Useful Products in Theorizing for Information Systems

Recent years have seen a growing interest in theory building within the information systems (IS) field and debate is continuing on what constitutes theories in IS. This study extends Weick's recommendation to focus instead on theorizing rather than on the theories themselves as a way of progressing forward. It focuses on the products of theorizing that only approximate theories but are critical to their development including discursive formations, questions, analogies, myths, metaphors, paradigms, concepts, constructs, statements, propositions, models and frameworks. These terms can be found scattered in various treatise on theories but are not sufficiently elaborated in a cohesive manner as products of theorizing. This study defines these terms, describes their characteristics and how they enhance theorizing.