ISM 786, Fall 2011
Frameworks & Research Methods in Information Systems
Lakshmi Iyer, Bryan 435, 334-4984; E-mail: Lsiyer@uncg.edu
Office Hours: T 1:00 to 2:30 pm; others by appointment.
Any time I am in my office you may call or stop by to ask any questions pertaining to the class. Please call
334-4984 (you can leave a message if I am not there) or e-mail me if you wish to set a specific
appointment. Call me at home in case of an emergency. My home phone number is 336-286-9933.
Catalog Description:
Introduces students to information systems research using top tier journal articles. Students will develop an
understanding of information systems research in and prepare for research development in Information
Systems.
Course Materials:
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Extensive readings (see list of articles)
Writing the Doctoral Dissertation, by Gordon B. Davis and Clyde A. Parker, Barrons, 1997. (Highly
Recommended).
ISWorld web site: http://www.isworld.org/phd/phd.htm
AIS web site: http://www.aisnet.org/
Course Objectives:
1. Study, analyze and review key articles.
2. Introduce key topics in MIS from a research perspective.
3. Review and critique MIS framework articles.
4. Examine different research methodologies in IS research.
5. Examine research models in IS Research.
6. Prepare professional review and understand the review process.
7. Identify and evaluate potential researchable areas.
8. Prepare topic analyses of "researchable" ideas suitable for dissertation research.
9. Conduct literature analysis on a suitable research topic.
10. Develop “writing” skills for journal publications.
11. Understand various Ph.D. processes, including the dissertation.
Teaching Strategies:
Since this is a seminar not a lecture course, active class interaction is essential. Students are
expected to be prepared for each meeting and participate fully in class discussion. Since class
participation is part of a student’s final grade, failure to prepare and participate will have
consequences. All work must be turned in by the due date.
The course will be coordinated through a combination of lectures, class discussions, research
projects, analysis of articles, and presentations by students. Students will be provided detailed
guidelines for making presentations, discussions, and various research projects.
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Electronic Mail and BlackBoard:
You should check your UNCG email regularly and you will be responsible for any information or
announcements contained in the email messages. Any updates to readings will be on BlackBoard
(BB).
Evaluation:
Your grade is based on the following work and activities (all individual work):
Class participation
Research Development:
Meta Analysis Project and Presentation
Research framework/model and Presentation
Methodology Analysis Project and Presentation
Final exam
_________
Total
20 %
20 %
20%
10 %
30 %
100 %
The instructor reserves the right to adjust the final grade based on individual effort (or lack thereof).
Class preparation/participation/presentation/discussion:
Each student will be expected to develop preparatory notes for each class session. Be prepared to
summarize the main points of each assigned reading and discuss the following questions:
• What is the research question of this article? What is the main contribution?
• What were the most important insights you obtained from the reading?
• What do you know now that you didn’t know before?
• What do you now think about differently?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of each article?
• What didn’t you understand?
• What type of data and research method was used?
• How do the articles relate to each other and to others read in previous weeks (not applicable for
week1)?
Students will be asked to lead discussions on articles.
I may post discussion questions for some weeks for which you have to post the response in BB
discussion forum by the date/time provided.
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all classes. A student should contact the instructor where work
needs and/or health problems make attendance impossible.
Academic Honor Code:
Each student is required to sign the Academic Integrity Policy on all work submitted for this
course. The policy can be viewed at: http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/complete/
Bryan Faculty/Student Guidelines:
Please view these guidelines at: http://www.uncg.edu/bae/faculty_student_guidelines_sp07.pdf
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Tentative Schedule: The following schedule provides a general guideline only. Given the small
class size, we will be informal at times, and are likely to make changes along the way. I fully expect
to get into discussions of many related areas.
Course Schedule
Topic
Items Due
Week
1
Introduction to Course, Introduction to PhD
Program, What is IS Research and what is it all
about? Being a Doctoral Student
4
Research Topic Areas - what do we do research
on? Frameworks - What frameworks; Why
frameworks?
