Toward A Theory of Artifacts: A Paradigmatic Base For Information Systems Research.

According to several criteria, the information systems discipline seems to be making little progress in the sense of building a cumulative tradition and taking on the appearance of a science. Several factors appear to have inhibited its progress: a preoccupation with research frameworks rather than theory; a continued focus on new technology; and the lure of applied design and construction efforts rather than a quest for pure ideas. If progress is to be achieved, information system researchers must seek a paradigm-a powerful, general theory that drives specific research endeavors. The phenomenon that the paradigm must explain is the behavior of discrete artifacts that have longevity.