WHICEB 2025 ANCILLARY WORKSHOP
DEVELOPING ACTIVITY THEORY IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS (DATIS)
Guangzhou, China
June 6, 2025
IMPORTANT DATES AND TIMES
- Deadline for 500-word short paper/long abstract submission: Monday April 21, 2025
- Notification of acceptance: Authors to be notified within 10 days of submitting paper
- Date and time of the workshop: June 6, 2025, 9am – 5pm
SUBMISSION DETAILS
- Short papers/long abstracts can be emailed to Wei Zhang (wei.zhang@umb.edu) any time before the deadline.
- Please include the words “Guangzhou DATIS workshop” in the email subject line.
- Accepted short papers/long abstracts will be circulated prior to the workshop.
- Submission is not required for attendance and participation at the workshop.
DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the Developing Activity Theory in Information Studies (DATIS) workshop is to provide a forum for IS scholars both using activity theory and interested in learning about it.
In recent decades the use of activity theory has developed in the field of Information Systems (IS) (Allen et al., 2013; Dolata et al., 2023; Karanasios 2018; Malaurent and Karanasios 2020; Kelly, 2018; Li et al., 2019; Simeonova et al., 2024), as well as related fields such as Human Computer Interaction (Kaptelinin & Nardi, 2006; Kuutti, 1996; Nardi, 1996), information studies (Allen et al., 2011; Spasser, 1999; Wilson, 2008), organization studies (Engeström 2000; Jazrabkowski 2003; Blackler, 2011) and communications (Spinuzzi, 2012; 2014).
Building on these interests, the workshop aims to:
- Strengthen the community of researchers using activity theory in IS related fields and beyond.
- Provide opportunities for researchers to reflect, gain insights, and receive developmental feedback on work in progress.
- Provide support for scholars, particularly PhD students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) who are exploring activity theory.
Since its inception in 2016, the DATIS workshop has been hosted annually at various conferences, including the European Conference on Information Systems (2017-2024) and the Association for Information Science and Technology Annual Meeting in 2016. The workshop has previously featured keynote speeches from distinguished scholars such as Emeritus Professor Bob Galliers from Bentley University, Professor Julien Malaurent from ESSEC Business School, Professor Stan Karanasios from the University of Queensland, and Emeritus Professor Bonnie Nardi from the University of California, Irvine. This year marks the first time the event will take place in China!
The workshop provides a unique opportunity to bring together ECRs, senior researchers, and people working with activity theory who focus on – but not limited to – different IS domains, including Artificial Intelligence and IS, Global Development and IS, IS and Design, and IS and Education.
This year’s DATIS will feature keynote speeches from renowned activity theory researchers such as Dr Stan Karanasios, with a focus on advancing activity theory in IS research (Engeström 2024, Spinuzzi 2025).
We especially encourage discussions of insights and dilemmas that speak to the WHICEB 2025 theme of “Generative Artificial Intelligence and Management Transformation”, emphasizing technological, as well as ethical, organizational, social and cultural aspects of AI, all concerns central to activity theory.
ORGANIZING CHAIRS
Dr Stan Karanasios s.karanasios@uq.edu.au
Dr Karanasios is a Professor at University of Queensland. His research focuses on the interaction of technology and organizations and society and is heavily influenced by Activity Theory. His work has been published in MIS Quarterly, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, Information Systems Journal and other leading Information Systems outlets.
Dr Paul R Kelly p.kelly@essex.ac.uk
Dr Paul R Kelly is a Lecturer in the Organisation Studies and Human Resource Management Group at Essex Business School, University of Essex, UK. His work focuses on information systems, global development, and impact evaluation, using activity theory and perspectives on power relations. He has published in the Information Systems Journal, Organisation Studies, and the Journal of the Association for Information Systems.
Dr Wei Zhang wei.zhang@umb.edu
Dr Wei Zhang is a Professor of Information Systems at College of Management, UMass Boston. Currently, his research focuses on the innovative and strategic use of IS. His research has been published in Journal of the Association for Information Systems, Information Systems Journal, and other Information Systems outlets.
Dr Xiaohao Zhou zhouxh@gdut.edu.cn
Dr Xiaohao Zhou is an Assistant Professor at Guangdong University of Technology. His research focuses on digital innovation and transformation involving technologies such as low-code/no-code, AI, social media, and blockchain. His work has been published in Electronic Markets, International Journal of Production Research, and International Journal of Technology Management.
DOWNLOAD: WHICEB DATIS workshop