Information Systems are often seen as useful artifacts that are designed objectively and thus represent reality“as is.” This paper takes a different view, arguing that maximum utility cannot be reached unless systemstheory is fused with the insight supplied by a philosophical foundation. The paper articulates within the contextof the theory of ontology the classification of information systems into four unique information systems at thepoint of ‘invention and reinvention’ that must also be looked at as being embedded within other systems andsubsystems. The four information systems can interact with each other and/or other environmental or socialsubsystems. Having clarified and organized the information system domain into a framework, using asubsystem approach this paper seeks to provide the conceptual organization that will assist information systemresearchers and designers in their professional activities.
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