Paper Number

ICIS2025-2025

Paper Type

Complete

Abstract

This paper proposes a Theory of Virtuous Information Systems Use (TVIS), grounded in the theoretical traditions of positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship. The emergent theory advances the idea that meaningful outcomes from information systems arise not only from their technical affordances, but also from the character of the individuals that engage with them—specifically, the extent to which actors demonstrate virtuous behavior in their use of IS. The development of this theory is both necessary, given the limitations of prevailing IS paradigms, and timely, amid the growing influence of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and ubiquitous connectivity. Through a set of propositions that articulate conceptual relationships among user virtue, IS affordances, and outcomes, we argue that TVIS provides a novel and valuable framework for understanding how IS, when used virtuously, can generate both instrumental and humanistic outcomes of relevance to IS scholars, individuals, and organizations alike.

Comments

25-Research

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Dec 14th, 12:00 AM

Towards a Positivist Theory of Virtuous IS Use

This paper proposes a Theory of Virtuous Information Systems Use (TVIS), grounded in the theoretical traditions of positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship. The emergent theory advances the idea that meaningful outcomes from information systems arise not only from their technical affordances, but also from the character of the individuals that engage with them—specifically, the extent to which actors demonstrate virtuous behavior in their use of IS. The development of this theory is both necessary, given the limitations of prevailing IS paradigms, and timely, amid the growing influence of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and ubiquitous connectivity. Through a set of propositions that articulate conceptual relationships among user virtue, IS affordances, and outcomes, we argue that TVIS provides a novel and valuable framework for understanding how IS, when used virtuously, can generate both instrumental and humanistic outcomes of relevance to IS scholars, individuals, and organizations alike.

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