Endogenously emergent information systems

Abstract

This paper analyzes the concept of “emergence” in the context of information systems (IS) and discusses its implications to IS research. The analysis shows that this literature assumes emergence to be an outcome of exogenous, although, complex design agency, largely omitting endogenous emergence, rising from the complexity of the information system and its operational interaction with its environment. Reflecting the IS perspective, the paper reviews research on endogenous emergence conducted especially in Computer Science and Software Engineering.