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Welcome to the Theories Used in IS Research Wiki
This site provides researchers with summarized information on theories widely used in information systems (IS) research. Click on a linked theory name below to find details about the theory, some examples of IS papers using the theory, and links to related sites. Please feel free to summarize a theory, add to the information already present, correct errors, or suggest additional theories for the list. Theories yet to be summarized and theory submission guidelines can be found below.
This site is built on user contributions. Please share your knowledge and contribute!
This site is maintained as an ongoing project of the Human Behavior Project at the University of Colorado.
- Suggested Citation for the Wiki
- Larsen, K. R., Saini, V., Singh, N.B., Mueller, R. M. (Eds.) (2025). Theories Used in IS Research Wiki. Retrieved [today's date] from http://IS.TheorizeIt.org.
Highlights
- IS Theories Wiki is now part of the TheorizeIt.org portal.
Theories
- Absorptive capacity theory
- Activity Theory
- Actor network theory
- Accountability theory
- Adaptive structuration theory
- Theory of Administrative behavior
- Adaptive enterprise architecture theory
- Affective Events Theory
- Affordance-actualization Theory
- Agency theory
- Algorithmic Control Theory
- Appraisal Theory
- Argumentation theory
- Attachment-Theory
- Behavioral decision theory
- Belief Action Outcome Framework
- Big Five Model of Personality
- Boundary object theory
- Boundary Resource Theory
- Chaos theory
- Cognitive dissonance theory
- Cognitive fit theory
- Cognitive load theory
- Commitment-Trust Theory
- Community Of Practice Theory
- Competitive strategy (Porter)
- Complexity theory
- Compliance regulatory theory
- Conservation of resources theory
- Construal Level Theory (CLT)
- Contingency theory
- Critical Mass Theory of Interactive Media
- Critical realism theory
- Critical social theory
- Critical success factors, theory of
- Customer based Discrepancy Theory
- Customer Focus Theory
- CYNEFIN framework
- Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour
- Deferred action, theory of
- Delone and McLean IS success model
- Design Theory
- Diffusion of innovations theory
- Digital Colonialism Theory
- Distributed Cognition Theory
- Dynamic capabilities
- Elaboration likelihood model
- Embodied social presence theory
- Equity theory
- Evolutionary theory
- Expectation confirmation theory
- Feminism theory
- Fit-Viability theory
- Flow theory
- Game theory
- Garbage can theory
- General systems theory
- General deterrence theory
- General Strain theory
- Goal Contagion Theory
- Goal-Setting Theory
- Governance, Risk and Compliance
- Hedonic-motivation system adoption model (HMSAM)
- Hermeneutics
- Heuristic–Systematic Model
- Illusion of control
- Impression management, theory of
- Information processing theory
- Information warfare
- Institutional theory
- International information systems theory
- Internationalization Theory
- Innovation Resistance Theory
- IS Continuance Theory
- Keller's Motivational Model
- Kohlberg's theory of Moral Development
- Knowledge-based theory of the firm
- Knowledge Security Theory
- Language action perspective
- Information asymmetry theory (lemon market)
- Management fashion theory
- Media richness theory
- Media synchronicity theory
- Modal aspects, theory of
- Multi-attribute utility theory
- Multi-motive information systems continuance model (MISC)
- Norm Activation Theory
- Organizational Ambidexterity Theory
- Organizational culture theory
- Organizational Compassion Theory
- Organizational information processing theory
- Organizational knowledge creation
- Organizational learning theory
- Platform Ecosystem Theory
- Paradox Theory
- Portfolio theory
- Privacy Calculus Theory
- Process virtualization theory
- People-Process-Data-Technology Framework
- Prospect theory
- Protection motivation theory
- Psychological ownership framework
- Punctuated equilibrium theory
- Rational Choice Theory
- Real options theory
- Representation Theory
- Resource-based view of the firm
- Resource dependency theory
- Resource Orchestration Theory
- Role Theory
- Selective organizational information privacy and security violations model (SOIPSVM)
- Self determination theory
- Self-efficacy theory
- Self Presentation Theory
- Semantic theory of survey response
- SERVQUAL
- Signaling theory
- Social Bond Theory
- Social capital theory
- Social cognitive theory
- Social Comparison Theory
- Social Contagion Theory
- Socioemotional Selectivity Theory
- Social exchange theory
- Social Identity Theory
- Social Influence Theory (of Kelman)
- Social Information Processing Theory (of Walther)
- Social learning theory
- Social media engagement theory
- Social network theory
- Social Penetration Theory
- Social Presence Theory
- Social shaping of technology
- Sociomaterialism Theory
- Socio-technical theory
- Soft systems theory
- Speech and Act Theory
- Stakeholder theory
- Structuration theory
- Structured process modeling theory (SPMT)
- Success Management Theory
- Task closure theory
- Task-technology fit
- Team resilience theory
- Technological frames of reference
- Technology acceptance model
- Technology affordances and constraints theory
- Technology dominance, theory of
- Technology-organization-environment framework
- Technology Threat Avoidance Theory
- Theory of collective action
- Theory of Hypercompetition
- Theory of Interactive Media Effects (TIME)
- Theory of Interpersonal Behavior
- Theory of organizational creativity
- Theory of Organizational Sensemaking
- Theory of planned behavior
- Theory of reasoned action
- Theory of Self-Compassion
- Theory of slack resources
- Theory of swift trust
- Theory of Network Externalities
- Transaction cost economics
- Transactive memory theory
- Uncanny Valley Theory
- Uncertainty Reduction Theory
- Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology
- Upper Echelons Theory
- Usage control model
- Value Theory
- Work systems theory
- Yield shift theory of satisfaction