Information Systems (IS) is an active, interventionist discipline that mobilises information and knowledge so people can effectively take knowledgeable, informed actions in their organisational and social setting. It is concerned with understanding and formalising areas of human activity and developing IT-based systems that responsibly intervene in those areas for the benefit of all stakeholders. The shape of IS practice is a bit like the middle loop in Figure 12.1, “A general model of information systems activity.”: analysis, modelling, systems construction and intervention in a human activity system.

The outer components in the diagram show some of the generic theories, tools and techniques used in the process of IS work. The theories and understandings from ontology, organisational behaviour, ethics, and so on inform IS practice. Information technology and infrastructure are a driving force in the IS process, having a particular effect on representational techniques and the systems specification possibilities.

Looked at from an IS practice perspective, research is a human activity and the research world a human activity system. As such, it is susceptible to IS intervention. Just as we have e-business, e-learning or health informatics, so we can have e-research.

Using this model, we can examine research as a human activity system, and look at the current technologies in use.