,
however, if we do not stop to think whether and how ideas from different disciplines
apply in the information systems field. The argument in this paper is that information
systems, being a field that requires knowledge pertaining to the world of physical sys-
tems, the world of human behaviour, and the world of designed artefacts, requires the-
orising that relates to all these types of knowledge and allows them to be addressed in
an integrated manner. While ideas on the nature of theory can be taken from other dis-
ciplinary areas, this borrowing should not be done uncritically, but with an eye on the
unique nature of information systems.
Information systems can be defined as: