The paper argues that CDA (Critical Discourse Analysis) provides an appropriate research framework for analyzing textbooks with regard to the identification of cultural depictions. By drawing some examples concerning the techniques used in textbook analysis, this paper has come to suggest that each technique reflects aspects of the three major paradigms such as positivism, critical theory and i...

In its quest for knowledge and understanding the Information Systems (IS) field has generally been torn between positivist and interpretivist approaches. However, in this paper an approach that accepts many of the underlying beliefs of both positivism and interpretivism is presented: the fictive approach. This blended approach – most comprehensively developed by Vaihinger reveals how much of wh...

This paper pursues two objectives. First it depicts the status of research philosophies of the IOS adoption field. Second, it gives an overview of the discussions within the field of IS about interrelating research philosophies and analyzes to which extent this has happened in the IOS adoption field thus far. In depicting the philosophical status of the field we apply Orlikowski and Baroudi’s (...

We are grateful to Richard Posner and Mark Kelman for their detailed comments on our article. Their objections come from opposite directions. Judge Posner complains that behavioral economics is not a "theory" and is indeed "antitheoretical"'; he invokes "evolutionary considerations"2 in the interest of providing a unitary account of both rational and "quasi rational" behavior, as well as bounde...

This article explores the teacher-student relationship and its influence on students’ learning experiences academic performance. The authors acknowledge limited research conducted in this specific domain emphasize need to delve into impact of activities. Employing interpretivism narrative inquiry as chosen methodology, explore six participants, encompassing students from diverse educational ins...

Abstract This paper aims to examine the challenges of preventing internal identity theft related crimes (IIDTRC) in UK retail sector. Using an in-depth multiple case studies a selected number cross-functional management teams companies, roles were analysed. We used semi-structured interview as qualitative data collection technique and Nvivo aided thematic analysis interpretivism underpinned by ...

This paper indicates the influence of paradigms and theories on the development of South Africa’s National Water Resource Strategy, Second Edition. Five paradigms exist: positivism, postpositivism, interpretivism/constructivism, critical theories and the participatory paradigm. I use the PULSE3 framework for analysis that I developed to analyse the NWRS2. I found that positivism is the dominant...

Early problems associated with the development of computer systems led to the much cited ‘software’ crisis, which in turn has engendered an understanding of development that has sought a solution in terms of control and standardisation. However, systems still continue to disappoint and this paper proposes that two challenges provide one research avenue where greater understanding is required. T...

Information systems (IS) is a relatively new discipline with many researchers having their foundation studies in other disciplines. The IS discipline is moving towards some sense of its own identity and some agreement on what constitutes suitable foci of research. Coming from other fields of study, however, our researchers bring perspectives on particular modes of enquiry and methodological par...

The rationalist approach to strategizing emphasizes analytical and convergent thinking. Without denying the importance of this approach, this book argues that strategists must learn to complement it with a more creative approach to strategizing that emphasizes synthetic and divergent ways of thinking. The theoretical underpinnings of this approach include embodied realism, interpretivism, pract...