Research Topic Areas - Frameworks Continued
Conducting and Evaluating Good Research
5
Literature Review and MetaAnalysis
6
Paradigms and Types of Research
7
Research Methodologies
8
Research Methodologies
9
Research Methodologies
10
Research Methodologies
11
Foundations of IS Research
12
Foundations of IS Research
13
Doing Good Research
14
Final Research report – I Presentation
Research paper – revisions due
15
Final research report - II Presentation
Final version due
2
3
16
Topics of Interest – bring 3
Research Proposition - Introduction
Research Development 1st Report
Meta Analysis Report
Research framework/model development
Report
Methodology Analysis due
Final Exam
Readings:
Following is a broad list of papers for the course. Specific readings are provided at the end. In addition, you
may suggest articles related to your area of interest. I will include some of these as reading for the whole class.
Additional details on the readings and dates for discussion of the articles are available on blackboard.
Readings
1.
Chapter 1, Davis and Parker book, 1997.
2.
Van Slyke, C., Bostrom, R., Cortney, J., McLean, E., Snyder, C., and Watson, R.T. (2003).
Experts’ Advise to Information Systems Doctoral Students. Communications of the AIS, Vol 12,
2003, pp. 469-478.
3.
Ackoff, R. L. (1967). Management Misinformation Systems. Management Science, 14(4), 146156.
4.
Dearden, J. [1972], "MIS is a Mirage." Harvard Business Review, Jan-Feb. 1972, 90-99.
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28.
Carr, N.G. IT Doesn’t Matter. Harvard Business Review. May, 2003.
Luftman, J., and Mclean, E.R. Key Issues for IT Executives. MIS Quarterly Executive, Vol 3, No 2,
June 2004, pp. 89-104.
Alter, S. Selecting Research Topics: Personal Experiences and Speculations for the Future.
Communications of the AIS, Vol 8, 2002, pp. 314-329.
Izak Benbasat and Robert W. Zmud: "The Identity Crisis within the IS Discipline: Defining and
Communicating the Discipline's Core Properties," MIS Quarterly (27:2), June 2003, pp. 183-194.
Kuhn, T.S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962.
ISBN 0-226-45808-3
Gorry, G.A., Scott-Morton, M.S. A Framework for Management Information Systems. Sloan
Management Review, Vol 13, No 1, 1970, pp. 55-70.
Mason, R. & I. Mitroff. (1973). A program for research on management information systems.
Management Science, 19(5): 475-487.
Nolan, R.L., and Wetherbe, J.C. Toward a Comprehensive Framework for MIS Research. MIS
Quarterly, June 1980, pp. 1-19.
Ives, B., Hamilton, S., and Davis, G.B. A Framework for Research in Computer-Based
Management Information Systems. Management Science, Vol 26, No 9, September 1990, pp. 910934.
Ein-Dor, P., Segev, E., and Orgad, M. The Effect of National Culture on IS: Implications for
International Information Systems. Journal of Global Information Management, Vol 1, No 1, pp.
33-44.
Dennis, A.R. Conducting Research in Information Systems. Communications of the AIS, Vol 5,
2001, pp. 1-40.
Orlikowski, W.J., and Baroudi, J. J. Studying Information Technology in Organizations: Research
Approaches and Assumptions. Information Systems Research, Vol. 2, No. 1, March 1991, pp. 1-28.
Benebasat, I., and Weber, R. Research Commentary: Rethinking "Diversity" in Information Systems
Research. Information Systems Research, Vol. 7, No. 4, December 1996, pp. 389-399.
DeLone, W. & McLean, E. (1992). Information systems success: The quest for the dependent
variable. Information Systems Research, 3(1), 60-95.
DeLone, W.H. and McLean, E.R. “The DeLone and McLean Model of Information Systems
Success: A Ten Year Update,” Journal of Management Information Systems, Volume 19, Number
4, Spring 2003, pp.9-30.
