Location
Accra, Ghana and Virtual
Start Date
28-8-2025 3:45 PM
End Date
28-8-2025 4:15 PM
Description
Due to the lack of guidelines on how to apply the activity hierarchy (AH) of activity theory (AT), many postgraduates including emerging researchers, continue to struggle in their attempts to apply the theory as a lens. Also, the difficulty limits options in selecting theories in information systems (IS) research. Thus, the study’s objective was to propose a set of guidelines for applying AH in IS research. From a qualitative methods perspective, thirty-one articles were gathered. The interpretive approach was applied using the hermeneutic cycle to examine the articles. Based on the analysis, a model was developed. The model provides a set of sequential guidelines for applying AH as a lens in IS research. The study highlights the need for applying AH as a lens to guide postgraduates and emerging researchers including IS researchers who are unfamiliar with AT. The proposed approach has significant implications for improving the ease of use of the theory from a qualitative IS research standpoint.
Activity Hierarchy: A Sequential Process Model for Information Systems Research
Accra, Ghana and Virtual
Due to the lack of guidelines on how to apply the activity hierarchy (AH) of activity theory (AT), many postgraduates including emerging researchers, continue to struggle in their attempts to apply the theory as a lens. Also, the difficulty limits options in selecting theories in information systems (IS) research. Thus, the study’s objective was to propose a set of guidelines for applying AH in IS research. From a qualitative methods perspective, thirty-one articles were gathered. The interpretive approach was applied using the hermeneutic cycle to examine the articles. Based on the analysis, a model was developed. The model provides a set of sequential guidelines for applying AH as a lens in IS research. The study highlights the need for applying AH as a lens to guide postgraduates and emerging researchers including IS researchers who are unfamiliar with AT. The proposed approach has significant implications for improving the ease of use of the theory from a qualitative IS research standpoint.
