Making Information Systems Research More Valuable

This essay explores research characteristics beyond those of rigor or relevance to propose a framework that will make information systems (IS) research more valuable to its stakeholders. The value of IS research ought to be measured by its originality, how well it addresses the needs of its sociological and discursive environment, the extent the research makes evident what is hidden, and how closely it adheres to the laws that rarify it. The originality of the research is in turn defined by its subordination to its disciplinary subject matter and how actively the research manipulates the objects and concepts that it forges in the process of creating knowledge. These characteristics define the value of IS research and what ultimately makes the research relevant and sought after.