Competing Dichotomies in IS Research and Possible Strategies for Resolution

The debate between “hard” positivist and “soft” interpretivist research approaches has been the subject of much discussion in the IS field. Typically, the debate is framed in issues central to the philosophy of science, an area where relatively few IS researchers are truly competent. This paper attempts to illuminate the issue, particularly for students and researchers not entirely familiar with the arguments. The opposing positions are caricatured in two anecdotes which illustrate the futility of research conducted at the cul de sac extremes of each approach. The main dichotomies characteristic of each research tradition are then summarized and categorized according to various levels, namely, paradigmatic, ontological, epistemologi- cal, methodological, and axiological. Finally, the paper considers a number of strategies for resolving the debate

Developing Ontological Theories for Conceptual Models using Qualitative Research

Conceptual modelling is believed to be at the core of the IS discipline. There have been attempts to develop theoretical foundations for conceptual models, in particular ontological models as axiomatic reference systems. Although the notion of ontology has become popular in modelling theories, criticism has risen as to its philosophical presuppositions. Taking on this criticism, we discuss the task of developing socially constructed ontologies for modelling domains and outline how to enhance the expressiveness of ontological modelling theories by developing them via qualitative research methods such as Grounded Theory

Past, present and future of information and knowledge sharing in the construction industry: Towards semantic service-based e-construction

The paper reviews product data technology initiatives in the construction sector and provides a synthesis of related ICT industry needs. A comparison between (a) the data centric characteristics of Product Data Technology (PDT) and (b) ontology with a focus on semantics, is given, highlighting the pros and cons of each approach. The paper advocates the migration from data-centric application integration to ontology-based business process support, and proposes inter-enterprise collaboration architectures and frameworks based on semantic services, underpinned by ontology-based knowledge structures. The paper discusses the main reasons behind the low industry take up of product data technology, and proposes a preliminary roadmap for the wide industry diffusion of the proposed approach. In this respect, the paper stresses the value of adopting alliance-based modes of operation

ANALYSING AND EXPLORING DRIFTS IN INNOVATION STREAMS WITHIN OPEN SOURCE (5)

This work explores empirically the Apache Hadoop in the context of outbound open innovation (OI) in small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) through the lens of innovation streams. The Apache Hadoop is a free and open source (F/OSS) library of codes for distributed computer processing, and it is the industry standard for big data analysis. We are living in the big data age and this research focus on big data analysis digital service platforms. Organisations have radically changed the way they store, manipulate, and create value from information. These data were seen, not very long time ago, as worthless. Businesses are obtaining data from different sources and in diverse formats, and advancing new products and services. Organisations need to explore and exploit niche F/OSS products and services based on outbound OI. Some private sector SMEs are short of tools and require more awareness of the potential benefits of outbound OI for product and service development and the lens of innovation streams offers a multitude of opportunities for analysis. New concepts of value production were brought to light by the notion of OI, including F/OSS. Some private sector businesses lack desorptive capacity, and the proposed conceptual model advances an alternative to the status quo. There is a substantial sum of works on F/OSS, OI and service digital platforms. References to these subjects through the lens of innovation streams in the particular context of the outbound OI in SMEs within the Apache Hadoop appear to be very limited, and there are very few examples of similar studies in this area. Outbound OI is still a major challenge for most firms, some authorities have highlighted the lack of research in the field and expressed the need for complementary studies. Innovation streams are a set of innovations that build upon the current products and services of an organisation, extend that organisation’s technical direction, and/or help it diversify into different markets. Outbound OI in F/OSS SMEs’ technology spin-offs relates to the innovation streams paradigm in terms of discontinuous innovation. While Michael Tushman and his colleagues have formulated innovation streams in detail, the relation of this framework to the F/OSS outbound OI debate within the Apache Hadoop in SMEs is taken for granted. Many questions regarding this relationship still remain, and this work addresses some of these unanswered issues. This doctoral research endorses the view of an evident limitation in the outbound OI literature, replies to aforementioned calls for more research, and adds to prior analyses by advancing new tools for the comprehension of the role of outbound OI in SMEs. It adds to the emergent body of empirical work on the Apache Hadoop and the current frame of literature on service digital platforms. Its potential findings have implications for both academia and organisations offering big data products and services. Drawing on the qualitative interpretive case study tradition, this research explores theoretical ideas and relates them to the real-world context of Apache Hadoop. This interpretive case study offers suggestions to the following overall research questions: (1) How do innovation streams within the Apache Hadoop evolve from explorative to exploitative and, finally, branch out into new markets? (2) How can we promote and sustain innovation streams within the Apache Hadoop in SMEs, in the context of outbound OI? (3) Can a conceptual model be built? (4) Are these methods adaptable

