Synthesizing Diversity and Pluralism in Information Systems: Forging a Unique Disciplinary Subject Matter for the Information Systems Field

The issues of diversity, pluralism and the subject matter of the information systems (IS) field are critically analyzed using the philosophical works of Michel Foucault and studies in disciplinarity. This essay argues for the IS field to forge its own unique disciplinary subject matter by synthesizing the diverse discourses of its “reference disciplines” and not by merely drawing from them. Using examples of other established disciplines with equally multidisciplinary origins, this paper analyzes the history of the IS field to uncover the field’s subject matter. The proposed subject matter maintains the IS field’s richness and diversity without losing its unique identity.