Information systems research at the crossroads
external versus internal views
pp. 233-254
in: Richard Baskerville, Jan Stage, Janice DeGross (eds), Organizational and social perspectives on information technology, Berlin, Springer, 2000Abstract
The advent of the third millennium provides the backdrop for exploring the current intellectual stage of IS research in both substance and matters of research methods. The paper first identifies and reflects upon two key aspects that have shaped our discipline for the past three decades and are critical for us as a community to get right if the discipline is to flourish. These aspects surround: (1) the external view of the state of the community and (2) the internal state of the community. It is our contention that, in both areas, the discipline faces significant problems. In the second part of the paper, we identify some promising steps to be taken next in IS research and its institutionalization as we cross the millennium threshold.