Contextualisation : towards a use theory of meaning-making

Abstract

Context: It has for many years been the conviction in Information Systems that the precise use of language holds the key to understanding and meaning of the inherent complexities of human-human-machine interventions. Unfortunately, the tension between machine precision and humans' imprecise use of language has not yet been solved comprehensively. Humans use continuous dialogue and impromptu interpretations to infer meaning, whereas machines are only interested in binary semantics and foregone conclusions – known as the form-function phenomenon. Meaning is not reducible to binary semantics because it is innately dependent on [an] interpretation. Interpretation unequivocally implies a dynamic of more than binary possibilities. Vitally, this dynamic relies on context to infer meaning. Context acts as the primary causal agent of ‘use’ for making meaning from instances of the form-function problem. The central question is how context can be operationalised innovatively. The answer: A ‘use’, central to the theory: an everyday ‘use’ called contextualisation. Contextualisation operationalises two common linguistic-cognitive mechanisms, indexicals and literary devices. The result is a constructive explanatory theory: a Use Theory of Meaning-making (UTMM) Method: The Peffers et al. (2008) design science framework frees the theory-building process to integrate several methods to solve aspects of the problem. Methods such as the Constructive Grounded Theory ensure the theory develops according to the interpretive tenet of the human linguistic-cognitive process. The theory complies with the artefactual output required as a contribution to design science. Results: The UTMM was subjected to a small focus group study to confirm the theory. The population was a typical agile team of nine plus one. Four short self-assessed surveys tested the historical and current experience and interpretation of the form-function problem using industry examples. The results showed the theory holds within the boundaries of requirements specifications. The researcher’s arguments and interpretations proved to be plausibly acceptable. Contribution: The UTMM was shown to improve the form-function problem and improve the human-human-machine intervention deliberately. Finally, the UTMM is transferable beyond the theoretical boundaries of requirement specifications to interventions characterised by Page 11 of 301 the form-function phenomenon, uniquely extending other UTM with a highly affordable means of constructing and transferring meaning.