Bridging Systems Theory and Information Systems: A Framework for Designing Complex Information Systems

Information Systems (IS) is rooted in systems theory. Systems theory offers powerful concepts to address challenges of increasing system complexity and non-systemic design principles in information systems. Despite its systemic roots, systems theory remains a peripheral topic in IS. The study addresses this gap by introducing a comprehensive framework of 52 systems-theoretical concepts to guide the design of complex IS artifacts. We synthesize scattered systems knowledge from diverse disciplines to provide a unified level of abstraction for complex information system design. We ascertain the utility of our framework by applying it to a use case of blockchain-based reputation systems to show how the systems lens informs the design of a novel and complex information system. We make several contributions to literature. The framework introduces a systemic perspective that encourages IS researchers to rethink the design of IS artifacts. Such a lens enables the transcending of disciplinary boundaries. It also contributes to literature by offering a unified level of abstraction grounded in systems theory that serves as a coherent basis for artifact design. The study also bridges the gap between DSR and systems theory by abstracting design principles to the systems level to generate more generally applicable design knowledge.