Reflections on information systems practice, education and research: 10 years of the Information Systems Journal

Abstract

This paper celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the Information Systems Journal (ISJ) and the Editors reflect on the papers that have been published over that period and the changes that have occurred in the discipline of information systems. In the opening paper of ISJ, we suggested that the 'launch of a new journal in information systems prompts thought and debate concerning the state of the subject area and some contemplation of its past and future'. We discussed three areas of this 'not-yet-established discipline': practice, education and research. In this follow-up paper, we forgo our convention of ISJ editors not publishing in the Journal. We examine the issues raised in the first paper and consider what has happened in the intervening years as charted in the ISJ. The overview is necessarily selective, probably Anglocentric (with, perhaps, a slight Francophile tinge), sometimes downright opinionated, as well as over-estimating, perhaps, the contribution of one particular IS journal.

Supporting decision making process with “ideal” software agents – What do business executives want?

“…Many IS researchers also stress that both technical and human factors should be considered in the IS design and development process (e.g. Avison et al, 2001;Mumford, 2006;Kling, 2007). In examining the relationship between user participation and Decision Support Systems (DSS) outcomes, Lynch & Gregor (2004) found out that much previous research focused on whether users were involved in development without the detailed consideration of the degree of their influence on system design features.…”

Citation Patterns in MIS: An Analysis of Exemplar Articles

“…This perspective may not serve well in the social sciences, where pluralistic models are more appropriate as the basis for understanding and analysis (Banville and Landry 1989). Given that MIS is a social science, multiple theories and approaches compete for attention and status (Avison et al 2001;Benbasat and Weber 1996;Davis 2000;Robey 1996;Weber 1987). Thus, researchers contend that diversity and rival interpretations are the rule in MIS (Benbasat and Zmud 2003;Ives et al 2004;Whinston and Geng 2004).…”

Seeking to Deploy Intelligent Transportation Systems:The Surrey County Council Study

“…It is fair to say that information systems development is heavily influenced by organizational strategies and objectives (Checkland & Holwell, 1998;Avison et al, 2001). This influence is no different in the case of Surrey County Council, a local government authority in the southeast of England.…”