Physical interaction with technology: kinesiology as a reference discipline for information systems research

In an era of constantly evolving technology, we are using more and more of our bodies to interact with our technological devices. While prior interfaces required small movement of wrists and fingers to work the keyboard and mouse, we now, for example, use multiple fingers on a tactile interface while holding the device with the other hand and walking down the street. All of this additional movement of our bodies changes the dynamics of how we interact with information systems, and consequently impacts our perceptions, motivations, and decisions in everyday tasks. In this paper we present a new reference discipline, kinesiology, that can inform the study of our physical interactions with technology. We also propose two new variables, direct and indirect physicality, that can be used to better understand how this physicality can affect the user\u27s perceptions and behaviors

About Reference Disciplines and Reference Differences: A Critique of Wade et al.

Two articles published in this issue (Wade et al. and ours) through similar analyses reach contrasting conclusions on whether Information Systems, as a field, is evolving toward a reference discipline. In this article, we provide a critique of Wade et al. We first assess our different interpretations of reference discipline, and then discuss the consequences of including highly related disciplines in citation analysis. Finally, we illustrate the sensitivity of Wade et al.\u27s results to the inclusion and exclusion of certain journals. We also consider potential interpretations of second degree citations. It is hoped that the arguments presented here reconcile the differences as we collectively advance thinking on the state of IS as a reference discipline

Toward an IT Agenda

The state of the information technology discipline is explored. A point of departure is a depiction of the IT field in a computing space along with computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, and information systems. This examination motivated a proposed distinctive anchoring theme for the IT discipline as deployment and configuration. Recommendations are made for advancing the research component of an IT agenda by seizing on jurisdictional vacancies, abstracting from professional practice, and drawing upon theoretical results from the systems sciences, serving as a reference discipline for IT. Five IT research thrust areas are proposed: IT artifacts, enterprise architectural infrastructure, interaction models, system performance, and domain induction. Appendices provide context by discussing viewpoints on the IS-IT relationship, perspectives on the role of artifacts in IS-IT research, and observations on the perceived standing of IT as a discipline or sub-discipline

A new point of view in the IS reference discipline discussion

Information Systems scholars continuously debate about the nature of the IS discipline. Recently a series of articles have discussed whether the IS field has reached the status of a reference discipline. We address this issue by examining the application of the theory of sensemaking in IS research. Our findings show that the prospects for IS as a reference discipline are not promising. Based on these findings we suggest that IS scholars hallucinate when they a) assume that to become a 'real' academic discipline, IS has to become a reference discipline, and b) believe that IS will become a reference discipline in time. Hence, we describe the IS reference discipline discussion as a misconception, which should be abandoned in the pursuit of a stronger IS discipline. Academic legitimacy, information systems research, reference disciplines, theory application, theory of sensemakin

The IS Core - VII: Towards Information Systems as a Science of Meta-Artifacts

The paper argues that we should emphasize more the nature of Information Systems as an applied, engineering-like discipline that develops various meta-artifacts to support the development of IS artifacts. Building such meta-artifacts is a complementary approach to the theory-with-practical-implications type of research. The primacy assigned to theory and research method has effectively excluded constructive research of building meta-artifacts from the major IS journals. The paper also claims that information systems as a category of IT artifacts, and especially the focus on IS development, can help to distinguish the IS discipline from its sister and reference disciplines

Effective Use of Information Systems for Emergency Management: a Representation Theory Perspective

Effective Use Theory (EUT) has emerged as a promising native Information Systems (IS) theory to understand a central phenomenon of interest to the discipline: the effective use of information systems. While EUT is widely accepted in operational control and management control contexts, its validity in chaotic environments has yet to be demonstrated. To contribute to the research program in EUT, scholars called for contextualizing and assessing EUT in chaotic environment, such as emergencies or crises events. This research seeks to apply EUT to understand the effective use of emergency information systems (EMIS). Seeking a grand theory of effective use in EMIS helps the onset of a structured research program and the development of a cumulative research tradition. That fosters EMIS as a would-be reference discipline for cross-disciplinary scholarship in emergency management. Moreover, assessing EUT in the edge context of emergencies, contributes to theory development by problematizing on assumptions that scholars have been considering unproblematic

Rigour vs. Relevance in IS Research: Perspectives from IS and the Reference Disciplines

