Chaos Theory and Information Systems

The application of chaos theory has recently spread from the physical and biological sciences to organisational theory. This paper explores the relevance of chaos theory to information systems research. Chaos theory focuses on the behaviour of dynamic systems that are inherently unstable. They do not manifest fixed, predictable behaviour, rather their behaviour is non-linear and aperiodic.It is suggested that chaos theory has application in information systems where the effects of an information system within an organisation are often unpredictable and unintentional. Four themes are derived from a discussion of chaos theory: the importance of emergent behaviour, the influence of an essentially arational body of knowledge on decision-making and information systems development, the significance of choice and selection and the significance of chaos theory for the prediction of the effects of information systems. Chaos theory provides a means of extending our descriptions of information systems and sensitising practitioners to some of the problems in information systems