Ideologies of information systems and technology

Abstract

In this paper some views and ideologies of information systems and technology will be explored. Some of these views and ideologies are clearly understood and have a high level of support. There are however more subtle ideolo­gies that are implicitly supported and practised that need to be scrutinized. lnformation systems and technology are often naively seen as objective, neutral tools in aid of humanity, when in fact they are in many cases instruments of domination that reduce human beings to a faceless class of standardized "users". The paper is intended to be contro­versial. It wants to address some of the long held believes; to stimulate information technology specialists into a more sensitive way of thinking. In the first part of the paper the concept of information systems and information technol­ogy will be discussed. In the second part of the paper some of the prevailing ideologies will be outlined and discussed.