Values Behind the Code: Challenging Technological Neutrality in Information Systems Research

This paper challenges the dominant assumption of technological neutrality and value neutrality in information systems (IS) research, particularly as it pertains to digital technologies. It argues that formal rationality—rooted in ideals of efficiency and performance—obscures the ideological values embedded in Information Technology (IT) artifacts, thereby reinforcing technocratic and economic logics. Drawing from critical theory and recent research, particularly from related fields, the paper shows that digital technologies are not merely neutral tools but devices shaped by the values and interests of powerful actors. Therefore, the paper calls for a paradigmatic shift in IS research towards value rationality, a perspective that foregrounds ethical values, notably caring for others (human beings and other living organisms), while maintaining scientific rigor. To support this shift, in this paper, a set of research strategies for unveiling embedded values and for designing alternative technologies that promote ethical values is outlined.