Abstract

Debates on “native theory” in Information Systems (IS) have largely focused on disciplinary origin—whether theories are invented within IS or borrowed from reference disciplines. This paper reframes the debate by proposing artefact-constitutiveness, rather than provenance, as the defining criterion of nativeness. We argue that native IS theory emerges when digital artefacts become ontologically constitutive of institutional action itself, such that the explanatory mechanism collapses if programmable mediation is removed. Building on a longitudinal reconstruction of eight theory episodes spanning more than three decades of socio-technical research, we identify a dual mechanism of theory formation: (1) artefact-induced ontological pressure generated by formalisation, traceability, recursion, and programmable mediation; and (2) autopoietic selection within research communities that stabilises certain perturbations into coherent theoretical trajectories. The analysis reveals a progressive intensification of artefact-constitutiveness, as digital systems evolve from configurable tools to epistemic scaffolds and institutional infrastructures. By shifting the focus from disciplinary origin to artefact-constitutive ontology and community-level reflexivity, the paper advances a structural account of native IS theory formation. The argumentpositions IS as a paradigmatic site for studying theory emergence under computational conditions and contributes a reflexive model of theory development in the digital age.

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