Evaluating the Contribution of Structuration Theory to the Information Systems Discipline

Giddens’ mature formulation of structuration theory has been available since the publication of ‘The Constitution of Society’ in 1984, and has been adopted and adapted by a number of researchers in the Information System field. Though accepted as a substantial contribution to social theory, Giddens’ work is not without its critics, and is decidedly thin in some areas important to IS. Analyzing the contribution of those IS researchers working with it (using a simple model of the appropriation of theory from one field to another), allows the understanding that they have mainly used it to theorize the field or to analyze empirical case studies. Though understanding gained in this way is useful, and will eventually modify the frame of reference within which practitioners act, it is argued that, in an applied discipline, more direct ways of guiding practice are crucial. Useful theory should lead to improvements in the capacity for effective action the ‘difference that makes a difference.’ Though the level of abstraction of the theory introduces some doubt whether this is possible, some ways of furthering this direction of research are discussed.