ecis 2010 - in search of paradigms

8/8/2019 ECIS 2010 - In Search of Paradigms

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In Search of Paradigms:

Identifying the TheoreticalFoundations of the IS Field

Daniel MoodyMaria Iacob

Chintan AmritDepartment of Information

Systems & ChangeManagement, University ofTwente, The Netherlands


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Theoretical Foundations of

Information Systems


Information Systems1. What is theory and why is it

important?

2. Current state of theory in IS

3. Paradigm detection: the core theoriesof the IS field

4. Conclusion


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What is theory?

What is theory?

X 2. What is theory and why is it important?


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What is theory?

What is theory?

A theory is an abstract entity thataims to describe, explain and enhance

understanding of the world and insome cases to provide predictions ofwhat will happen in the future and togive a basis for intervention and

actionGregor (2006)


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Native vs imported theories

Native vs imported theories

Native (indigenous) theory:

developed in the IS field

Imported (introduced or

exotic) theory: borrowedfrom a reference discipline


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Why theory is important

Why theory is important

The distinction between reporting and doingscience lies in whether data is gathered for its

own sake or whether it is used to measure thevalues associated with things (called units ofa theory and loosely called variables whentalking about theories). The first procedure we

call description; the second we call research.

Robert Dubin


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Why theory is importantWhy theory is important

The identity of a discipline is established throughthe contributions it makes to theory. The corephenomena of the discipline are circumscribed viathe theories owned by the discipline that accountfor these phenomena. Disciplinary identity andownership of theories are inextricably linked.

Likewise, the theories owned by a discipline andits core phenomena are inextricably linked.

Weber, 2003


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Information Systems


Information Systems1. What is theory and why is it

important?


3. Paradigm detection: the core theories

of the IS field

4. Conclusion


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X 2. Current State of Theory in IS

The State of Theory in IS

(according to the experts)

The State of Theory in IS

(according to the experts)

Emphasises research

methodology (how)

over theory (what)

Overly reliant on

theory from

reference disciplines

(imported theories)


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The State of Theory in IS(according to the experts)The State of Theory in IS(according to the experts)

The inter-logic of any scientific discipline is itstheoretical underpinnings and scientific growth ispossible only through proliferation of theories. Not

surprisingly, the rather insignificant progress of MIScan be attributed, to a large degree, to the fact that itlacks articulated theories of its own.

In spite of recent progress in the demarcation of its

boundaries, MIS has not made very significantprogress as a scientific discipline. This will not changeuntil MIS develops a body of substantive theoriesspecific to its domain. (Farhoomand 1987)


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I believe that, as members of a discipline, we still need toimprove our theory-building skills. In my view, we stillrely too much on theories borrowed and adapted from

other disciplinesperhaps a manifestation of our need tobuild theories in domains where no prior theory exists.

As a discipline we have a reputation for using andadapting theories developed in other disciplines. Little

wonder, also, that we see few high-quality standalonetheory papers in our discipline, in spite of the significantinsights that such papers can provide about informationsystems-related phenomena. (Weber, 2003)


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In the IS field, theories are scarce (Lee et al, 2003)

The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) isregarded as the most influential and commonlyemployed theory in information systems. Some alsoconsider it to be the only well-recognised theory in

IS. (Benbasat and Barki 2007)


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Information Systems


Information Systems

1. What is theory and why is it

important?



of the IS field

4. Conclusion


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X 3. The Core Theories of the IS Field

Kuhns theory of scientific revolutionsKuhns theory of scientific revolutions

1.

rescientific chaos

. nification

irst

ara i

.

or

alscience

ara i

s

. cientific revolutions(

ara i shifts)

.

.

.

nor

alscience


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Our missionOur mission

Theories ... the final frontier. Our

mission: to explore the boundaries

of the IS field, to identify its coretheories (paradigm detection) and

analyse their nature (paradigm

dissection); to boldly go where noIS researcher has gone before.

adapted from Kirk (1982)


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Consulting the Geological RecordConsulting the Geological Record


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Citation AnalysisCitation Analysis

Sampling frame:

Top 5 IS journals

Last 5 years (2003-2007)

Analysis of all references (includes books

and conference papers)


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Top 10 cited sources( = book, yellow = theory)Top 10 cited sources( = book, yellow = theory)

1. Davis et al (1989): MIS Quarterly Native theory

2. Fornell et al (1981): Journal of Marketing Research Research methodology

3. De Lone & McLean (1992): Information Systems

Research

Native theory

4. Yin (1994): Case Study Research Research methodology

5. Klein and Myers (1999): MIS Quarterly Research methodology

6. Davis et al (1989): Management Science Native theory

7. Rogers (1995): Diffusion of Innovations Imported theory

8. Venkatesh et al (2003): MIS Quarterly Native theory

9. Eisenhardt (1989): Academy of Management Review Research methodology

10. Fishbein & Ajzen (1975): Belief, Attitude, Intention and

Behavior Native theory


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AnalysisAnalysis

All theory or research methodology sources

60/40 split in favour of theory overresearch methodology

Twice as many native as imported theories;almost 3 times the influence

50/50 split between IS and non-IS sources


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Top 10 theories (blue = native theories)Top 10 theories (blue = native theories)

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AnalysisAnalysis

Healthy mix (50/50) between native andimported theories

Influence of native theories twice that ofimported theories

Two most influential theories 20 yearsold


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Evolution of theories in IS acceptance(genealogical analysis)Evolution of theories in IS acceptance(genealogical analysis)

Theory ofReasoned

Action (TRA)

Technology

AcceptanceModel (TAM)

specialised to IS contexts

where use is voluntary

TAM2

extended to mandatory situations

Motivational

model

intrinsic

extrinsic motivationTheory of

PlannedBehaviour

extended

DecomposedTPB

specialised to IS contexts

C-TAM-TPB

Theory ofhuman

behaviour

Model of PC

Utilisation

Innovationdiffusion

theory

Socialcognitive

theory

Social psychology

Social psychology

Social psychology Social psychology Management Psychology

UTAUT

IDT (IT) -Moore and

Benbasat 1991

constructs + measures


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Survival of the Fittest: User AcceptanceSurvival of the Fittest: User Acceptance

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Information Systems


Information Systems

1. What is theory and why is it

important?



of the IS field

4. Conclusion


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X 4. Conclusion

Conclusion: rumours about the lack of

theory in IS have been greatly exaggerated

Conclusion: rumours about the lack of

theory in IS have been greatly exaggerated

Appears to be theoretically well-grounded

Does not focus on research method at the

expense of theory

Not overly dependent on reference

disciplines

No identity crisis: has its own theories

Where is the

problem,Houston?


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The Big Picture: Mapping the Theoretical

Landscape of the IS Field

The Big Picture: Mapping the Theoretical

Landscape of the IS Field

T M T T TP STISM

X 4. Conclusion

ecis 2010 - in search of paradigms

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