Digital Work and Process Theories

Course goals

The overall aim of this course is to provide you with a theoretical foundation for research in informationsystems (IS). After successfully completing this course, you wil be able to:

1. explain what theory is and what role it plays in research;
2. compare and apply established theorizing strategies;
3. critically evaluate theoretical contributions in research;
4. explain the theoretical foundations of contemporary IS research;
5. develop and formulate your own theoretical contributions about IS-related phenomena;
6. use existing IS theories in developing a research design;
7. propose the foundations of a new IS theory or extend an existing one, and outline an appropriate evaluation approach;
8. present your work both orally and in writing; and
9.  critically evaluate IS theory papers and provide constructive, actionable feedback.

• class contribution (individual, 25%) [ LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO9]
• weekly research proposals (team, 20%) [LO2, LO4, LO5, LO6]
• theory presentation (individual,10%) [LO3, LO4, LO8]
• peer review (individual, 5%) [LO3, LO9]
• final paper (individual, 40%) [LO2, LO7]

• achieve a weighted final grade of at least 5.5, and
• earn at least 5.5 on the final paper.

In addition, under the best-efforts requirement (inspanningsverplichting), the average grades for both class contribution and weekly research proposals must be at least 5.5.

If your interim grades for these components are low, you can raise your average by performing better on the remaining assignments and in class. If, at the end, either average is below 5.5, the best-efforts requirement is not met and you can'tt pass the course.
You may repair the final paper if your final course grade is below 5.5.
All assignments must be submitted on time. If you miss a deadline due to (long-term) illness, contact the study advisor as soon as possible to discuss options.
The use of AI-based text generation tools (e.g., ChatGPT or similar large language models) is prohibited for course work unless explicitly permitted for a specific assignment in the course manual.

To qualify for a repair of the final result the mark needs to be at least a 4, or “AANV”.

Content

This course builds a rigorous theoretical foundation for research in Information Systems (IS).
During the course, you will engage with influential theories and major research streams in IS and practice applying them to your own research ideas.

Course form
Most weeks contain two lectures: one lecture in which both lecturers and students will present and discuss the literature that was assigned; and one lecture in which you will show how you apply the theories described in the literature to your own research proposal.
In the first part of the course, each week centers on a specific theme, e.g. ‘Society, culture and institutions’ and ‘Complexity & the IS artifact’. The final weeks are dedicated to theorizing, developing your own research proposal, and giving and receving structured peer feedback.
The learning outcomes of the course are achieved through interactive and discussion-oriented lectures. Active participation and preparation is essential to maximize your learning.
This course counts for 7.5 ECTS, which is the equivalent of 210 work hours. Across the teaching period, this corresponds to about 21 hours per week on average. Workload may fluctuate (e.g., heavier weeks near deadlines), but the average should align with 210 hours in total.

Literature
Each week lists mandatory readings and optional further readings. The mandatory readings are required preparation for the lectures; the further readings deepen your understanding and support your proposals. All readings will be accessible via Brightspace.