We in the Information Systems community often describe our discipline as being of an inherently applied nature. Whether one fully accepts this description or not, what is clear is that the academic IS community faces significant pressure from government, commerce and industry to assist to resolve urgent problems which they face “in the real world”. A community desire for research which might be commercialised is not, of course, restricted to the IS domain—we see similar needs in medicine and engineering, for example. Information Systems is, however, uniquely placed in the following combination of respects: · Low level of development of fundamental theoretic advances · Rapid rate of change of the enabling technology · High relative contribution of the commercial sector to innovations which are similar to those sourced from academe · Rapidly increasing pervasion of Information Technology (and the consequent pervasion of IS need) within Commerce, Government and Society generally · High visibility These characteristics, together with the inherently multidisciplinary nature of Information Systems and the wide range of backgrounds of IS academics have combined to influence the character of research within the discipline. Although the Chair and Panelists now all perceive themselves as members of the Information Systems Community, their backgrounds are diverse. Three members come directly from an IS/Business Administration background, while the other three founded their careers, variously in Software Engineering, Sociology and Psychology. Paul Swatman, in his role as the session chair, will briefly introduce the topic and establish the importance of a multidisciplinary debate. Next, each of the panelists will make a short presentation. The panel members will outline their perspectives on the topic, by reference to their own backgrounds and, where appropriate, by reference to the corresponding debate in their parent discipline. The panelists will illustrate their views with examples and by comparison with the reference disciplines. The diversity of the panelists’ backgrounds itself offers a basis for considerable debate although the format allows significant time for interactions with the audience

Web Science: A Golden Opportunity for Applying Information Systems Theories

Even though the Web has changed the world to a remarkable extent, researchers have suggested relatively few truly descriptive theories and prescriptive models that treat it as the primary focus of attention thus far. The Web as a scientific discipline is still being shaped. Computing science suggests a basis for shaping it, but we need explanatory theories and a systems approach that combines both how to design desirable Web properties and understand the Web as a phenomenon. The information systems (IS) discipline, with its strong theory-driven approaches, has a special capability to help advance the Web as a sound discipline. IS scholars have a golden opportunity to actively participate in molding Web science through transferring lessons learned in IS into it, introducing theories adopted and developed in IS for it, and integrating the two disciplines. In this paper, I examine how researchers can and should use prominent theories to explain Web properties and phenomena. I differentiate between original IS theories and theories adopted from reference disciplines and propose individual user behaviors, social behaviors, and organizational behaviors as a practical taxonomy for categorizing IS theories

INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THE NATURAL SELECTION OF BAD SCIENCE (28)

Recent studies of information systems suggest a coalescing around a limited set of methods and subject areas, particularly led by a dominance of technology adoption studies and research methods that orbit around the technology adoption model (TAM). This is interpreted as evidence of a maturing of a discipline and the development of scientific foundations. I would suggest that far from this being the case, the dominance of particular method and topics is resulting in a disciplinary stagnation and the fuelling of an increasing irrelevance of information systems studies to both practice and research innovation. Having illustrated this with reference to two recent information systems trends studies, and briefly critiqued the dominant information systems paradigm, I draw on a recent study of the evolution of behavioural sciences using computer models. I suggest that the development of information systems is an example of bad science, constrained by social and economic forces. I offer some suggestions on how different environmental forces could be applied to reinvigorate information systems. However, I conclude by suggesting that regardless of changing evolutionary forces, there is a deeper underlying philosophical concern which is catalysing the malaise of information systems

The Economic Sciences and the Information Age: Lessons from the Nobel Laureates

Since its inception Information Systems has relied heavily on older, more established, reference disciplines for much of its theory development and practical application. The relationship between the economic sciences and information quality has been the subject of much of the work recognized through the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. Beginning with Simon’s decision-making model published before a discipline known as Information Systems existed, this paper reviews this relationship and the parallel development of information quality and computing capability from an Information System perspective and changing paradigms in economics as recognized in the works of the Nobel laureates. From economic theories based on assumed knowledge, the paradigm is shifting to methods of empirical testing and experimentation. Organizations continue to make operational and strategic decisions. Additionally, now information is being aggregated, warehoused, mined, and analyzed to make a host of societal decisions and to understand economic behaviors through experimentation and empirical analysis