Structuration Theory in Information Systems Research: Relevance and Rigour from a Pluralist Research Approach

This paper reflects on the theoretical aspects of an earlier ontological study. The study was a single case which explored the use of an agricultural decision support system by women cotton growers in the Australian cotton industry and the effect of its use on their farm management roles on family cotton farms. The study was informed through a multi-paradigmatic conceptual framework with structuration theory as a meta-theory, and diffusion theory and gender relations theory as lower level theories. This pluralistic research approach employed both theory and data triangulation. In this paper, the justification for a multi-paradigmatic framework is discussed as well as the relevance and rigour of the study

Criticality, epistemology and behaviour vs. Design –information systems research across different sets of paradigms

Due to its dynamic and rapid development and due to a variety of academic disciplines and research communities contributing to information systems (IS) research, a broad variety of research approaches can be found. These approaches are often discussed as contrasting “paradigms”. Positivism and interpretivism are frequently accepted to be the most relevant paradigms (cf., for instance, Klein & Myers 1999; Lee 1991; Walsham 1995; Weber 2004). A further set of paradigms consists of behavioural science research (‘problem understanding paradigm’) and design science research (‘problem understanding paradigm’) which has been introduced in the IS literature and heavily adopted since (cf., for instance, Hevner et al. 2004; Jani 2001; March & Smith 1995). On top of this distinction, the critical research paradigm, including its logical complement, the non-critical paradigm, shaped the discussion of IS research philosophy for more than two decades (cf., for instance, Brooke 2002; Klein & Huynh 2004; Landry & Banville 1992; Mumford et al. 1985). Though it is essential to research theory and practice in the IS discipline to discuss the interconnections between these different sets of paradigms, such endeavour has not yet been undertaken. Some approaches address the interdependency between interpretivism and critical research. However, a holistic framework, also taking into account also behavioural and design science is still missing. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide an integrated discussion of these different sets of paradigms and to provide novel perspectives for IS research on how to deal with the apparent diversity of approaches. We will furthermore point out why this discussion is of great importance to IS research especially in Europe

On the Adoption of Philosophical Presuppositions and their Implications for Theorising “Quality of Conceptual Models”

It has been claimed frequently that the importance of conceptual models for information systems development poses high demands on the quality of conceptual models. However, the notions “model” and “quality of conceptual models” remain vague. In this paper we illustrate how philosophical presuppositions affect the conceptualisation of “model” and “quality of conceptual models” respectively. Consequentially we argue that the analysis and critique of philosophical presuppositions should precede any theorising of the notions “model” and “quality of conceptual models”

Mobile technology adoption by doctors in public healthcare in the Western Cape, South Africa

Doctors working in public healthcare in South Africa are faced with the unique resource constraints prevalent in a developing country. In this context, doctors can use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to obtain better information and decision support. However, the potential of ICTs to improve the healthcare sector will only be realised if individuals decide to adopt the new technologies. Therefore, an understanding of the factors that influence doctors’ use of a technology needs to be developed and the research efforts to identify these factors have been lacking in the South African public healthcare sector. This paper explores significant factors influencing the adoption of mobile devices by doctors in the public healthcare sector in the Western Cape, South Africa. The research methodology was shaped by qualitative enquiry and described through thematic analysis. Key adoption factors identified include those confirmed by prior research of: job relevance, usefulness, perceived user resources and device characteristics. Adoption factors that emerged during this research are support structures from national government and hospital administration, patient influence and unease in respect of malpractice legal suits

The advantages of information management through building information modelling

As building information modelling (BIM) is positioned by governments and construction professionals as a solution to the problems in the construction industry, research is needed into the benefits BIM actually confers. The focus here is on the effectiveness of BIM as a medium for communicating information within a construction team. A case study of an offsite precast concrete fabrication facility was conducted. At the time of the study, the facility was supplying precast units for four public sector projects, and using four information management systems: e-mail, a construction project extranet tool, an Enterprise Resource Planning system and a new BIM-based system. The flow of information through the four media was measured and visualized as the projects progressed. This quantitative measurement of information flow was combined with qualitative data from interviews with facility staff. It was found that the introduction of the BIM-based system diverted information flow through the building model and away from the extranet system. The use of e-mail was largely unaffected. BIM allowed considerably more accurate, on-time and appropriate exchange of information. It is concluded it is possible to quantify some of the benefits of BIM to information management. This research paves the way for future research into the management of more construction project information linked more closely to building models