Is discipline in the IT services land: an exploratory study of IS in India
Description
Information Systems (IS) research is characterized by a plurality of methodologies, perspectives, and contexts, giving rise to diverse communities within the discipline. Studies of IS research communities in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region highlight variations in cognitive diversity, institutional distribution, and research themes across geographic contexts. While such regional differences are widely recognized, the debate on the identity and status of the IS discipline remains ongoing. In this paper, we undertake an exploratory study of the IS research paradigm in India, contributing to the broader literature on IS as a discipline by incorporating the Indian perspective. We analyze the “cognitive” and “behavioral” legitimacy of the IS discipline in India based on interviews conducted with faculty members from both IS and non-IS disciplines in Indian business schools. The study aims to understand the current state of the IS research community in India. Our findings indicate a need to establish a stronger “collective identity” for IS research in the country. Such an identity would benefit both the Indian IS community and the global discipline by enabling scholars to engage with unique research opportunities arising from India’s socioeconomic context.
Copyright Date
January 2012
Publication Date
1-1-2012
Pagination
11p.
Publisher
ACIS
Keywords
Indian Is Research, Information Systems, Is Discipline, Is Identity
Conference
23rd Australasian Conference on Information Systems: 3-5 December, 2012, Geelong, Victoria