A Genre Approach to Applying Critical Social Theory to Information Systems Development

Critical Social Theory has been regarded as an alternative approach to information systems development in the era of ubiquitous information technologies and extensive applications. However, critical theorists have so far clarified few fundamental concepts to be actually discussed, planned and implemented in practical development initiatives to constitute a proper systems development approach. This paper contributes by reflecting fundamental concepts of the genre theory of organisational communication on the goals and guiding principles of Critical Social Theory. Use of the suggested concepts – 'genre', 'normative scope', 'genre system', 'genre repertoire' and 'document genre' – is demonstrated by a small-scale field experiment conducted to rethink enterprise document management in an industrial organisation. The suggested concepts and implications of the field experiment are discussed in the light of eight maxims identified for the Critical Social Theory approach to information systems. The discussion implies that the concepts presented are usable within the Critical Social Theory approach to information systems development, at least in the domain of enterprise document management. Finally, some deficiencies of the presented ideas and the field experiment are identified, and directions for further research are proposed.