Information systems and culture - a systematic hermeneutic literature review

This paper addresses a challenge faced by authors of literature reviews in the information systems (IS) discipline; how can systematic rigor be applied when conducting literature reviews while maintaining flexible hermeneutic engagement with the literature? The paper describes a systematic hermeneutic approach for conducting a literature review that allows the strengths of different literature review methods to be combined in a complementary fashion. The use of this approach is demonstrated through a review of the large extant body of research exploring IS and culture. Culture is widely perceived as an important contributor to issues in IS initiatives. Through this review, an updated and refreshed understanding of IS and culture research is obtained, and ideas for further research are exposed. The hermeneutic approach facilitates the emergence of insight through a cyclical engagement between the authors and the text that in this instance provides a new perspective for future IS and culture research and literature reviews.