Information systems as rational discourse: an application of Habermas's theory of communicative action

Ethical governance model for the data economy ecosystems

Purpose

Data economy is a recent phenomenon, raised by digital transformation and platformisation, which has enabled the concentration of data that can be used in economic purposes. However, there is a lack of clear procedures and ethical rules on how data economy ecosystems are governed. As a response to the current situation, there has been criticism and demands for the governance of data use to prevent unethical consequences that have already manifested. Thus, ethical governance of the data economy ecosystems is needed. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new ethical governance model for data economy ecosystems. The proposed model offers a more balanced solution for the current situation where a few global large-scale enterprises dominate the data market and may use oligopolistic power over other stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual article that covers theory-based discourse ethical reflection of data economy ecosystems governance. The study is based on the premise of the discourse ethics where inclusion of all stakeholders is needed for creating a transparent and ethical data economy.

Findings

This article offers self-regulation tool for data economy ecosystems by discourse ethical approach which is designed in the governance model. The model aims to balance data “markets” by offering more transparent, democratic and equal system than currently.

Originality/value

By offering a new ethically justified governance model, we may create a trust structure where rules are visible and all stakeholders are treated fairly.

Are you talking to me? – calling laypersons in the sphere of data economy ecosystems

Purpose

Data economy is pervasively present in our everyday lives. Still, ordinary laypersons' chances to genuine communication with other stakeholders are scarce. This paper aims to raise awareness about communication patterns in the context of data economy and initiate a dialogue about laypersons' position in data economy ecosystems.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper covers theory-based critical reflection with ethical- and empirical-based remarks. It provides novel perspectives both for research and stakeholder collaboration.

Findings

The authors suggest invitational rhetoric and Habermasian discourse as instruments towards understanding partnership between all stakeholders of the data economy to enable laypersons to transfer from subjectivity to the agency.

Originality/value

The authors provide (1) theory-based critical reflection concerning communication patterns in the data economy; (2) both ethical and empirical-based remarks about laypersons' position in data economy and (3) ideas for interdisciplinary research and stakeholder collaboration practices by using invitational rhetoric and rational discourse. By that, this paper suggests taking a closer look at communication practices and ethics alike in the data economy. Moreover, it encourages clear, rational and justified arguments between stakeholders in a respectful and equal environment in the data economy ecosystems.

Exploring Pictorial Health Education Tools for Long-Term Home Care: A Qualitative Perspective

Regarding long-term home care needs, nurses need to communicate effectively and reasonably when teaching home caregivers. Designers can assist medical staff and develop pictorial tools to enhance communication. The purpose of this study is to explore a theoretical basis from the perspective of designers, patients’ home caregivers, and medical staff to construct a theoretical framework that can jointly develop pictorial health education tools and healthcare system. The qualitative methods, including in-depth interview and observation, are applied to this study; ground theory sets out to construct a framework from the verbatim transcript of the interviews. Based on interview results, six axial codes were extracted: (1) the method of interdisciplinary cooperation; (2) medical research ethics; (3) communication methods; (4) forms of health education tools; (5) development of health education tools; (6) home care intubation procedure. Eight groups of home caregivers offered suggestions from their experiences. The designers need to assist medical staff to solve real problems, pay attention to professional norms, and forms of cooperation. Health education tools need to meet the needs of medical staff and home caregivers and designers should pay attention to the processes of communication. This study can also assist in interdisciplinary cooperation to explore the theoretical basis of pictorial health education tools for nurses in the context of long-term care at home.

Management and Organization Studies as Science?

This paper addresses the status of knowledge in the field of management and organization studies. It commends Habermas's theory of knowledge-constitutive interests as a way of enhancing the self-understanding of this field. Challenging the idea of science as the generator of value-free knowledge, Habermas associates the production of scientific knowledge with three types of cognitive interest: in prediction and control, in mutual understanding, and in emancipation. Habermas's theory of cognitive interests is critically reviewed before demonstrating its relevance for management and organization studies in general. The argument is also illustrated by more detailed reference to the subfield of operational research. It is argued that Habermas's understanding of knowledge production has considerable value in problematizing the claims, and appreciating the emancipatory potential, of sciences guided by each of the three cognitive interests. There remains, however, the question of how the insights of critical scientific analysis can be translated into emancipatory praxis. The discussion of critical social science incorporates some reflections on this issue.

Towards a critical theory of value creation in cross-sector partnerships

This article develops a critical theory of value creation in cross-sector partnerships by recasting value creation from the standpoint of the beneficiary. We first explain how distinct combinations of principles, relations and relational processes set largely non-overlapping foundations for conceptualizing the role of the beneficiary in value creation within Marxist, pragmatist and Frankfurt schools of thought. We introduce the construct of beneficiary voice to delineate and illustrate three distinct roles that beneficiaries may play in value creation in cross-sector partnerships: voice-receiving, voice-making and voice-taking. We then focus on the generative tensions to bridge value creation arguments across these three critical theories and thus contribute an overtly socialized and explicitly relational foundation of value creation in cross-sector partnerships.

Privacy, fair information practices and the fortune 500

Corporate information privacy policies are receiving increased attention in the information privacy debate. Prior studies used Web surveys to analyze the content of online information privacy policies and to assess whether or not the policies comply with a standard known as the Fair Information Practices. One assumption of these studies is that the main role of a privacy policy is to protect the consumer by communicating a firm's information practices. This paper employs Habermas's Theory of Communicative Action to uncover the much more complex and multifaceted roles that privacy policies actually play in a social context. Overall, the study's findings offer insights into the reflective nature of information privacy policies, specifically their role in social interactions among companies, consumers and government regulators. The theoretical and managerial implications of the results are discussed and directions for future research provided.

The Rationality Framework for a Critical Study of Information Systems

This paper situates the social implications of information systems (IS) within the broader context of progressive rationalization in modern organizations. Specifically, it examines the roles IS play in the rationalization of organizational processes and its social implications. The paper proposes a rationality framework that synthesizes different approaches to reason and rationality and provides a conceptual model for critical analysis of social and organizational consequences of rationalization in organizations that are enabled and supported by IS. By drawing on a field study the paper interprets three IS cases in order to demonstrate how the rationality framework helps explain different IS-organization relationships in the light of increasing levels of rationality that entail both substantial benefits and considerable risks.