From Fief to Clan: Boisot’s Information Space Model as a Documentary Theory for Cultural and Institutional Analysis

Authors

Lin Wang, School of Information, University of California, BerkeleyFollow
Michael Buckland, School of Information, University of California, BerkeleyFollow

Abstract

Max Boisot (1943-2011) and his Information Space (I-Space) model are introduced. The I-Space model characterized information flow on three dimensions (codification, abstraction, and diffusion). It can be seen as a document-based model. Boisot and colleagues identifies four types of institutional information practices (bureaucracies, markets, fiefs, and clans). Chinese economic reform in the 1980s is used as a case-study to demonstrate how document configuration and infrastructure is associated with cultural and institutional change. This echoes Suzanne Briet's assertion that documentation is a cultural technique.

Recommended Citation

Wang, Lin and Buckland, Michael (2016) "From Fief to Clan: Boisot’s Information Space Model as a Documentary Theory for Cultural and Institutional Analysis," Proceedings from the Document Academy: Vol. 3 : Iss. 2 , Article 10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35492/docam/3/2/10
Available at: https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/docam/vol3/iss2/10

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.35492/docam/3/2/10