Seven Important Theories in Information Management and Information System Empirical Research: A Systematic Review and Future Directions

Abstract

The fragmentation of fundamental theory has increasingly affected the development of information management (IM) and information system (IS) empirical research, while limited attempts have been made to systematically review the theories which are fundamental to the extant IM and IS literature. Therefore, based on the analysis of the empirical studies in the IM and IS field in the past 20 years, we identify seven relatively important but less summarized theories in the IM and IS field: transactive memory system (TMS), impression management, flow, structural holes, resource dependence theory (RDT), social presence theory (SPT), and the illusion of control (IC). Hence, we try to offer a systematic review of these theories by synthesizing the extant findings while identifying the possible directions for future studies. Our review made several significant contributions to both proposing theoretical and methodological trends in the respective theories.