The Value of a Rose: Rising above Objectivism and Subjectivism

Ard Huizing Universiteit van Amsteram, The Netherlands

Abstract
After my conclusion in the previous PrimaVera working paper that objectivism does not provide a firm theoretical foundation for information management, the question probed in this chapter is whether or not subjectivism can offer a convincing alternative basis. Ultimately, the answer is negative because subjectivists rarely specifically pay attention to what is the bottom line for private and, increasingly, public organizations: the realization of economic value. Hence, there is no other way than to combine objectivism and subjectivism into a comprehensive, integrative approach to information management. However, as illustrated in this paper, the differences between both philosophical strands of thought are fundamental. In recent years, advocates of subjectivism and practice-based social theory as one of its main applications have taken a giant leap forward in transcending the split between the object and the subject by suggesting that we should focus our attention on social practices and object-centered sociality. Following their suggestion, I demonstrate what subjectivist, practice-based information management could be, which includes a new definition for our discipline. However, due to the neglect of economics in subjectivism, the divide between objectivism and subjectivism still exists. At the end of the paper, therefore, I present the concept of 'figure' and 'ground' from Gestalt psychology as a metaphorical aid for all of us to rise above this unproductive divide.

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Reference:	Huizing, A. (2007). "The Value of a Rose: Rising above Objectivism and Subjectivism," University of Amsterdam, Netherlands . Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 7(11). http://sprouts.aisnet.org/7-11
Keywords:	Objectivism, Subjectivism
Item Type:	Article - Volume 7 Article 11 (2007)
Language:	English
Email:	Ard Huizing (a.huizing@uva.nl)
Related Link(s):	http://primavera.feb.uva.nl/scripts/abstract.php?id=403

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