University of Pretoria
1.
[No author].
Information systems evaluation : a post-dualist
interpretation
.
Degree: 2003, University of Pretoria
URL: http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06142002-121347/ 
This thesis explores the problem of information
systems evaluation by conceptualising it as a process in which the
manager comes to an understanding about a system. In other words,
information systems evaluation is a hermeneutic process. The thesis
explicates this notion through an argument that is itself
hermeneutic in its development, beginning with the mainstream
functionalist view of information systems evaluation, and then
considering an interpretive view of IS evaluation, each of which
points to one of two stereotypes of IS evaluation and the manager
engaged in this process: the objective/rational manager utilising
objective/rational methods versus the subjective/political manager
engaged in political manoeuvring, utilising objective/rational
methods only as ritual or symbolism. Neither of these opposing
stereotypes is satisfactory. Instead, this thesis proposes a
dialectic view of information systems evaluation, in terms of
which, rather than being a decision maker, the manager is
in-the-world, evaluating systems in order to get the job done, on
the basis of her thrownness in-the-world. This conceptualisation
provides an intuitively appropriate account of evaluation on the
part of an individual manager, but we must still consider how
managers as members of the organisation, reach a common
understanding about a system. This they do through a process of
organisational learning as encultured knowing, in terms of which a
narrative, situated, pragmatic knowledge is most useful in
evaluation. Evaluation, in other words, happens in the course of
skilful conversation. Such conversation is, however, not always
skilful because the organisation is not just a collection of
individuals but also a network of power relations. Conversations as
generators of meaning are never held outside of power: systems
evaluations as conversations cannot take place outside of a regime
of truth. A post-dualist view of action as both constituted by and
constituting structure, however, suggests that there is always the
potential for genuinely hermeneutic and ethical conversation,
provided it is both improvisatory and deconstructive. Having
understood the requirement for improvisation and deconstruction, it
is possible to suggest some heuristics for information systems
evaluation based on these ideas.
Advisors/Committee Members: Prof L Introna (advisor).Subjects/Keywords: Interpretive view;
Dialectic view;
Regime of truth;
Power relations;
Organisational learning;
Functionalist;
Information systems evaluation;
UCTD
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Manager
APA (6th Edition):
author], [. (2003). Information systems evaluation : a post-dualist
interpretation
. (Masters Thesis). University of Pretoria. Retrieved from http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06142002-121347/
Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):
author], [No. “Information systems evaluation : a post-dualist
interpretation
.” 2003. Masters Thesis, University of Pretoria. Accessed January 19, 2021.
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06142002-121347/.
MLA Handbook (7th Edition):
author], [No. “Information systems evaluation : a post-dualist
interpretation
.” 2003. Web. 19 Jan 2021.
Vancouver:
author] [. Information systems evaluation : a post-dualist
interpretation
. [Internet] [Masters thesis]. University of Pretoria; 2003. [cited 2021 Jan 19].
Available from: http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06142002-121347/.
Council of Science Editors:
author] [. Information systems evaluation : a post-dualist
interpretation
. [Masters Thesis]. University of Pretoria; 2003. Available from: http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06142002-121347/
University of Pretoria
2.
Whittaker, Louise.
Information
systems evaluation : a post-dualist interpretation.
Degree: Informatics, 2003, University of Pretoria
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25520
This thesis explores the problem of information systems
evaluation by conceptualising it as a process in which the manager
comes to an understanding about a system. In other words,
information systems evaluation is a hermeneutic process. The thesis
explicates this notion through an argument that is itself
hermeneutic in its development, beginning with the mainstream
functionalist view of information systems evaluation, and then
considering an interpretive view of IS evaluation, each of which
points to one of two stereotypes of IS evaluation and the manager
engaged in this process: the objective/rational manager utilising
objective/rational methods versus the subjective/political manager
engaged in political manoeuvring, utilising objective/rational
methods only as ritual or symbolism. Neither of these opposing
stereotypes is satisfactory. Instead, this thesis proposes a
dialectic view of information systems evaluation, in terms of
which, rather than being a decision maker, the manager is
in-the-world, evaluating systems in order to get the job done, on
the basis of her thrownness in-the-world. This conceptualisation
provides an intuitively appropriate account of evaluation on the
part of an individual manager, but we must still consider how
managers as members of the organisation, reach a common
understanding about a system. This they do through a process of
organisational learning as encultured knowing, in terms of which a
narrative, situated, pragmatic knowledge is most useful in
evaluation. Evaluation, in other words, happens in the course of
skilful conversation. Such conversation is, however, not always
skilful because the organisation is not just a collection of
individuals but also a network of power relations. Conversations as
generators of meaning are never held outside of power: systems
evaluations as conversations cannot take place outside of a regime
of truth. A post-dualist view of action as both constituted by and
constituting structure, however, suggests that there is always the
potential for genuinely hermeneutic and ethical conversation,
provided it is both improvisatory and deconstructive. Having
understood the requirement for improvisation and deconstruction, it
is possible to suggest some heuristics for information systems
evaluation based on these ideas.
