A Theoretic Basis for IS? The Contribution of ANT

Authors

  • Jim Underwood

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v10i1.449

Keywords:

foundations of information systems, FOIS, actor-network theory, ANT, representation, semiotics, Foucault

Abstract

Representation is a key issue of IS design and operation that is often ignored. Actor-network theory (ANT), a semiotic theory of stakeholders, provides a way of dealing with representation. Combining aspects of ANT and Foucault's discourse theory allows us to include concepts as actors and promises a flexible and durable foundation for IS practice, but ANT itself indicates that the search for a purely theoretical foundation for IS is misguided.

Downloads

How to Cite

Underwood, J. (2002). A Theoretic Basis for IS? The Contribution of ANT. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v10i1.449

Issue

Section

Selected Papers from the Information Systems Foundations Conference (ISF)