Decolonising critical information systems research: A subaltern approach

Masiero, Silvia

doi:10.1111/isj.12401

Cited by 12 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…A critical theory is any approach to social philosophy that focuses on society and culture to reveal, critique and challenge power structures (Paradis et al, 2020). With roots in sociology and literary criticism 3 , it argues that social problems stem more from social structures and cultural assumptions than from individuals (Masiero, 2022;Nieminem et al, 2023). Concerning the aims of this article and the problematized phenomenon of interest, this theory suggests that social problems (negative peer pressure, poor parental guidance, education and future) are a result of influences from society and the way in which the concept of peace and harmony among the South African youth is constructed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applying critical theory in the examination of one selected isiXhosa short story

Diko

2023

IJRBS

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A notable framed literature review accentuates that there is a deficit in the scholarly examination of isiXhosa short stories. Such dearth can be pinned on the agnostic inclination in respect of South African literary criticism – isiXhosa literature included. The fundamental aim of this article is to make a systemic and meticulous examination of one selected isiXhosa short story hinging on dominant patterns such as negative peer pressure and poor parental guidance, among other distinguishable matters. Critical theory is used as a foundational base structure alongside qualitative research methodology for a continued and maintained reading of the short story in a bid to develop a noticeable pattern that will contest the conundrum. The results underline that young people and parents as well as the general society have a solitary responsibility to operate in a synergetic relationship to address some of the problems that continue to sabotage the future of many young men and women. The closing remarks suggest that more scholarly discourse in respect of isiXhosa short stories ought to be advanced. The article makes a notable contribution in that it catalyzes the theoretical and intellectual development of the isiXhosa language and literature.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applying critical theory in the examination of one selected isiXhosa short story

Diko

2023

IJRBS

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“…In the fourth article, Masiero (2023) notes a Western bias in the production of critical IS theory, which is largely clustered around the theoretical perspectives of Bourdieu, Foucault, and Habermas. She argues that this bias limits the ability of critical IS research to execute its mandate to illuminate the oppressive and alienating traits of the status quo.…”

Section: Papers In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Impact and implications for practice

Davison

2022

Information Systems Journal

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In an earlier editorial in this journal (Chatterjee & Davison, 2021), we argued that authors should strengthen their positioning and motivation for undertaking their research. As we noted, 'the positioning and motivation of the paper strongly determine how the contribution emerges in the latter half of the paper'. More specifically, we recommended that authors motivate their research through problematisation , including, inter alia, both an identification of the stakeholders most likely to find the research value and then a focus on these same stakeholders via an appropriate set of research questions and objectives.Problematising the research in this way requires the researcher to reflect on why the research is being undertaken, and which stakeholders' perspectives are privileged or excluded.Notwithstanding the advantages of a problematisation approach to research motivation, we note that the vast majority of information systems research is motivated and positioned as being of value to corporate stakeholders, often paraphrased by authors in their research contributions as 'managers'. Clarke and Davison (2020) reviewed approximately 20% of the empirical research (659 articles) published over a 15-year period in the eight AIS basket journals. They found that over 90% of the articles in their sample privilege the interests of corporate stakeholders, and indeed 90% also only consider economic interests, though of a range of stakeholders. Less than 10% of the articles examine issues that are of interest to non-corporate stakeholders, and similarly less than 10% consider social interests (whether of organisations or people). Environmental interests, that is, the implications of the research for natural ecosystems and the environment more broadly, are essentially unrepresented in the sample.Problematising research will at least help to ensure that the stakeholders most likely to be interested in the research will be identified, but if the pattern observed by Clarke and Davison (2020) continues, we can expect that over 90% of those stakeholders will be at the corporate level, whether the near-ubiquitous managers or the organisation as an entity in its own right. Further, we can also expect that research will predominantly consider economic interests, for example, profit, effectiveness and efficiency, but not non-economic interests such as social and environmental. Where the communication of research findings is concerned, researchers are often experts at crafting implications for other researchers but are much less adept where non-academic audiences are concerned. These latter contributions range from the formulaic (e.g., managers should invest in employee training) to the implausible (e.g., managers should redesign their corporate systems), and are sometimes so whimsical (e.g., managers globally will find our experimental results based on a student population to be of intrinsic value) that their inclusion seems to be no more than meeting a journal requirement. Thus, not only are limitations limited (Davison, 2017) but s...

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Dark side of IT: A misleading expression?

Masiero

2023

E J Info Sys Dev Countries

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Research on the “dark side” of information technology (IT) is becoming diffused in the information systems (IS) field. Focused on the negative consequences of IT on individuals, organizations and the society, such a literature has, however, neglected the contribution of ICT4D research to the debate. This paper draws on two streams of research—respectively, on digital identity systems for social protection and biometric humanitarianism—to highlight the limits of the notion of a “dark side” of IT. Using a design justice lens, it illuminates how adverse features can be purposefully designed into technology, directly producing the detrimental outcomes that cause harm on its users. Through this perspective, the notion of a “dark side” of IT is contrasted with that of a “dark matter” pointing to the substantial, rather than accidental, nature of harm generated through IT. Implications are drawn for IS research, highlighting how existing works from the ICT4D field support the “dark matter” thesis.

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Decolonising critical information systems research: A subaltern approach

Cited by 12 publications

References 66 publications

Applying critical theory in the examination of one selected isiXhosa short story

Applying critical theory in the examination of one selected isiXhosa short story

Impact and implications for practice

Dark side of IT: A misleading expression?

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