The Semiotics of Information Systems: A Research Methodology for the Digital Age (Technology, Work and Globalization)

Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Rationale
About This Book
Contents
About the Authors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Part I Semiotic Foundations: Information, Meaning and Embodied Cognition
1 Theories of Information—The Semantic and Pragmatic Aspects
	Introduction
	Data, Information and Knowledge
	Orientation
		Evaluation Criteria
	An Evaluation of Selected Theories of Information Overview
	Shannon and Weaver’s Information Theory
	Bar-Hillel and Carnap’s ‘Semantic Information’
	Jumarie’s Concept of Relative Information
	Information as Reduction in the Receiver’s Uncertainty
	Information as a Change in Cognitive Structure
	Dretske’s Theory of Information Flow and Knowledge
	Summary
	Non-Shannon-Type Information Theories
		Information as a Representation of Knowledge
		Information as Structure or Structuring
	Conclusion
	References
2 The Nature of Information and Its Relationship to Meaning
	Introduction
	Terms to Be Used
	Existing Theories of (Semantic) Information
	Foundations for Information and Meaning
		Maturana and Varela’s Cognitive Theories
		Intersubjective Information/Meaning
		Habermas, Communicative Action and Universal Pragmatics
		Dretske’s Account of Information Revisited
		Information and Meaning
		A Typology of Signs
		The Link to Semantics and Pragmatics
		Levels of Meaning
		Generation of Meaning from Signs
		Production of Signs from Meaning
	Conclusions
	References
3 Embodying Information Systems—The Contribution of Phenomenology
	Introduction
	The Development of IS and AI—Thought, Action, Embodiment
		Cognition as Pure Thought
		Cognition as Engaged Action
		Cognition as Embodiment
		Summary
	A Philosophical and Biological Framework
	Implications for Artificial Intelligence and Information Systems
		Artificial Intelligence
		Information Systems
	Conclusion
	References
4 A Review of Theories of Information Across Disciplines
	Introduction
	Scoping the Review
	A Structure for the Review
		The Semiotic Dimension
		The Ontological Dimension
	Selected Information Theories
		Empiric Level
		Syntactic Level: Shannon’s Mathematical Theory of Information
		Semantic Level: Objective Theories
		Semantic Level: Subjective Theories
		Pragmatic Level: Objective Theories
		Pragmatic Level: Subjective Theories
		Social Level
	Conclusion
	References
5 A Theory of Information as Objective and Veridical
	Introduction
	Conceptualising Information as Veridical and Objective
	Basic Definitions
	Philosophical Underpinning—Critical Realism
	Characteristics at Different Semiotic Levels
	Conceptual Issues and Implications for a Theory of Objective Information
	Information as Objective or Subjective
	Information as True or Correct
	Information and Its Relation to Knowledge
	Information and the Ambiguity of Meaning
	Practical Implications for IS Theory and Practice
	Conclusions
	References
Part II Semiotics Philosophy and Research Method
6 Developing an Integrative Semiotic Framework
	Introduction
	Building the Framework (1) Which Semiotics?
		Saussurian Semiotics
		Peirceian Semiotics
		Developments in Semiotics
	Building the Framework (2) Critical Realism
	Building the Framework (3) Information and Meaning
	Building the Framework (4) Meaning and Embodiment
	A Summary Integrative Framework
	Conclusion
	References
7 Applying the Integrative Semiotic Framework
	Introduction
	Semiotics and Business
	The Case of a Fully Computerised Dairy Production Plant
	The Case of Sun Microsystems Project Wonderland
	The Case of Virtual Worlds
	The Case of TripAdvisor
	In the Age of the Smart Machine Revisited
	The Case of a Chinese BPO Service Provider
	Conclusion
	References
8 Towards a Methodology for Semiotics Research
	Introduction
	Situating Semiotics Within Interpretive Research
	Content Analysis, Conversation Analysis and Discourse Analysis
	Hermeneutics
	Semiotics
	Adopting a ‘4As’ Research Framework
	General Semiotic Methodology
	The ‘4 A’s’ Approach Applied to Semiotics Research
	Conclusion
	References
9 Enacting Semiotics Research—A 12-Step Process
	Introduction
	The 12-Step Semiotics Research Process
	Investigating the Semiotic Domain: Message/Text
		Identify Signs in the Text
		Examine the Structure of the Text—the ‘Syntagm’
	Investigating the Personal World: Producer and Consumer
	Investigating the Social World: The Code
		The Semiotic Ladder
		Examine the Code
	Investigating the Material World: The Medium
	Investigate How the Material, Personal and Social Worlds Interact with Each Other
	Conclusion
	References
Appendix A: Summary of Concepts in Semiotics
References
Appendix B: Interrogating Sociomateriality in Information Systems
References
Name Index
Index