Exploring new ideas, methods, and problems in information systems research

Citation

Russo, N.L. (2000), "Exploring new ideas, methods, and problems in information systems research", Information Technology & People, Vol. 13 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/itp.2000.16113caa.001

Exploring new ideas, methods, and problems in information systems research

About the Guest EditorNancy L. Russo received her PhD in Management Information Systems from Georgia State University in 1993. Since 1991, she has been a member of the Operations Management and Information Systems Department at Northern Illinois University. She was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor of Information Systems in 1997. During 1998 she was a Visiting Professor in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Information Systems at University College Cork, Ireland. In addition to ongoing studies of the use and customization of system development methods in evolving context, here research has addressed Web application development, the impact of enterprise-wide software adoption on the IS function, IT innovation, research methods, and IS education issues. Her work has appeared in Information Systems Journal, Journal of Information Technology, Journal of Computer Information Systems, System Development Management, Journal of Systems and Software, and various conference proceedings.

Exploring new ideas, methods, and problems in information systems research

In December 1997, IFIP Working Group 8.2 held a workshop in Atlanta with the specific goal of providing a venue for the presentation and discussion of research proposals, topics, and early works-in-process, particularly by newer researchers or researchers exploring new areas or methods of research. The workshop was viewed as a forum to explore research issues, related theory, and approaches, to provide feedback to presenters in the form of suggestions and guidance, to increase possibilities for creating joint research initiatives, and to provide an arena for debate, intellectual challenge, and joint learning.

The papers in this special issue evolved from abstracts presented at the Atlanta workshop. Several of the papers describe work in process, whereas others ask us to expand our horizons regarding how we think about our research or how we conduct it. All of the papers contribute to an exploration of new ideas, methods, and problems in information systems research.

Introna and Whitley present a critique of the use of laboratory experiments in information systems research. The authors raise questions regarding not only the external validity of laboratory experiments, which is a recognized problem, but also regarding internal validity, which has typically been viewed as a strength of this method. Three IS laboratory experiments are evaluated, uncovering problems with both their internal and external validity. Through the use of a thought experiment, Introna and Whitley illustrate a significant threat to internal validity of laboratory experiments: the inability to distinguish between action for the task versus action for the experiment. The concept of the involved manager drawn from Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty and others is used to provide a theoretical basis for understanding the problems highlighted in the thought experiment. The authors conclude by arguing for a need to situate IS research in the world of work.

Fitzgerald uses the concept of "tenses" to describe the need for system development methodologies to move from the past imperfect to the future. In other words, because commonplace practice often lags best practice by quite some time, we need to look to existing best practice to guide our development processes. The paper argues that the bases of modern system development methodologies come from the "golden decade" of 1967-1977. Profound differences in both the business environment and the system development environment today, combined with increasing pressure for more rapid delivery of systems, should cause us to look to new canons to guide development. A number of issues which should be considered when creating new methodologies are presented, including the increasing importance of integration and customisation of packages and outsourcing, and the need to fit the methodology to the problem at hand.

Wynekoop and Walz address an area which has received little attention in IS research, that of identifying the traits of high performing software developers. They describe research-in-process which has as its ultimate goal the creation of a model which can identify individuals ex ante as potential high performing software developers. Wynekoop and Walz describe a multi-phase methodology for this research, which includes a three-round Delphi study of IS managers to identify characteristics of high-performing developers, followed by a field study in which managers and developers identify top performers and rate the importance of the characteristics identified by the Delphi study. In addition, developers themselves will complete a standard personality instrument and demographic questionnaire. Based on the results of these, high performing developers can be compared to other developers to identify differences. The results of a pilot study are described. The factors identified by the pilot study as distinguishing exceptional developers include: ability to abstract business problems; creativity; technical and business knowledge; the ability to work with and lead teams; analytical and logical abilities; and high levels of self-motivation, dependability and organization.

Davidson uses a case study of the organizational consequences of implementing a clinical information system to illustrate the application of the analytic concept of genre of organizational communication. Communication genre are characterized by substance (motives, themes, topics) and form. Genre analysis provides insights regarding organizational impacts by facilitating understanding of potential changes in organizational communication resulting from the use of an information system. This insight and understanding are critical to improving implementation outcomes. In this case study, Davidson focuses on interpersonal communication and social interaction issues in order to analyze the implementation of an order entry system for a hospital, reflecting the shift from paper-based to electronic patient records in clinical practices. Impacts of the system are discussed, including problems, benefits, and the importance of balancing the needs for structure in data and flexibility in communication.

Allen argues for a need to expand the approaches used to study IS/IT innovations to include concepts which have emerged from studies of technological innovation in the social sciences. He identifies some limitations of existing traditional approaches to studying IS/IT innovation adoption. The pro-innovation bias and lack of attention given to community and population-level dynamics, to adaptation and reinvention of innovations, and to the consequences of adoption may hinder understanding of the adoption process. Alternative approaches such as the social shaping of technology, the economics of technological innovation, or the technology and business strategy approach, may provide useful insights. Allen provides examples from his research of the application of two alternative approaches, the concepts of social commitments and problem framings held by communities of practice.

Nancy L. RussoGuest Editor