Beyond Theoretical and Methodological Pluralism in Interpretive IS Research: The Example of Symbolic Interactionist Ethnography

Over the years, interpretivism has been gradually gaining ground in Information Systems (IS) research. At the heart of this interpretivist movement (which has helped to advance its cause) is a belief in theoretical and methodological pluralism. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this paper is to reflect on how interpretive IS researchers can move beyond theoretical and methodological pluralism to leverage the inherent strengths of the interpretivist paradigm. In this regard, we note that there has been little discussion in IS literature about how interpretive researchers can actively seek to purposefully leverage the respective strengths of the informing theoretical perspective and the chosen strategy of inquiry throughout the research process while being fully cognizant of the ensuing criteria for ensuring trustworthiness of the study. To illustrate the importance of achieving such leverage in interpretive IS research, we use the example of the ethnographic approach being informed by symbolic interactionism. At the same time, we explicate how the analytical edge of the constant comparative technique from grounded theory can enhance this leverage. We contend that this paper\u27s contribution has value as it provides a starting point for interested researchers to apply this approach to other combinations of theoretical perspectives and strategies of inquiry

The Long Road to Being an IS Professional: A Newcomer Perspective

The dot-com boom in the late 1990s attracted vast numbers of undergraduate students into the field of Information Systems (IS) with the promise of being the next “big thing”. As the dot-com bubble deflated amidst the general slowdown in the global economy, the outlook of these batches of students had been changing dramatically over the years due to the long “gestation” period (frequently 4 years) in the tertiary educational arena. Coupled with the perennial shifts in the nature of critical IS knowledge and skills, the current situation presents a unique, valuable and close-up opportunity for studying the evolving identity of the IS professional. This research employs symbolic interactionism as the informing theoretical perspective for examining newcomer socialization processes in an ethnographic study, in which the researchers were immersed in the education environment of a university. We adopt a longitudinal form of analysis by examining three major role transitions along the road to being an IS professional, starting from his/her formative years as an (initially earnest) undergraduate student. Our findings regarding the evolving outlook of these students indicate that they initially attached certain symbols to being an IS professional. Interestingly, some of these symbols got sedimented over time while others exhibited relatively less permanence. More importantly, the evolving symbolism was enacted into various job-seeking actions towards the end of the long university education process

Leveraging Methodological Pluralism in Interpretive IS Research: The Example of ERP as a Complex Phenomenon

Over the years, interpretivism has been gradually gaining ground in Information Systems (IS) research. At the heart of this interpretivist movement is a belief in theoretical and methodological pluralism. In this study, we argue the need for a better leverage of methodological pluralism in interpretive IS research. Specifically, we note that greater research insights may be obtained by considering the complementarity of various strategies of inquiry (such as ethnography, grounded theory, case study and action research) with respect to a specific IS phenomenon. Indeed, we suggest that when complementary strategies of inquiry are purposefully employed in a portfolio of separate studies over time, they may collectively help to shed new light on complex IS phenomena. A good example of such phenomena is Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). While ERP implementations in the industry reached their peak in the late 1990s, research in this area is still in a stage of infancy. In this study, we use this ERP phenomenon and the symbolic interactionism theoretical perspective to demonstrate the complementarity of three strategies of inquiry: the “descriptive strengths” of ethnography, the “analytical edge” of grounded theory and the “practical contribution” of participatory action research Individually, each strategy of inquiry boasts a unique platform from which a certain complex IS phenomenon (such as ERP implementations) can be investigated; when purposefully employed in different studies over time, they may help to collectively and synergistically shed new light on the phenomenon in question. By highlighting the possible leverage of methodological pluralism in such a complementary manner, this study may thus have valuable implications for interpretive IS research

Leveraging Theoretical Pluralism in Qualitative IS Research: THe Example of IS Professionals\u27 Identity as a Complex Phenomenon

As Information Systems (IS) research increasingly acknowledges the importance of non-positivist approaches, the case for a plurality of theories to guide qualitative studies has generally been quite well accepted on philosophical grounds. In this paper, we argue the need for a better leverage of theoretical pluralism in qualitative IS research. Specifically, we note that greater research insights may be obtained by considering the complementarity of various theoretical perspectives with respect to a specific IS phenomenon. Indeed, we suggest that when such complementary perspectives are purposefully employed in a portfolio of separate studies over time, they may collectively help to shed new light on complex IS phenomena. In this study, we use the research example of IS professionals’ identity and the ethnography method to demonstrate the complementarity of three theoretical perspectives: Symbolic Interactionism’s “micro analysis of social interactions”, Critical Social Theory’s emphasis on the “macro contextualisation of human action”, as well as Adaptive Structuration Theory’s “explicit focus on technology”. Individually, each perspective boasts a unique angle from which a certain complex IS phenomenon can be investigated; when purposefully employed in different studies over time, they may collectively and synergistically shed new light on the phenomenon in question. By highlighting the possible leverage of theoretical pluralism in such a complementary manner, this study may thus have valuable implications for qualitative IS research