Hevner, S. March, J. Park, and S. Ram, "Design Science Research in Information Systems,"
Management Information Systems Quarterly, Vol. 28,No. 1, March 2004, pp. 75-105.
Alavi, M., and Joachimsthaler, E.A. Revisiting DSS Implementation Research: A Meta-Analysis of
the Literature and Suggestions for Researchers. MIS Quarterly, Vol 16, No 1, March 1992, pp. 95116.
Benbasat, I., Goldstein, D. K., and Mead, M., "The Case Research Strategy in Studies of
Information Systems," MIS Quarterly (September 1987), pp. 369-386.
Lee, A.S. A scientific methodology for MIS case studies. MIS Quarterly, 13(1), March 1989, pp.
33-50.
Straub, D.W. Validating Instruments in MIS Research. MIS Quarterly, Volume 13, No 2, June 1989,
pp. 147-166.
Doll, W.J. and Torkzadeh, G. The Measurement of End-User Computing Satisfaction. MIS
Quarterly, Vol 12, No 2, June 1988, pp. 259-274.
Davis, F. D., Bagozzi, R.P., and Warshaw, P.R. “User Acceptance of Computer Technology: A
Comparison of Two Theoretical Models,” Management Science, 35:8, 1989, 982-1003
Ives, B., and Jarvenpaa, S.L. Applications of Global Information Technology: Key Issues for
Management. MIS Quarterly, Vol 15, No 1, March 1991, pp. 33-49.
Day, A. How to Write Publishable Papers. March 2001.
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Jarvenpaa, S. L., Dickson, G. W., and DeSanctis, G. Methodological Issues in Experimental IS
Research: Experiences and Recommendations. MIS Quarterly, June 1985, pp. 141-156.
Dennis, A.R. Information Exchange and Use in Group Decision Making: You Can Lead a Group to
Information, but You Can’t Make It Think. MIS Quarterly, Vol 20, No 4, December 1996, pp. 433457.
Klein, H.K. and Myers, M.D. A Set of Principles for Conducting and Evaluating Interpretive Field
Studies in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly, Vol 23, No 1, March 1999, pp. 67-93.
Lee, Allen S., Electronic Mail as a Medium for Rich Communication: An Empirical Analysis
Using Hermeneutic Communication. MIS Quarterly, June 1994, pp. 143-157.
Mingers, J. (2001). Combining IS Research Methods: Towards a Pluralist Methodology. ISR,
12(3), 240-251.
Johansson, J. M., March, S.T., And Naumann, J. D., Modeling Network Latency and Parallel
Processing in Distributed Database Design. Decision Sciences, Vol 34, No. 4, Fall 2003, pp. 676-706.
Daft, R.L. & Lengel, R.H. (1986). Organizational Information Requirements, Media Richness and
Structural Design. Management Science, 32(5), 554-571
Grover, V., and Malhotra, M.K. Transaction cost framework in operations and supply chain
management research: theory and measurement. Journal of Operations Management, Volume 21,
Issue 4, July 2003, pp. 457-473.
Bharadwaj, A.S. A Resource Based Perspective on Information Technology Capability and Firm
Performance: An Empirical Investigation. MIS Quarterly, Vol 24, No 1, pp. 169-196.
Huber, G. P. "Cognitive Style as a Basis for MIS and DSS Designs: Much Ado About Nothing"
Management Science, Vol. 29, No. 5, May 1983, pp. 567-579.
Brancheau, J.C., Janz, B.D., and Wetherbe, J.C. Key Issues in Information Systems Management:
1994-1995 SIM Delphi Results. MIS Quarterly, Vol 20, No 2, June 1996, pp. 225-242.
Nolan, R.L. Managing the Crises in Data Processing. Harvard Business Review, March-April
1979.
Sprague, R.H. A Framework for the Development of Decision Support Systems. MIS Quarterly,
Vol 4, No 4, December 1980, pp. 1-26.
