Another Look at the Nature of Theory in Information Systems

The single most confusing subject of discussion in information systems (IS) is the subject of theories. It is well known that the IS field has been debating the nature and role of theories for some time with intense debates about what theory is as opposed to other products of theorizing such as models and frameworks. This essay extends previous works on theory, clarifies the distinctions between products of theorizing that are not yet theories and explains the nature of theory in general, and briefly reviews the discursive artifacts that IS researchers call theories. By raising the discourse on theories, the IS field will be able to engage with the help of its own theories, the most intractable problems in society.