Dropping Your Tools: Exploring When and How Theories Can Serve as Blinders in IS Research

The debate between protagonists of different theoretical approaches continues in the IS field, with little prospect of resolution. The debate is typically characterized by tendentious arguments as advocates of each approach offer a one-sided condemnation of other approaches. Debate on the qualities of theoretical explanations of technological change is hampered by the shadow of supremacist strategies that is cast over the debate, illustrating the manner in which IS researchers are polarized into opposing camps, each viewing the other as inferior. Ironically further polarization is occurring in the ways that various groups of IS scholars are simultaneously calling for order, discipline and clearer notions of the “core of the discipline” while other scholars call for greater research diversity. In order to overcome this polarization we advocate a strategy recommended by Weick [1996]: Drop your tools—hold your concepts lightly and update them frequently. Three reasons for dropping our theoretical tools are put forward—the focus on improving practice, the focus on building cumulative tradition in the mother discipline, and the focus on building cumulative tradition in one’s own discipline—suggesting researchers must consider the “fit” between problem domain, theory and the relationship of the chosen theory to the method of inquiry

AI Management Beyond Myth and Hype: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of the Literature

Background: AI management has attracted increasing interest from researchers rooted in many disciplines, including information systems, strategy, and economics. In recent years, scholars with interests in these diverse fields have formulated similar research questions, investigated similar research contexts, and even often adopted similar methodologies when studying AI. Despite these commonalities, the AI management literature has largely evolved in an isolated fashion within specific fields, thereby impeding the development of cumulative knowledge. Moreover, views of AI’s anticipated trajectory have often oscillated between unjustifiably optimistic assessments of its benefits and extremely pessimistic appraisals of the risks it poses for organizations and society. Method: To move beyond the polarized discussion, this work offers a systematic review of the vast, interdisciplinary AI management literature, based on analysis of a large sample of articles published between 2010 and 2022. Results: We identify four main research streams in the AI management literature and associated, conflicting discussion, concerning four (data, labor, critical, and value) dimensions. Conclusion: The review conceptually and practically contributes to the IS field by documenting the literature’s evolution and highlighting avenues for future research trajectories. We believe that by outlining four key themes and visualizing them in an organized framework the study promotes a holistic and broader understanding of AI management research as a cross-disciplinary effort, for both researchers and practitioners, and provides suggestions that extend the framing of AI beyond myth and hype

AI MANAGEMENT BEYOND THE NARRATIVES OF DYSTOPIAN NIGHTMARES AND UTOPIAN DREAMS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND SYNTHESIS OF THE LITERATURE

Over the years, AI management has attracted significant interest from researchers rooted in diverse disciplines, including information systems, computer science, strategy, and economics.Despite scholars in these fields addressing many similar research questions and empirical contexts, often applying similar methodologies, the literature has largely developed in an isolated fashion. Moreover, AI’s anticipated trajectory has often been painted in deeply optimistic or pessimistic terms. This article offers a systematic review of the AI management literature, based on analysis of a sample of articles published between 2010 and 2021. The review contributes by: documenting the literature’s evolution, outlining four key research themes in the literature, and highlighting several areas for future research. The aim is to foster broader understanding of AI management research that helps to advance our knowledge of AI and its management beyond dystopian nightmares and utopian dreams

Educating Reflective Practitioners: The Design of an IT Management Masters Program

The IT Management Group at Umeå University, Sweden, has developed a master program in IT management with emphasison incorporating practice in the learning process. The basic premise lies in the use of reflection-in-action as an approach topresenting students with practical problems throughout the program. We discuss the ways in which practice is at the heart ofthe program, both as a tool for exemplifying codified knowledge such as technical skills and methods but also as arenas forsituated knowledge creation and transfer where reflection and action are intertwined. The paper ends with a discussion of theprogram design, challenges in implementing the reflective practice approach and competencies the students need in theirfuture professional roles

Orchestrating Digital Innovation: The Case of the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation

