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: 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. 1 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 2 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. 3 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 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. 4 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 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. 5 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. 6 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 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9