Understanding Ethics and Agency in Data-Driven Decision-Making: A literature review

As information systems (IS), including data-driven solutions, become increasingly prevalent across sectors, the need for ethical data-driven decision-making (DDDM) is gaining recognition. This scoping literature review explores how agency and ethics are addressed in scientific discussions on DDDM. It examines the ethical terminology used, its definitions, and the forms of agency identified in 79 peer-reviewed articles from disciplines such as computer science, education, and engineering. Agency is central to ethical judgment, decision-making, and action. The review reveals a wide range of ethics-related concepts, many of which are loosely defined, incoherent, and problem-oriented. Drawing on a sociomaterial perspective, the study identifies three forms of agency relevant to DDDM: human, technological, and distributed. These forms reflect the complex interplay between individuals, technologies, and institutional contexts. The review concludes that ethics and agency must be considered together to clarify responsibility at different levels of decision-making. Although ethical concerns are increasingly discussed, the debate remains fragmented. In the broader context of IS and the rapid development of generative AI, cross-disciplinary research is essential to address ethical challenges comprehensively. This study contributes both practical insights and theoretical understanding to the evolving discourse on ethical DDDM.