The practitioner perspective

The Information Systems (IS) discipline traces its origins to issues that were of interest practitioners, but in recent years the practitioner perspective has often been neglected. Nevertheless, there is increasing recognition practitioner's still important and research we undertake can (or should) have implications for practitioners. Journals like MIS Quarterly Executive target this segment exclusively. In this, they complement non-IS journals magazines broader business technology spheres also practitioners mind, including: Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management California Communications ACM, McKinsey Quarterly, Academy Perspectives, CIO Magazine, etc. Moreover, some existing are predominantly focused on publishing theoretical contributions, example, make up Association Systems' College Senior Scholars list eleven premier journals,1 demonstrated open practitioner-oriented submissions. Journal (ISJ) several championed publication what call Practitioner Papers (PPs). PPs contribute knowledge a number different ways, one our key objectives promoting further dialogue between academia practice. As part dialogue, should provide deep insights researchers into experience with IS particular context, as well as, course, prescriptive actionable recommendations practice based executed research. Insights may include reframing or reimagining specific problems, offering thorough exploration phenomenon, documenting lessons learned by illustrating good practices their outcomes. To render these actionable, articles will action-oriented prescriptions suggest do differently While primary intended audience PPs, academic benefit, instance when engage new phenomena propose challenge extend discourse. Such outcomes inspire future work re-examine those prior findings, perhaps researcher's problematisation phenomenon (Chatterjee & Davison, 2021). Although commonly thought working organisations, recognise be found diverse settings not necessarily serving corporate entity. We find political spectrum (i.e., lawmakers), non-governmental charities, villages, communities. They formally employed, activists, simply citizens an using world better place (Walsham, 2012). Submissions PP genre at ISJ sporadic quality varied. Examples published Tamm et al. (2022) Tim (2021), while Pan Pee (2020) offer framework demonstrating impact encourage undertaking research, recently both reformulated guidelines2 announced special issue3 focuses exclusively Our aim spur work. regular articles, could written about wide range topics within broad domain. Like all journals, seek publish cutting edge advances Thus, intend used vehicle teaching cases, low (rejected) incremental contribution particularly interested investigate contemporary emerging issues, blockchain, digital futures, generative AI (artificial intelligence), robotics/automation, simulations/digital twins, sustainable IS. many topic areas concern practicing managers, emphasise managers sole welcome submissions non-managerial readers, including academics, employees citizens. For instance, societal problems contributed very difficult solve thus would appreciate submission articulate illustrative case studies how groups society trying address them. note fundamental purpose advance theory! Instead, solving practical addressing challenges face. This does mean theory barred from since expect authors aware relevant themselves consonant theory. frameworks employed theory-informed, even incorporate ideas language might literature. want imagine required rejected if it lacks contribution. expect, however, novel putting Some effective ways providing frameworks, guidelines identification demonstrably adopt. addition insights, conclude action-oriented. Authors help readers see steps take extract value presented. line previous editorials (Davison, 2023; Díaz Andrade al., 2019), learning works kind achieved, local global scale. study undertaken South Africa needs situated African refer unique features context inform study, surface context. validity beyond study's geographic cultural topic, ERP (enterprise resource planning) implementation, Fintech Impacts, applications, etc., such extended need justified care (cf. Davison Martinsons, 2016; Seddon Scheepers, credibility enhanced least authors, ideally leading role, current practitioner. realise (like everyone else) busy significant time energy commit project, practitioner-author PP. implies regard mere ‘translation’ exercises extrapolate assumed theoretically-driven project. Rather, significantly informed perspectives, throughout entire lifecycle, problem formulation articulation recommendations. When originates practitioners' interests viewpoints core. identify which beneficiary findings present resonates audience. Keep mind limited executives CIO, CTO CDO, involve any legitimate who engages information systems, frontline back office employees, consultants, contractors, specialists NGOs more generally. Clarke comment tendency entity (whether CEO organisation) stakeholder whose own stakeholders valid beneficiaries only possible benefit non-corporate stakeholders, citizens, environment, indeed respect creation non-economic value. require problematise studying carefully motivation related filling gap literatures, instead identifies affects worth investigating. order valuable reference literature exploring significance problem. works, where, when, why potential put action high standard evidence convince reviewers veracity contemporaneity, is, papers report well-established norms. careful treatment methods Readers knowing was done, approached situation, applied. keep heart paper short accessible, description PP, applicable, generally appendix. concerned reviewed. Firstly, believe essential element review, so each passes initial screening sent review reviewer. supplementary reviewer, reviewer whom pay much attention reviewers. selecting reviewers, mindful expertise appoint authored papers. antagonistic towards notion format differ consulting reports Reviewers overly format, examine message attempting convey. If technical, full jargon, likely understood either audience, raise flag. understand concepts inter-coder reliability transactive memory, not, adjusted less jargon-filled. similar way, confused terms especially rooted organisational contexts. championing perspective, bring longer term impacts hope reinvigorate debate relevance seriously. closer community. learn look forward active contributions debate. other through medium. Is downside? Ivory tower resent foray practice, dislike consultants. PhD students confused, supervisors tell them steer clear whether readers. venture existential threat sanctity discipline. people, you assess utility your has, career, h-index curriculum vitae, stakeholders. Indeed, aver reputation (and h-index) greatly presence vitae.