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Information System Evaluation through an Emergence Lens

Tona, Olgerta LU and Carlsson, Sven LU (2012) In Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation 16(1). p.37-46
Abstract
The development and expansion of evaluation theory and practice is at the core of several different disciplines. There exist different traditional Information System (IS) evaluation approaches, like experimental, pragmatic, constructivist, pluralist and realist IS evaluation. IS evaluation approaches are influenced by the way they address to technology. Recently actor network theory (ANT) and sociomateriality are two influential information systems (IS) entanglement perspectives. Additionally, El Sawy identified three faces of IS views: connection, immersion, and fusion. In terms of IS evaluation approaches, connection and immersion view are the dominant views in which these approaches are positioned. We believe the IS fusion view calls... (More)
The development and expansion of evaluation theory and practice is at the core of several different disciplines. There exist different traditional Information System (IS) evaluation approaches, like experimental, pragmatic, constructivist, pluralist and realist IS evaluation. IS evaluation approaches are influenced by the way they address to technology. Recently actor network theory (ANT) and sociomateriality are two influential information systems (IS) entanglement perspectives. Additionally, El Sawy identified three faces of IS views: connection, immersion, and fusion. In terms of IS evaluation approaches, connection and immersion view are the dominant views in which these approaches are positioned. We believe the IS fusion view calls for IS evaluation approaches to be revised. This paper uses the relational emergence theory, based on the philosophy of critical realism to theorize and operationalize the fusion view, as it lacks a theoretical grounding and as well to push forward the traditional IS evaluation research approaches. At the core of relational emergence theory is the emergence concept, in which parts are structured by the relations among each other to create an entity as a ‘whole’. Based on this, we present and discuss the implications for IS evaluation in terms of how to evaluate a process as well as the output of the process. The discussion on IS evaluation is illustrated through an empirical example, drawn on a longitudinal research study within a police organization. This paper concludes that in the fusion view, the evaluation process shall embrace a holistic perspective. The focus of the evaluation process shall be the emergent entity consisting of IS, users, task and processes structured by means of relationships among each other. The properties exhibited by this emergent entity shall be evaluated. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Information System evaluation, IS evaluation approaches, fusion view, IS views, relational emergence theory
in
Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation
volume
16
issue
1
pages
37 - 46
publisher
Academic Conferences
ISSN
1566-6379
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ae1ea77a-3009-4ed8-b35b-9af642f61561 (old id 4054027)
alternative location
http://www.ejise.com/volume16/issue1
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:56:06
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:10:24
@article{ae1ea77a-3009-4ed8-b35b-9af642f61561,
  abstract     = {{The development and expansion of evaluation theory and practice is at the core of several different disciplines. There exist different traditional Information System (IS) evaluation approaches, like experimental, pragmatic, constructivist, pluralist and realist IS evaluation. IS evaluation approaches are influenced by the way they address to technology. Recently actor network theory (ANT) and sociomateriality are two influential information systems (IS) entanglement perspectives. Additionally, El Sawy identified three faces of IS views: connection, immersion, and fusion. In terms of IS evaluation approaches, connection and immersion view are the dominant views in which these approaches are positioned. We believe the IS fusion view calls for IS evaluation approaches to be revised. This paper uses the relational emergence theory, based on the philosophy of critical realism to theorize and operationalize the fusion view, as it lacks a theoretical grounding and as well to push forward the traditional IS evaluation research approaches. At the core of relational emergence theory is the emergence concept, in which parts are structured by the relations among each other to create an entity as a ‘whole’. Based on this, we present and discuss the implications for IS evaluation in terms of how to evaluate a process as well as the output of the process. The discussion on IS evaluation is illustrated through an empirical example, drawn on a longitudinal research study within a police organization. This paper concludes that in the fusion view, the evaluation process shall embrace a holistic perspective. The focus of the evaluation process shall be the emergent entity consisting of IS, users, task and processes structured by means of relationships among each other. The properties exhibited by this emergent entity shall be evaluated.}},
  author       = {{Tona, Olgerta and Carlsson, Sven}},
  issn         = {{1566-6379}},
  keywords     = {{Information System evaluation; IS evaluation approaches; fusion view; IS views; relational emergence theory}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{37--46}},
  publisher    = {{Academic Conferences}},
  series       = {{Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation}},
  title        = {{Information System Evaluation through an Emergence Lens}},
  url          = {{http://www.ejise.com/volume16/issue1}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}