Communicating MIS Research: A Citation Study of Journal Influence

Due to difficulties with objectively evaluating the quality of MIS research, attitudes about journals in which this research is published play an important role in determining the allocation of research resources. To provide a more objective basis for these attitudes, we examine journal influence in communicating MIS research over a 9-year period using citation analyses, researcher perceptions, and publishing patterns of top MIS research universities. As a result of these analyses, we identify a cohesive stable group of highly influential journals which can reasonably be called an MIS core. An internal ranking of this core is then determined which is significantly different from prior rankings.