---
_id: '65311'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Information Systems (IS) is rooted in systems theory. Systems theory offers
    powerful concepts to address challenges of growing system complexity and non-systemic
    design approaches in information systems. Despite its systemic origins, systems
    theory remains a peripheral topic in IS. The study addresses this gap by introducing
    a comprehensive framework of 52 systems-theoretical concepts to guide the design
    of complex IS artifacts. We synthesize scattered systems knowledge from diverse
    disciplines to provide a unified level of abstraction for complex information
    system design. We apply the framework to a use case of business reputation systems
    to show how the systems lens informs the design of a novel, complex information
    system. We make three key contributions to the literature. First, the framework
    provides a common ground for interdisciplinary research in information system
    design. Second, it offers a unified level of abstraction grounded in systems theory
    that serves as a coherent basis for artifact design. Third, it demonstrates the
    potential of systems theory as a foundational justificatory knowledge base. Furthermore,
    we provide guidance on applying the framework across multiple modes of reasoning,
    alongside further application guidelines. The study thus serves as a bridge between
    the body of systems knowledge and contextual design in IS.
alternative_title:
- Design Your System
article_type: review
author:
- first_name: Ulvi
  full_name: Ibrahimli, Ulvi
  last_name: Ibrahimli
- first_name: Simon
  full_name: Hemmrich, Simon
  last_name: Hemmrich
- first_name: Axel
  full_name: Winkelmann, Axel
  last_name: Winkelmann
citation:
  ama: 'Ibrahimli U, Hemmrich S, Winkelmann A. Bridging Systems Theory and Information
    Systems: A Framework for Designing Complex Information Systems. <i>Communication
    of the Association for Information Systems</i>. Published online 2026. doi:<a
    href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/">https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/</a>'
  apa: 'Ibrahimli, U., Hemmrich, S., &#38; Winkelmann, A. (2026). Bridging Systems
    Theory and Information Systems: A Framework for Designing Complex Information
    Systems. <i>Communication of the Association for Information Systems</i>. <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/">https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/</a>'
  bibtex: '@article{Ibrahimli_Hemmrich_Winkelmann_2026, title={Bridging Systems Theory
    and Information Systems: A Framework for Designing Complex Information Systems},
    DOI={<a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/">https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/</a>},
    journal={Communication of the Association for Information Systems}, publisher={AIS},
    author={Ibrahimli, Ulvi and Hemmrich, Simon and Winkelmann, Axel}, year={2026}
    }'
  chicago: 'Ibrahimli, Ulvi, Simon Hemmrich, and Axel Winkelmann. “Bridging Systems
    Theory and Information Systems: A Framework for Designing Complex Information
    Systems.” <i>Communication of the Association for Information Systems</i>, 2026.
    <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/">https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/</a>.'
  ieee: 'U. Ibrahimli, S. Hemmrich, and A. Winkelmann, “Bridging Systems Theory and
    Information Systems: A Framework for Designing Complex Information Systems,” <i>Communication
    of the Association for Information Systems</i>, 2026, doi: <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/">https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/</a>.'
  mla: 'Ibrahimli, Ulvi, et al. “Bridging Systems Theory and Information Systems:
    A Framework for Designing Complex Information Systems.” <i>Communication of the
    Association for Information Systems</i>, AIS, 2026, doi:<a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/">https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/</a>.'
  short: U. Ibrahimli, S. Hemmrich, A. Winkelmann, Communication of the Association
    for Information Systems (2026).
date_created: 2026-04-02T04:19:09Z
date_updated: 2026-04-02T04:32:05Z
department:
- _id: '195'
doi: https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/
extern: '1'
external_id:
  unknown:
  - https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol58/iss1/37/
jel:
- D83
- L14
- D83
- O33
- C63
- P
keyword:
- Information Systems Research
- Systems Theory
- System Complexity
- System Design
- Design Science
language:
- iso: eng
publication: Communication of the Association for Information Systems
publication_identifier:
  unknown:
  - 1529-3181
publication_status: published
publisher: AIS
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: 'Bridging Systems Theory and Information Systems: A Framework for Designing
  Complex Information Systems'
type: journal_article
user_id: '83557'
year: '2026'
...
---
_id: '65309'
author:
- first_name: Simon
  full_name: Hemmrich, Simon
  id: '83557'
  last_name: Hemmrich
citation:
  ama: 'Hemmrich S. <i>A Design Theory for Blockchain-Based Reputation Systems : Trust
    and Coordination in B2B Markets</i>. Universität Paderborn; 2025. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414">https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414</a>'
  apa: 'Hemmrich, S. (2025). <i>A Design Theory for Blockchain-Based Reputation Systems :
    Trust and Coordination in B2B Markets</i>. Universität Paderborn. <a href="https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414">https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414</a>'
  bibtex: '@book{Hemmrich_2025, place={Paderborn}, title={A Design Theory for Blockchain-Based
    Reputation Systems : Trust and Coordination in B2B Markets}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414">https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414</a>},
    publisher={Universität Paderborn}, author={Hemmrich, Simon}, year={2025} }'
  chicago: 'Hemmrich, Simon. <i>A Design Theory for Blockchain-Based Reputation Systems :
    Trust and Coordination in B2B Markets</i>. Paderborn: Universität Paderborn, 2025.