In recent years, researchers have paid increasing attention to how firms facilitate and enact digital innovation in networks with diverse actors (i.e., heterogeneous networks). However, while considerable evidence shows that firms can build key capabilities via engaging with external partners, we found few studies on how they orchestrate digital innovation in situations where an academic unit plays a facilitating role in the heterogeneous network. We address this question by focusing on experiences from a national academic initiative, the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation (SCDI). Formed in 2013, the SCDI has adopted an engaged scholarship approach and a combination of activities designed to increase digital innovation capabilities among partner organizations. We argue that acquiring new knowledge through external and internal sources stimulates firms and public sector organizations engaged in digital innovation to integrate such new knowledge with their existing knowledge base. Specifically, we demonstrate how SCDI’s core activities have created increased capabilities for the involved stakeholders, and we offer lessons learned and recommendations for academic units that wish to orchestrate digital innovation

Theorizing in information systems research: A reflexive analysis of the adaptation of theory in information systems research

In this paper we consider what it means to be an informed IS researcher by focusing attention on theory adaptation in IS research. The basic question we seek to address is: When one borrows theory from another discipline, what are the issues that one must consider? After examining the role of theory in IS research, we focus on escalation theory applied to IS projects as an example. In doing so, we seek to generate increased awareness of the issues that one might consider when adapting theories from other domains to research in our field. This increased awareness may then translate to a more informed use of theories in IS. Following a self-reflexive tale of how and why escalation theory was adopted to IS research, we offer four recommendations for theory adaptation: (1) consider the fit between selected theory and phenomenon of interest, (2) consider the theory’s historical context, (3) consider how the theory impacts the choice of research method, and (4) consider the contribution of theorizing to cumulative theory

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Facing Dilemmas in IT Risk Management

In this paper we extend IT risk management theory using evidence gleaned from IT-enabled process management in a Swedish pulp and paper factory. Our analyses of risk management practices in the factory’s core process revealed surprising insights. As organizational actors managed process related IT risks to ensure that the core production process was running 24/7, they generated strategic IT risks that threatened the sustainability of the process infrastructure. However, they could not manage these strategic risks without jeopardizing the 24/7 operation. Hence, they inadvertently found themselves between a rock and a hard place where they could not mitigate one high priority risk without generating another. Drawing on practice theory, we explain the observed risk management practices, introduce the notion of risk dilemmas, and discuss the practice-based view of risk as a useful approach to advancing IT risk management theory

Beyond the Common-Sense of Practice: A Case for Organizational Informatics

Abstract not availabl

Why Zlatan Ibrahimović is Bigger Than Manchester United: Investigating Digital Traces in Co-branding Processes on Social Media Platforms

The purpose of this study is to examine the co-branding activity on social media platforms, particularly in regard to company-employee relationship. We conducted a case study of co-branding on Instagram involving the soccer club Manchester United and the soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimović. We performed sentiment and emotional tone analysis, assessed intersection of the audience and illustrated non-verbal communication used by social media users. We demonstrated how the soccer club failed to capitalize on co-branding activity as measured through consolidating the audience, generating consistent emotional response, and creating a coherent message. This paper contributes to social media management research by illustrating the difficulties associated with co-branding between personal and corporate brands as well asynchronous communication. Further, our use of digital traces and computational analysis illustrates how access to social media can illuminate research activities and provide insight about online communication

THE ROLE OF CONTEXT IN MANAGING INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

Contemporary organizations are increasingly dependent on information infrastructures to deliver their services. However, information infrastructures are highly complex and dynamic, which lead to considerable management challenges. This research aims to contribute to our understanding of these challenges through an in-depth investigation of a team responsible for information infrastructure services at a large business and technology service company. The complexity and dynamics faced by the team emphasizes the important role of context in managing its information infrastructure services and underlying technology platform. To investigate the team’s practice we therefore adopt contextualist inquiry in combination with a pluralist approach based on four complementary theoretical lenses; technological frames of references, risk management, control versus drift, and dynamic capabilities. As contributions, this research has the dual goal to improve the teams’ practices while at the same time providing new theoretical insights about the role of context in management of information infrastructure services