A new social science framework for studying the unprecedented social and economic restructuring driven by digital data. Digital data have become the critical frontier where emerging economic practices and organizational forms confront the traditional economic order and its institutions. In Data Rules , Cristina Alaimo and Jannis Kallinikos establish a social science framework for analyzing the unprecedented social and economic restructuring brought about by data. Working at the intersection of information systems and organizational studies, they draw extensively on intellectual currents in sociology, semiotics, cognitive science and technology, and social theory. Making the case for turning “data-making” into an area of inquiry of its own, the authors uncover how data are deeply implicated in rewiring the institutions of the market economy. The authors associate digital data with the decentering of organizations. As they point out, centered systems make sense only when firms (and formal organizations more broadly) can keep the external world at arm’s length and maintain a relative operation independence from it. These patterns no longer hold. Data transform the production of goods and services to an endless series of exchanges and interactions that defeat the functional logics of markets and organizations. The diffusion of platforms and ecosystems is indicative of these broader transformations. Rather than viewing data as simply a force of surveillance and control, the authors place the transformative potential of data at the center of an emerging socioeconomic order that restructures society and its institutions. “ Data Rules offers a nuanced, social, and historically informed perspective, which is crucial for understanding how the underlying data structures and practices shape AI systems and their applications.” —AI & Society “Given the increasing prevalence of data, this is an important call to action for any management scholars who are studying digital phenomena. We should all care more about data.” —R&D Management “Most of the literature views "digital data" or "big data" solely as a foundation for artificial intelligence and natural language processing, a predicate rather than a subject, a supporting actor rather than a central player in the evolutionary processes driving progress in social and cognitive science. In Data Rules , the authors explore a new analytical framework, combining insights from information science and studies of organizational structures and processes, placing data at the center of their narrative.” —Choice “[ Data Rules ] balances historical context, theoretical insight, and contemporary examples, making it a useful resource for interdisciplinary readers.” —Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy “Over the years much has been written about digital data in analytically loose ways. Against this backdrop, Data Rules is a standout—it not only provides a sharp definition of data but also a compelling analytical framework for studying them. All in all, Data Rules is a brave and compelling work.” — The Information Society “The book is a must for anyone who is truly interested in scholarly analyses of data as a pivotal contemporary organizational and societal phenomenon unleashed by the digital revolution.” —Kalle Lyytinen, Distinguished University Professor, Iris S. Wolstein Chair, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University "Unconventional and thought-provoking, this book presents a refreshing and distinct analysis of the data economy, shedding new light on the pivotal, organizing role of data in shaping every facet of value addition within the digital economy, extending its influence to entire business ecosystems. A compelling read for students, researchers, business organizations, and policymakers alike, this book transcends the superficial understanding of the power of data." —Carmelo Cennamo, Professor, Copenhagen Business School Cristina Alaimo is Assistant Professor (Research) of Digital Economy and Society at LUISS University, Rome. Jannis Kallinikos is Full Professor of Organization Studies and the CISCO Chair in Digital Transformation and Data Driven Innovation at LUISS University, Rome.