The sociomaterial lens within IS research holds that agency should not be considered as a property solely of humans, or of technology, but instead arises from an emergent interaction between the two. This, emergent, account of agency deepens our understanding of unfolding IS practice, but its largely cognitive orientation remains naïve towards affectively-sensed motivations that also form part of this interaction. By implication, a sociomaterial perspective lacking an affective dimension offers an incomplete conceptualisation of information systems. In response, an affectively-informed negative ontology encourages IS researchers to extend their focus beyond the visible, to encompass how actors’ receptiveness towards material objects (discourses, technologies) is shaped by deep, affectively-derived motivations of which they are not focally aware, but which nonetheless acquire agency in contributing to a sociomaterial outcome. A central argument, and illustrative empirical vignette, demonstrate how the concepts of sociomateriality, affect, and negative ontology combine to offer researchers an enhanced understanding of relational agency. A discussion follows, exploring some initial ontological, epistemological and methodological implications of an affectively-informed negative ontology for IS research.

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As environmental sustainability gains prominence, institutional investors are increasingly recognized for their influence on corporate environmental practices. This study investigates how institutional investors' ownership and investment horizon affect corporate waste management in France. The results reveal that long-term (short-term) institutional investors negatively (positively) affect waste generation. We also show that the effect of long-term institutional investors on waste generation has accentuated after the adoption of the French Law on the Energy Transition in 2015 , especially for firms with high environmental performance and strong corporate governance and those operating in environmentally sensitive industries. These results offer actionable insights for policymakers, investors, and managers seeking to promote sustainable waste management practices.
LAKHAL Faten - EMLV |
- Research
- Governance, Sustainable Development and CSR

