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Contextualisation : towards a use theory of meaning-making

Thesis (PhD (Information Systems))--University of Pretoria, 2021.

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Other Authors: De Villiers, Carina
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 De Villiers, Carina
author_browse De Villiers, Carina
author_facet De Villiers, Carina
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (PhD (Information Systems))--University of Pretoria, 2021.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:42.927Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/84284 Contextualisation : towards a use theory of meaning-making De Villiers, Carina u84338441@tuks.co.za Liebenberg, Jacobus Holzapfel, Heinz Rudolf Metaphorical reference Literary Device Design Science Agile teams UCTD Thesis (PhD (Information Systems))--University of Pretoria, 2021. Context: It has for many years been the conviction in Information Systems that the precise use of language holds the key to understanding and meaning of the inherent complexities of human-human-machine interventions. Unfortunately, the tension between machine precision and humans' imprecise use of language has not yet been solved comprehensively. Humans use continuous dialogue and impromptu interpretations to infer meaning, whereas machines are only interested in binary semantics and foregone conclusions – known as the form-function phenomenon. Meaning is not reducible to binary semantics because it is innately dependent on [an] interpretation. Interpretation unequivocally implies a dynamic of more than binary possibilities. Vitally, this dynamic relies on context to infer meaning. Context acts as the primary causal agent of ‘use’ for making meaning from instances of the form-function problem. The central question is how context can be operationalised innovatively. The answer: A ‘use’, central to the theory: an everyday ‘use’ called contextualisation. Contextualisation operationalises two common linguistic-cognitive mechanisms, indexicals and literary devices. The result is a constructive explanatory theory: a Use Theory of Meaning-making (UTMM) Method: The Peffers et al. (2008) design science framework frees the theory-building process to integrate several methods to solve aspects of the problem. Methods such as the Constructive Grounded Theory ensure the theory develops according to the interpretive tenet of the human linguistic-cognitive process. The theory complies with the artefactual output required as a contribution to design science. Results: The UTMM was subjected to a small focus group study to confirm the theory. The population was a typical agile team of nine plus one. Four short self-assessed surveys tested the historical and current experience and interpretation of the form-function problem using industry examples. The results showed the theory holds within the boundaries of requirements specifications. The researcher’s arguments and interpretations proved to be plausibly acceptable. Contribution: The UTMM was shown to improve the form-function problem and improve the human-human-machine intervention deliberately. Finally, the UTMM is transferable beyond the theoretical boundaries of requirement specifications to interventions characterised by Page 11 of 301 the form-function phenomenon, uniquely extending other UTM with a highly affordable means of constructing and transferring meaning. Informatics PhD (Information Systems) Unrestricted 2022-03-01T13:02:37Z 2022-03-01T13:02:37Z 2022-04-26 2021 Thesis * A2022 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/84284 DOI: 10.25403/UPresearchdata.19345886 10.25403/UPresearchdata.19345886 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Metaphorical reference
Literary Device
Design Science
Agile teams
UCTD
Contextualisation : towards a use theory of meaning-making
title Contextualisation : towards a use theory of meaning-making
title_full Contextualisation : towards a use theory of meaning-making
title_fullStr Contextualisation : towards a use theory of meaning-making
title_full_unstemmed Contextualisation : towards a use theory of meaning-making
title_short Contextualisation : towards a use theory of meaning-making
title_sort contextualisation towards a use theory of meaning making
topic Metaphorical reference
Literary Device
Design Science
Agile teams
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/84284