Part 1. Foundations of information systems theory and research

Table of Contents

1. Towards an understanding of theory

Introduction

The lingering death of positivism

A ‘scientific’ perspective

Interpretivism and constructivism

The technological perspective

A typology of theory for information systems

Concluding remarks

2. The development of ‘grand’ theory

Introduction

Information systems: fading into the background

‘Information systems as a reference discipline’ – Baskerville and Myers

A problem of visibility

The value of cultural capital

Theory as symbolic capital

Finding a site for grand information systems theory

Existing portfolio-level theory

Toward a structural theory of information systems

Conclusions and recommendations

3. The reality of information systems research

Introduction

Characterising information systems research

Ontology

Reference ontologies

Domain specific ontologies

Ontology and artificial intelligence

Approaches to categorisation

Approaches to the literary work of art

Providing for perspectives: identifying an appropriate reference ontology

Establishing and empirically validating ontological categories

Conclusions

4. Qualitative research in information systems

Introduction

Qualitative research perspective

Grounded theory

Personal construct theory

Narrative inquiry

Conclusions