The paper argues for the use of discourse analysis in information systems research by drawing on a discourse analysis study of virtual organizing. It identifies a range of issues and potentials in the use of discourse analysis both as a theoretical and a methodological approach in this field of research. The paper presents a study of a virtual team project and takes a particular focus on the di...

There is a growing interest in critical realism (CR) in Information Systems (IS) research. This paper presents and discusses how critical realism can be an alternative philosophical underpinning for IS research. It briefly presents critical realism and how it can be used in IS research. Contemporary examples of how CR have been used in IS research are presented and discussed. The future use of ...

The purpose of this paper is to argue for the need for systematic empirical information systems research within the field of digital child pornography. This research area is today primarily driven by non-technical disciplines. This paper argues that without the IS perspective an adequate understanding of the role of ICT, its use and effects for child pornography cannot be obtained. The IS persp...

Three types of diversity have been prominent in the Information Systems discipline for over a decade: (a) diversity in the problems addressed; (b) diversity in the theoretical foimdations and reference disciplines used to account for IS phenomena; and (c) diversity in the methods used to collect, analyze, and interpret data. History has played a major part in encouraging IS researchers to use d...

As the United States expends extraordinary efforts towards the digitization of its healthcare system, and as policy makers across the globe look to information technology as a means of making healthcare systems safer, more affordable, and more accessible, a rare and remarkable opportunity has emerged for the information systems research community to leverage its in-depth knowledge to both advan...

Collaborative research projects as a means to organise Information Systems research and prototyping activities become increasingly widespread. Their management is challenged by a multiplicity of different partners, activities and results. Required is a project management approach that allows for flexibility within the project life-cycle to address changing needs. We present research in progress...

This is an introduction to the panel “Workpractice Theory as Foundation for IS Research” on the ALOIS*2005 conference. It is also a position statement concerning workpractice theory. It describes the needs for a workpractice theory in information systems research. It describes briefly also the workpractice theory developed by Goldkuhl & Röstlinger. This is an example of a workpractice theory to...

From difficulties related to research associated to academic projects on Information Systems and considering previous studies on Information Systems research, this project presents reference information and comments to support evolution on Information Systems disciplines, their methods and models. Fundamental contributions from this documental and empirical study are the case study properly wit...

Much IS research brings a priori theoretical constructs to its domain of study, and this can generate distorted outcomes. To avoid this danger, IS research should be 'lifeworld-oriented'. Characteristics of the lifeworld are drawn from philosophy and applied to examples of IS research. Surprisingly, both positivist and critical research can be both theorizing and lifeworld-oriented, though in d...

This article summarises activity theory (AT) as it has been developed from the early work of Soviet psychologists to its modern reformulation as a method of organisational research that can be applied to the study of information systems (IS). AT examines the systems in which people collaborate as they carry out practical activities without divorcing them from their social origins. This is a met...