Start Date
11-12-2016 12:00 AM
Description
This paper introduces the concept of purposefully constructed activity system (PCAS) as a step toward a body of knowledge for information systems. The category of PCAS includes sociotechnical activity systems (that include human participants) and totally automated information systems, both of which are core topics for the IS discipline. This paper proposes 20 intrinsic principles and 7 observability principles that apply to any PCAS and that support contextually-focused normative principles from different sources. Intrinsic principles apply to the purpose, form, operation, and evolution of every PCAS. Observability principles apply to perceptions of any particular PCAS. Contextually-focused normative principles express guidance about desirable characteristics or qualities of the form and operation of a particular type of PCAS. A concluding section discusses potential applications of the new idea of PCAS and PCAS principles. It also explains how the idea of PCAS can be used in an ISBoK.
Recommended Citation
Alter, Steven, "Principles for “Purposefully Constructed Activity Systems” -- A Step toward a Body of Knowledge for Information Systems" (2016). ICIS 2016 Proceedings. 6.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2016/Methodological/Presentations/6
Principles for “Purposefully Constructed Activity Systems” -- A Step toward a Body of Knowledge for Information Systems
This paper introduces the concept of purposefully constructed activity system (PCAS) as a step toward a body of knowledge for information systems. The category of PCAS includes sociotechnical activity systems (that include human participants) and totally automated information systems, both of which are core topics for the IS discipline. This paper proposes 20 intrinsic principles and 7 observability principles that apply to any PCAS and that support contextually-focused normative principles from different sources. Intrinsic principles apply to the purpose, form, operation, and evolution of every PCAS. Observability principles apply to perceptions of any particular PCAS. Contextually-focused normative principles express guidance about desirable characteristics or qualities of the form and operation of a particular type of PCAS. A concluding section discusses potential applications of the new idea of PCAS and PCAS principles. It also explains how the idea of PCAS can be used in an ISBoK.