Symbolic Processes in ERP versus Legacy System Support

Being hailed as possessing the ability to “drive effective business reengineering and management of core and support processes”, it is not surprising that Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been adopted by more than 60% of Fortune 500 companies as at the turn of the century. In contrast, negative connotations have been commonly known to be attached to legacy systems and inhouse developed systems. But yet, some of these legacy systems are not replaced when companies adopt ERP solutions while in-house systems still continue to be developed. This research employs symbolic interactionism as the informing theoretical perspective in an ethnography study of a large government authority in Singapore. Our findings surprisingly indicate that the IS professionals supporting the systems tend to attach rather negative symbols to their SAP system, while viewing their legacy system and in-house software development work in a more favorable light. In this paper, we first describe the different symbolism that has been attached over the years to the ERP vis-à-vis legacy system. We then highlight how certain of the early symbols gradually got sedimented over time, while others did not exhibit similar permanence and presence. As a result of such symbolic realities, we demonstrate the consequent differences in attitudes of the staff involved in ERP support vis-à-vis legacy and in-house system support

Implementing CoreNet to Reach Out to Businesses - A Case Study of the Singapore Government\u27s IT Initiatives

Over the years, more and more sophisticated e-government systems are being created to reach out to both businesses and citizens alike. However, many such projects have been fraught with difficulties due to myriad barriers which may hinder adoption and inhibit progress during the various phases of the implementation. Against this backdrop, an example of a country with an advanced e-government agenda and a successful track record is Singapore. In this study, we first propose a 3-stage theoretical framework that takes into account the barriers that may hinder a successful e-government implementation and the corresponding change intervention actions to address such barriers. We then demonstrate and refine the applicability of the proposed framework in the context of the Singapore Government’s experience in implementing the CORENET project in the construction and real estate industry. The insights gained and the lessons learnt from this study may have valuable implications for research and practice

Value Creation in Cryptocurrency Networks: Towards A Taxonomy of Digital Business Models for Bitcoin Companies

Cryptocurrency networks have given birth to a diversity of start-ups and attracted a huge influx of venture capital to invest in these start-ups for creating and capturing value within and between such networks. Synthesizing strategic management and information systems (IS) literature, this study advances a unified theoretical framework for identifying and investigating how cryptocurrency companies configure value through digital business models. This framework is then employed, via multiple case studies, to examine digital business models of companies within the bitcoin network. Findings suggest that companies within the bitcoin network exhibits six generic digital business models. These six digital business models are in turn driven by three modes of value configurations with their own distinct logic for value creation and mechanisms for value capturing. A key finding of this study is that value-chain and value-network driven business models commercialize their products and services for each value unit transfer, whereas commercialization for value-shop driven business models is realized through the subsidization of direct users by revenue generating entities. This study contributes to extant literature on value configurations and digital businesses models within the emerging and increasingly pervasive domain of cryptocurrency networks

The Development of an Augmented Contrained Efficiency Framework for the Adoption of Electrionic Interorganizational Governance

Business-to-business electronic commerce provides new mechanisms for interorganizational exchange governance. This study contributes to the research of the adoption of interorganizational exchange governance by developing an augmented constrained-efficiency framework that summarizes the salient factors influencing organizational selection and adoption of electronic exchange governance. Drawing upon the literature on organizational and interorganizational governance design and adoption, the augmented constrained-efficiency framework posits that organizational selection and adoption of electronic interorganizational exchange governance are an efficiency pursuing process and also constrained by some critical forces. Internally, the constraints include organizational decision makers’ bounded rationality and organizational resources and capabilities. Externally, an organization’s institutional environments, its dependency relationship, contractual arrangements and relational norms developed with its business partners through physical transactions are important constraining forces. To demonstrate the usefulness of the augmented constrained-efficiency framework, the paper applies it to the analysis of two important modes of electronic interorganizational exchange governance, namely electronic hierarchy and electronic marketplace. By doing so, the paper sets foundations for future theory development and empirical study

Conflicts in Knowledge Management: Vistiting the Hidden Partner

As knowledge gains a reputation for being a critical resource in the information-intensive economy, organizations have doubled their efforts in trying to extract value from knowledge management policies. One particular aspect of knowledge management, which has gone unnoticed in academic research, is the presence of conflicts in knowledge activities. By adopting a conflict perspective of knowledge activities, this study arrives at a two-dimensional framework that defines knowledge conflicts in terms of its type and nature. Central to this paper is the fundamental idea that conflicts form an integral part of knowledge management and depending on how they are managed; conflicts may be formidable partners or dangerous adversaries in the corporate quest for knowledge-derived competitiveness

Nano Fe3O4-activated carbon composites for aqueous supercapacitors

In this study, a symmetric supercapacitor has been fabricated by adopting the nanostructured iron oxide (Fe3O4)-activated carbon (AC) composite as the core electrode materials. The composite electrodes were prepared via a facile mechanical mixing process and PTFE polymeric solution has been used as the electrode material binder. Structural analysis of the nanocomposite electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The electrochemical performances of the prepared supercapacitor were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 1.0 M Na2SO3 and 1.0 M Na2SO4 aqueous solutions, respectively. The experimental results showed that the highest specific capacitance of 43 F/g is achieved with a fairly low Fe3O4 nanomaterials loading (4 wt. %) in 1 M Na2SO3. It is clear that the low concentration of nanostructured Fe3O4 has improved the capacitive performance of the composite via pseudocapacitance charge storage mechanism as well as the enhancement on the specific surface areas of the electrode. However, further increasing of the Fe3O4 content in the electrode is found to distort the capacitive performance and deteriorate the specific surface area of the electrode, mainly due to the aggregation of the Fe3O4 particles within the composite. Additionally, the CV results showed that the Fe3O4/AC nanocomposite electrode in Na2SO3 electrolyte exhibits a better charge storage performance if compared with Na2SO4 solution. It is believed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles can provide favourable surface adsorption sites for sulphite (SO32-) anions which act as catalysts for subsequent redox and intercalation reactions