Orlikowski, W. and Robey, D. Information Technology and the Structuring of Organizations.
Information Systems Research, June 1991, Vol. 2 Issue 2, pp.143-169.
Alavi, M., and Leidner, D. E., “Review: Knowledge management and knowledge management
systems: Conceptual foundations and research issues,” MIS Quarterly; 2001, pp. 107-136
Brynjolfsson, E. The Productivity Paradox of Information Technology. Communications of the
ACM. Vol 36, 12, December 1993, pp. 67-77.
Zachman, J.A. A Framework for Information Systems Architecture. IBM Systems Journal, vol. 26,
no. 3, 1987. IBM Publication G321-5298.
Varun Grover and Thomas H. Davenport: "General Perspectives on Knowledge Management:
Fostering a Research Agenda," Journal of Management Information Systems (18:1), Summer 2001,
pp. 5-21. (Review)
Andrew B. Whinston and Xianjun Geng: "Operationalizing the Essential Role of the Information
Technology Artifact in Information Systems Research: Gray Area, Pitfalls, and the Importance of
Strategic Ambiguity," MIS Quarterly (28:2), June 2004, pp. 149-159.
Allen S. Lee: "Integrating Positivist and Interpretive Approaches to Organizational Research,"
Organization Science: A Journal of the Institute of Management Sciences (2:4), November 1991,
pp. 342-365.
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Please note the following list of readings for each sub-topic. This is NOT a comprehensive list.
IS Classics
It is generally agreed in the IS Field that every researcher in IS MUST have read the following
articles:
1. Russell L. Ackoff: "Management Misinformation Systems," Management Science (14:4),
December 1967, pp. 147-156.
2. William R. King: "Strategic Planning for Management Information Systems," MIS
Quarterly (2:1), March 1978, pp. 27-37.
3. George P. Huber: "Cognitive Style as a Basis for MIS and DSS Designs: Much Ado about
Nothing?" Management Science (29:5), May 1983, pp. 567-577.
A Tale of Two Papers:
Fichman, R.G. and Kemerer, C.F., "The Illusory Diffusion of Innovation: An Examination of
Assimilation Gaps," Information Systems Research (10:3), September 1999, pp. 255-275.
Williams, L.; Kessler, R.R.; Cunningham, W.; and Jeffries, R., "Strengthening the Case for Pair
Programming," IEEE Software, July/August 2000, pp. 19-25.
Critical Thinking:
Dialog on Leadership, "Awareness is the First Critical Thing," A Conversation with Wanda
Orlikowski, 1999.
Research Ethics:
IRB Process: http://www.uncg.edu/orc/irb.html
AIS Code of Conduct:
http://home.aisnet.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=43
IS Research Frameworks
The following articles cover traditional frameworks in IS:
1. G. Anthony Gorry and Michael S. Scott Morton: "A Framework for Management
Information Systems," Sloan Management Review (30:3), Spring 1989, pp. 49-61.
2. Richard O. Mason and Ian I. Mitroff: "A Program for Research on Management
Information Systems," Management Science (19:5), January 1973, pp. 475-487.
3. Richard L. Nolan and James C. Wetherbe: "Toward a Comprehensive Framework for MIS
Research," MIS Quarterly (4:2), June 1980, pp. 1-20.
4. Steven Alter: "A Taxonomy of Decision Support Systems," Sloan Management Review
(19:1), Fall 1977, pp. 39-55.
5. Ralph H. Sprague Jr.: "A Framework for the Development of Decision Support Systems,"
MIS Quarterly (4:4), December 1980, pp.1-26.
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Research Topics
1. Benbasat, I., & Zmud, R. (2003, June). THE IDENTITY CRISIS WITHIN THE IS
DISCIPLINE: DEFINING AND COMMUNICATING THE DISCIPLINE'S CORE
PROPERTIES. MIS Quarterly, 27(2), 183-194.
