Search

Information systems researchers have a long tradition of drawing on theories from disciplines such as economics, computer science, psychology, and general management and using them in their own research. Because of this, the information systems field has become a rich tapestry of theoretical and conceptul foundations. As new theories are brought into the field, particularly theories that have become dominant in other areas, there may be a benefit in pausing to assess their use and contribution in an IS context. The purpose of this paper is to explore and critically evaluate use of the resource-based view of the firm (RBV) by IS researchers. The paper provides a brief review of resource-based theory and then suggests extensions to make the RBV more useful for empirical IS research. First, a typology of key IS resources is presented, and these are then described using six traditional resource attributes. Second, we emphasize the particular importance of looking at both resource complementarity and moderating factors when studying IS resource effects on firm performance. Finally, we discuss three considerations that IS researchers need to address when using the RBV empirically. Eight sets of propositions are advanced to help guide future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation of the development of Australian scientific and technological information (STI) service has been undertaken. It comprises a consideration of the characteristic and development of the services, which is the focus of this part of the paper, along with a broader examination of discipline formation in information management covered in Part II. This first part of the study provides an historical overview of the development of several of the services that were established in the 1970s. Specific reference is made to Australian Agriculture and Natural Resources Online (AANRO), the Australian Medical Index (AMI), Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Information (ANSTI) Australian Transport Index (ATRI), AusGeoref and its forerunner AESIS, and the Australian engineering database (ENGINE). The account includes a summary of the policy environment that influenced the development of database and which supported the original STI services. Some observations are made about STI publishing output from Australia, the way it is reported and how appropriate reporting and how appropriate reporting and documentation of that output might continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an alternative view of the Information Systems identity crisis described recently by Benbasat and Zmud (2003). We agree with many of their observations, but we are concerned with their prescription for IS research. We critique their discussion of errors of inclusion and exclusion in IS research and highlight the potential misinterpretations that are possible from a literal reading of their comments. Our conclusion is that following Benbasat and Zmud's nomological net will result in a micro focus for IS research. The results of such a focus are potentially dangerous for the field. They could result in the elimination of IS from many academic programs. We present an alternative set of heuristics that can be used to assess what lies within the domain of IS scholarship. We argue that the IS community has a powerful story to tell about the transformational impact of information technology. We believe that a significant portion of our research should be macro studies of the impact of IT. It is important for academic colleagues, deans, and managers to understand the transformational power of the technology. As IS researchers with deep knowledge of the underlying artifact, we are best positioned to do such research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article develops reliability as a measure of information systems (IS) success based on the critical success factors (CSF). This paper constructs the hierarchical configuration of CSFs using Rockart's data on CSFs of IS executives, and checks the applicability of this configuration by using Martin's data. The article then derives IS reliability from the CSF configuration.
Reliability is a quantifiable measure useful in the control and management of IS. It provides an early warning about the quality of the IS, and identifies the areas where the trouble lies. Reliability can be used to compare various information systems, and as the numerical example in this article demonstrates, this measure could be used extensively in cost/benefit analyses of competing IS investment projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of end-user computing is a double-edged sword: it offers new opportunities for improving the effectiveness of organizations, but it also creates new risks for a firm's information resources. This paper describes an organized approach for effectively managing end-user computing. It is based on the definition of "service support levels" which link support services to responsibilities. These levels form the basis of a cooperative effort between the MIS department and the end user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the type of paper submissions that will be accepted by the program committee of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. There are four types of paper submissions: 1) contributed papers; 2) contributed posters and short papers; 3) symposia and panels; and, 4) pre-conference sessions. For instance, contributed papers present original, recent research and design projects, and theoretical developments or innovative practical applications providing more general insight into an area of practice.