Advisors/Committee Members: Prof L Introna (advisor).Subjects/Keywords: Interpretive
view; Dialectic
view; Regime of
truth; Power
relations; Organisational
learning;
Functionalist; Information
systems evaluation;
UCTD
Record Details
Similar Records
Cite
Share »
Record Details
Similar Records
Cite
« Share
❌
APA ·
Chicago ·
MLA ·
Vancouver ·
CSE |
Export
to Zotero / EndNote / Reference
Manager
APA (6th Edition):
Whittaker, L. (2003). Information
systems evaluation : a post-dualist interpretation. (Masters Thesis). University of Pretoria. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25520
Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):
Whittaker, Louise. “Information
systems evaluation : a post-dualist interpretation.” 2003. Masters Thesis, University of Pretoria. Accessed January 19, 2021.
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25520.
MLA Handbook (7th Edition):
Whittaker, Louise. “Information
systems evaluation : a post-dualist interpretation.” 2003. Web. 19 Jan 2021.
Vancouver:
Whittaker L. Information
systems evaluation : a post-dualist interpretation. [Internet] [Masters thesis]. University of Pretoria; 2003. [cited 2021 Jan 19].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25520.
Council of Science Editors:
Whittaker L. Information
systems evaluation : a post-dualist interpretation. [Masters Thesis]. University of Pretoria; 2003. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/25520
University of South Africa
3.
Potgieter, Raymond Michiel.
The sacred and the secular with special reference to Francis Schaeffer's thinking
.
Degree: 1994, University of South Africa
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10500/15806
Francis Schaeffer presented a Christian world and life-view encompassing the totality of
reality as an alternative to a fragmented view of reality. Refinements of dualism are
examined from within a theological context giving substance to his understanding of
modern world and life-view trends. Dualisms may be traced from the dawn of history of
religion. It was Thomas Aquinas who profoundly influenced Western thought into a
secular compartment through a synthesis of Christian dogma with Aristotelian
presuppositions. The reign of the sacred diminished and a predominantly secular
pathway may be traced through disciplines such as philosophy, arts, science and
theology. This dissertation suggests that a dualistic analysis of reality is limited in its
application. A model is suggested which traces all of reality to its ultimate source, God.
The Fall brought about a dialectic which is found within the totality of a Christian world
and life-view.
Advisors/Committee Members: Van Niekerk, Eugene, 1946- (advisor).Subjects/Keywords: Totality of reality;
Sacred and secular;
World and life-view;
Universals and particulars;
Models of reality;
Upper and lower storeys;
Compartmentalizing of reality;
Paradigm;
Despair;
Existentialism;
Philosophy;
Theology;
Dialectic;
Dualism
Record Details
Similar Records
Cite
Share »
Record Details
Similar Records
Cite
« Share
❌
APA ·
Chicago ·
MLA ·
Vancouver ·
CSE |
Export
to Zotero / EndNote / Reference
Manager
APA (6th Edition):
Potgieter, R. M. (1994). The sacred and the secular with special reference to Francis Schaeffer's thinking
. (Masters Thesis). University of South Africa. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10500/15806
Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):
Potgieter, Raymond Michiel. “The sacred and the secular with special reference to Francis Schaeffer's thinking
.” 1994. Masters Thesis, University of South Africa. Accessed January 19, 2021.
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/15806.
MLA Handbook (7th Edition):
Potgieter, Raymond Michiel. “The sacred and the secular with special reference to Francis Schaeffer's thinking
.” 1994. Web. 19 Jan 2021.
Vancouver:
Potgieter RM. The sacred and the secular with special reference to Francis Schaeffer's thinking
. [Internet] [Masters thesis]. University of South Africa; 1994. [cited 2021 Jan 19].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10500/15806.
Council of Science Editors:
Potgieter RM. The sacred and the secular with special reference to Francis Schaeffer's thinking
. [Masters Thesis]. University of South Africa; 1994. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10500/15806
Open Access Theses and Dissertations