2. Weber, R. (2003, June). Still Desperately Seeking the IT Artifact. MIS Quarterly, 27(2),
183-183.
3. Agarwal, R., Lucas Jr., H. (2005, September). THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS
IDENTITY CRISIS: FOCUSING ON HIGH-VISIBILITY AND HIGH-IMPACT
RESEARCH. MIS Quarterly, 29(3), 381-398.
4. Rosemann, M., & Vessey, I. (2008, March). TOWARD IMPROVING THE RELEVANCE
OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH TO PRACTICE: THE ROLE OF
APPLICABILITY CHECKS. MIS Quarterly, 32(1), 1-22.
5. Karuga, G., Lowry, P., & Richardson, V. (2007, March). ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF
PREMIER INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH OVER TIME. Communications of
AIS, 2007(19), 115-131.
6. Carr, N. (2003, May). IT Doesn't Matter. Harvard Business Review, 81(5), 41-49.
7. VERMEULEN, F. (2005, December). ON RIGOR AND RELEVANCE: FOSTERING
DIALECTIC PROGRESS IN MANAGEMENT RESEARCH. Academy of Management
Journal, 48(6), 978-982.
Example Framework development paper
Zafar, Humayun and Clark, Jan Guynes (2009) "Current State of Information Security Research In
IS," Communications of the Association for Information Systems: Vol. 24, Article 34.
Available at: http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol24/iss1/34
Conducting and Evaluation Good Research - Articles in BB
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Reviewing a manuscript – Allen Lee
Camel Through the eye of a needle – Saunders
Diamond cutter – Saunders
Developmental Review – Saunders
Reviewing process - Zmud
Literature Review and Meta-Analysis
Lit review:
Webster, J. and Watson, R.T., "Analyzing the Past to Prepare for the Future: Writing a Literature
Review," MIS Quarterly (26:2), June 2002, pp. xiii-xxiii.
Lit review examples:
Fichman, R.G., "Information Technology Diffusion: A Review of Empirical Research,"
Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Conference on Information Systems, Dallas, 1992,
195-206.
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Alavi, M. and Leidner, D.E., "Knowledge Management and Knowledge Management Systems,"
MIS Quarterly (25:2), March 2001, pp. 107-136.
Meta-analysis:
Henard, D.H. and Szymanski, D.M., "Why Some New Products are More Successful Than
Others," Journal of Marketing Research (38), August 2001, pp. 362-375.
The following article Summarizes the Research Core and IT Area Identity debate.
Nevo, Saggi; Nevo, Dorit; and Ein-Dor, Phillip (2009) "Thirty Years of IS Research: Core
Artifacts and Academic Identity," Communications of the Association for Information Systems:
Vol. 25, Article 24. Available at: http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol25/iss1/24
Research Approaches, Meta-Research and Commentary:
Jack R. Meredith, Amitabh Raturi, Kwasi Amoako-Gyampah & Bonnie Kaplan, "Alternative
Research Paradigms in Operations," Journal of Operations Management, Volume 8, Number
2, 1989, pp. 297-325.
Wanda J. Orlikowski and Jack J. Baroudi: "Studying Information Technology in Organizations:
Research Approaches and Assumptions," Information Systems Research (2:1), March 1991,
pp. 1-28.
Lee, A., & Baskerville, R. (2003, September). Generalizing Generalizability in Information
Systems Research. Information Systems Research, 14(3), 221-243.
Allen S. Lee: "Integrating Positivist and Interpretive Approaches to Organizational Research,"
Organization Science: A Journal of the Institute of Management Sciences (2:4), November
1991, pp. 342-365.
Lee, A. (2001, December). Research in Information Systems: What We Haven't Learned. MIS
Quarterly, 25(4), 401-401.
Lee, A. (1999, March). RIGOR AND RELEVANCE IN MIS RESEARCH: BEYOND THE
APPROACH OF POSITIVISM ALONE. MIS Quarterly, 23(1), 29-33.