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414">https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414</a>.'
  ieee: 'S. Hemmrich, <i>A Design Theory for Blockchain-Based Reputation Systems :
    Trust and Coordination in B2B Markets</i>. Paderborn: Universität Paderborn, 2025.'
  mla: 'Hemmrich, Simon. <i>A Design Theory for Blockchain-Based Reputation Systems :
    Trust and Coordination in B2B Markets</i>. Universität Paderborn, 2025, doi:<a
    href="https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414">https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414</a>.'
  short: 'S. Hemmrich, A Design Theory for Blockchain-Based Reputation Systems : Trust
    and Coordination in B2B Markets, Universität Paderborn, Paderborn, 2025.'
date_created: 2026-04-02T03:52:09Z
date_updated: 2026-04-02T04:31:57Z
department:
- _id: '195'
doi: https://doi.org/10.17619/UNIPB/1-2414
jel:
- D8
keyword:
- Reputation Systems
- Rating systems
- monetary ratings
- incentive mechanism
- systems theory
- Market coordination
- advanced review system
language:
- iso: eng
page: '347'
place: Paderborn
publication_status: published
publisher: Universität Paderborn
status: public
supervisor:
- first_name: Daniel
  full_name: Beverungen, Daniel
  last_name: Beverungen
- first_name: Dennis
  full_name: Kundisch, Dennis
  last_name: Kundisch
title: 'A Design Theory for Blockchain-Based Reputation Systems : Trust and Coordination
  in B2B Markets'
type: dissertation
user_id: '83557'
year: '2025'
...
---
_id: '51368'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Dealing with opaque algorithms, the frequent overlap between transparency
    and explainability produces seemingly unsolvable dilemmas, as the much-discussed
    trade-off between model performance and model transparency. Referring to Niklas
    Luhmann's notion of communication, the paper argues that explainability does not
    necessarily require transparency and proposes an alternative approach. Explanations
    as communicative processes do not imply any disclosure of thoughts or neural processes,
    but only reformulations that provide the partners with additional elements and
    enable them to understand (from their perspective) what has been done and why.
    Recent computational approaches aiming at post-hoc explainability reproduce what
    happens in communication, producing explanations of the working of algorithms
    that can be different from the processes of the algorithms.
author:
- first_name: 'Elena '
  full_name: 'Esposito, Elena '
  last_name: Esposito
citation:
  ama: Esposito E. Does Explainability Require Transparency? <i>Sociologica</i>. 2023;16(3):17-27.
    doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804">10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804</a>
  apa: Esposito, E. (2023). Does Explainability Require Transparency? <i>Sociologica</i>,
    <i>16</i>(3), 17–27. <a href="https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804">https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804</a>
  bibtex: '@article{Esposito_2023, title={Does Explainability Require Transparency?},
    volume={16}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804">10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804</a>},
    number={3}, journal={Sociologica}, author={Esposito, Elena }, year={2023}, pages={17–27}
    }'
  chicago: 'Esposito, Elena . “Does Explainability Require Transparency?” <i>Sociologica</i>
    16, no. 3 (2023): 17–27. <a href="https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804">https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804</a>.'
  ieee: 'E. Esposito, “Does Explainability Require Transparency?,” <i>Sociologica</i>,
    vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 17–27, 2023, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804">10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804</a>.'
  mla: Esposito, Elena. “Does Explainability Require Transparency?” <i>Sociologica</i>,
    vol. 16, no. 3, 2023, pp. 17–27, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804">10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804</a>.
  short: E. Esposito, Sociologica 16 (2023) 17–27.
date_created: 2024-02-18T10:16:43Z
date_updated: 2024-02-26T08:46:26Z
department:
- _id: '660'
doi: 10.6092/ISSN.1971-8853/15804
intvolume: '        16'
issue: '3'
keyword:
- Explainable AI
- Transparency
- Explanation
- Communication
- Sociological systems theory
language:
- iso: eng
page: 17-27
project:
- _id: '121'
  grant_number: '438445824'
  name: 'TRR 318 - B01: TRR 318 - Ein dialogbasierter Ansatz zur Erklärung von Modellen
    des maschinellen Lernens (Teilprojekt B01)'
publication: Sociologica
status: public
title: Does Explainability Require Transparency?
type: journal_article
user_id: '54779'
volume: 16
year: '2023'
...