Public defense in Information Systems with Erica Hellmer

Date: 2 June 2026, at 13:15

Rooms: C306 Campus Sundsvall and Zoom 

Dissertation title: Information Re(Use): Navigating Changing Needs for Information

Respondent: Erica Hellmer

Main supervisor: Professor Erik Borglund, Mid Sweden University

Chairman: Associate Professor Leif Sundberg, Mid Sweden University

Opponent: Associate Professor Olle Sköld, Uppsala University

Examining committee: 

Professor Samuel Pekkola, University of Juväskylä

Senior Professor Anita Mirjamsdotter, Växjö University

Professor Ingela Bäckström, Mid Sweden University.

Participate via Zoom 

Meeting ID: 613 5443 8392

Passcode: 117682

Abstract 

Understanding the concept of use within Information Systems (IS)has remained challenging, marked by the challenge of comprehending and anticipating its complexities. In this digital era, where contemporary organizations generate vast amounts of information, it could constitute valuable organizational assets overtime. However, for information to constitute organizational value requires that it can be accessed, used, and reused in relation to changing information needs. With a focus on information within systems in contemporary organizational settings, this thesis aims to enhance the understanding of information use.

Previous research on use within the IS research field has primarily concerned the technical artifact, the system itself, with less focus on the use and reuse of the information that systems contain. By examining the multidimensional nature of information use and its interplay with system use, this thesis seeks to contribute to an information-oriented perspective on the IS research field. Drawing from both IS and archival research, the thesis elucidates how information use and reuse can be understood in relation to organizational practices and changing information needs.

Data has been gathered from three studies, using qualitative and quantitative methods, resulting in five papers presented in this thesis. The main findings suggest that information use is shaped by dynamic and situated information needs that are influenced by societal, organizational, and individual factors. The findings further suggest that information systems are primarily designed to support initial or intended uses, while over time, users develop information needs that extend beyond these purposes. By identifying changing information needs can support reuse over time by shifting the focus from an immediate use perspective to the underlying purposes that motivate use. This highlights information reuse as a key factor in achieving long-term organizational value. It also demonstrates the value of understanding daily practices and viewing information in terms of its potential and secondary uses.

Link to the doctoral thesis in Diva