Conceptions of an Information System and Their Use in Teaching about IS

The question 'What is the nature of an information system?' is fundamental to developing and teaching about information systems, but it is the subject of debate in the IS literature and is not made explicit in most curricula. Our experience of teaching information systems analysis and design to undergraduate students has prompted us to seek better ways of developing students' understanding of the nature of an IS. Our study of IS users, practitioners academics and students, using the phenomenographic research methodology, revealed a hierarchy of four different conceptions of an IS. We have linked this hierarchy to the SOLO taxonomy (Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes) and used it to suggest teaching strategies intended to provide students with systems skills and understanding which will enable them to better interact with IS clients to produce