MISQ March 99; Mar 2000; Sep 2000;
Berthon, P., Pitt, L., Ewing, M., & Carr, C. (2002, December). Potential Research Space in MIS:
A Framework for Envisioning and Evaluating Research Replication, Extension, and
Generation. Information Systems Research, 13(4), 416-427.
Gregor, S. (2006, September). THE NATURE OF THEORY IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS.
MIS Quarterly, 30(3), 611-642.
Mingers, J. (2001, September). Combining IS Research Methods: Towards a Pluralist
Methodology. Information Systems Research, 12(3), 240.
Readings for Methodology
Methods in IS Research
Benbasat, I., & Zmud, R. (1999, March). EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN INFORMATION
SYSTEMS: THE PRACTICE OF RELEVANCE. MIS Quarterly, 23(1), 3-16.
Positivist/Empirical Research
Varun Grover: "A Tutorial on Survey Research: From Constructs to Theory," (Available online at:
http://people.clemson.edu/~vgrover/survey/MIS-SUVY.html)
Jack J. Baroudi and Wanda J. Orlikowski: "The Problem of Statistical Power in MIS Research,"
MIS Quarterly (13:1), March 1989, pp. 86-106.
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Marie-Claude Boudreau, David Gefen and Detmar W. Straub: "Validation in Information Systems
Research," MIS Quarterly (25:1), March 2001, pp. 1-14.
Petter, S., Straub, D., & Rai, A. (2007, December). SPECIFYING FORMATIVE CONSTRUCTS
IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH. MIS Quarterly, 31(4), 623-656.
Straub, D.W., "Validating Instruments in MIS Research," MIS Quarterly (13:2), June 1989, pp.
146-169.
Pinsonneault, A. and Kraemer, K.L., "Survey Research Metholodology in Management
Information Systems: An Assessment," Organizational Research Methods (10:2), 1993, pp.
75-105
Experimentation Research:
Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa, Gary W. Dickson and Gerardine DeSanctis: "Methodological Issues in
Experimental IS Research: Experiences and Recommendations," MIS Quarterly (9:2), June
1985, pp. 141-156.
Case Research:
Izak Benbasat, David K. Goldstein and Melissa Mead: "The Case Research Strategy in Studies of
Information Systems," MIS Quarterly (11:3), September 1987, pp. 368-386.
Allen S. Lee: "A Scientific Methodology for MIS Case Studies," MIS Quarterly (13:1), March
1989, pp. 32-50.
Case research exemplars:
Markus, M.L., "Power, Politics, and MIS Implementation," Communications of the ACM (26:6),
June 1983, pp. 430-444.
Eisenhardt, K.M., "Making Fast Strategic Decisions In High-Velocity Environments," Academy
of Management Journal (32:3), 1989, pp. 543-577.
Two types of case research:
Trauth, E.M. and Jessup, L.M., "Understanding Computer-Mediated Discussions: Positivist and
Interpretive Analyses of Group Support System Use," MIS Quarterly (24:1), March 2000, pp.
43-79
Action Research:
Baskerville, R., & Myers, M. (2004, September). SPECIAL ISSUE ON ACTION RESEARCH IN
INFORMATION SYSTEMS: MAKING IS RESEARCH RELEVANT TO PRACTICE-FOREWORD. MIS Quarterly, 28(3), 329-335.
Design Science Research
Hevner, A., March, S., Park, J., & Ram, S. (2004, March). DESIGN SCIENCE IN
INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH. MIS Quarterly, 28(1), 75-105.
Walls, J., Widmeyer, G., & El Sawy, O. (1992, March). Building an Information System Design
Theory for Vigilant EIS. Information Systems Research, 3(1), 36-59. Retrieved September 15,
2008, from Business Source Premier database.
Simulation, Modeling and other techniques:
Wand, Y., & Weber, R. (2002, December). Research Commentary: Information Systems and
Conceptual Modeling--A Research Agenda. Information Systems Research, 13(4), 363-376.
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