The Information Systems discipline is characterized by a considerable diversity of research approaches in terms of paradigms and methodologies. Status and modes of theory construction as well as the conceptualization of the subject area (the "IT artifact") are still contested. The dominance of positivistic organizational and behavioral research in the Anglo-Saxon tradition of Information Systems has been challenged by interpretative approaches as well as "Design Science", which provides an engineering perspective on IS. However, most conceptualizations of Design Science inadequately address the interaction between organization and technology, which is at the core of Information Systems.
Against this backdrop, this track intends to stimulate the methodological and epistemological discourse within the discipline of Information Systems. We are particularly interested in research which reflects epistemological stances and research methodologies specific to the core theme of Information Systems: the design of IT systems in interplay with organizational appropriation.
The outlined issues are manifested in a number of concrete challenges, such as: - Implications of the interaction of organization and technology for the design of IS. While the Design Science approach is underspecified in this respect, its limitations, further development and differentiation should be investigated.
- Research methods for longitudinal research. For pragmatic reasons, many research studies have to be content with snapshots of research. In contrast, many questions of design and appropriation of IT-artifacts can only be properly addressed in a long-term study.
- Possibilities and limitations of the transferability and generalizability of findings. Whether generalizatbility is a critical issue depends on the epistemological stance: The more abstract the IT construct is conceptualized, the wider is its potential area application. In contrast, design and interpretative approaches stress the close relation to the application context, which allows only very limited transferability.
- Epistemological challenges of prospective claims. Technology assessment, foresight studies or technology impact research are partly discredited, however there is considerable need for the anticipation of progress that shapes the course of technology development and appropriation. Therefore, the paradigmatic, theoretical and methodological foundations of prospective research warrant a broader discussion.
- Practice and values of science. General principles of scientific research in light of performance measurement based on formal criteria instead of academic contribution and the primacy of economic relevance.
- Theory building in Information Systems
- Design Science and its critique
- Concepts of interaction between organization and technology
- Application context and generalizability
- Relationship of social and engineering (Design) sciences
- Methodological implications of interdisciplinary research
- Challenges of interdisciplinary discourse of Economics, Information Science and Law
- Multi-method approach
- Action Research in Information Systems
- Living Labs
- Longitudinal research
- Concepts of technology appropriation
- Concepts of privacy
- Challenges of prospective research
- Technology assessment research/ foresight studies
- Christiane Floyd, University of Hamburg, Germany
- Ulrich Frank, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
- Franz Lehner, University of Passau, Germany
- Ulrich Muller-Funk, University of Munster, Germany
- Björn Niehaves, University of Munster, Germany
- Volkmar Pipek, University of Siegen, Germany
- Kai Riemer, University of Sydney, Australia
- Markus Rohde, University of Siegen, Germany
- Kjeld Schmidt, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
- Gunnar Stevens, University of Siegen, Germany
- Alexander Teubner, University of Munster, Germany
- Ina Wagner, Technical University of Vienna, Austria
- Werthner, Technical University of Vienna, Austria
- Oliver Wendt, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany
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