Abstract

Experience from contact tracing information systems (IS) relating to COVID-19 show that designing IS to manage infectious diseases in volatile, urgent, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) situations requires navigation of the interplay between several factors: technical features, the challenges of optimizing timeliness, sensitivity, public value, the urgent need for mass adoption, and unprecedented privacy, trust, and ethical dilemmas. In this paper, using a design archaeology approach, we analyzed the historical, stakeholder, artifactual, aesthetic, instrumental, and symbolic dimensions of COVIDSafe—a contact tracing IS implemented by the Australian Government. Based on the findings, we embarked on design theorizing, moving from the specific instance of the COVID-19 pandemic and COVIDSafe to the broader problem of VUCA health situations and solutions (i.e., infectious disease management information systems (IDMIS)). We contribute a new design theory for IDMIS specifying the aims and scope of the future design efforts for which the design theory can be useful, the roles of different stakeholders, and a set of design principles that clearly define actors, contexts, mechanisms, and rationale. We also discuss the usability of our inductively developed theory. Normatively, we add to the descriptive and explanatory knowledge that promotes a greater understanding of the role of IS in controlling and managing infectious diseases. In terms of method, the study highlights the application of a design archaeology approach for IS design theory research.

DOI

10.17705/1jais.00882

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