Information Systems Conceptual Foundations: Looking Backward and Forward

The academic field of information systems has developed because organizations use a specialized body of knowledge about information and communications systems. Teaching and research support these organization needs. The field may be defined in terms of observed information systems in organizations and also in terms of the function or field of activity for system planning, development, management, and evaluation. Since the systems deal with capture, repositories, processing, and communication of data, information, and knowledge, these are also defined. Conceptual foundations for the field are the set of concepts and propositions that explain why structures are designed the way they are, tasks are scheduled and accomplished in the way they are, and activities are performed the way they are. There are three approaches to conceptual foundations: an intersection approach that accepts any concept from any field if it appears to add insight and explanation to information systems practice and research, a core approach that seeks to define those ideas that characterize the discipline and make it distinct, and an evolutionary approach that seeks a cohesive set of concepts by combining the concepts from the core approach with concepts from other fields that over time are found to be especially useful to information systems. At this time, there is significant variety and a number of concepts that are said to be useful in research and practice. In the long run, 62 Part 2: Transforming the Fundamentals the evolutionary approach relative to conceptual foundations will probably prevail and reduce the scope and variety somewhat. It is a mixed strategy that fits the diversity inherent in a worldwide community of scholars. As the core concepts are developed and clarified, the core will be strengthened. However, there will still continue to be strong use of other bodies of knowledge containing concepts that support explanation and research relative to information systems.