Information Systems Foundations: Theorising in a Dynamic Discipline

13-14 September, 2012

Research School of Accounting and Business Information Systems
The Australian National University

Program & Papers

Map of important locations [141 KB]

Accomodation

A special ANU event rate is available from Rydges Lakeside (click to access booking portal).

Registration

The registration page for the workshop can be accessed here -> OneStop

Further details will be added progressively to this web site.

Introduction

Information Systems is still a relatively young field of study that, perhaps uniquely, deals with a juxtaposition of technology, in the form of computing and communication technology artefacts, and the humans and organizations that design, implement and use systems built with that technology. This, combined with the fact that computing and communication technology continues to change and advance in functionality and potential at bewildering speed, makes the task of developing useful, robust and relevant theory in the information systems discipline a challenge of daunting proportions. It may, indeed, be argued that such theoretical foundations as exist in information systems are weak, diffuse and poorly integrated at least in part because of this fact. Accordingly, the aim of the Information Systems Foundations workshops is to provide an opportunity for those with an interest in the foundations of their discipline to discuss, debate and hopefully contribute to improving those foundations.

The 2012 Workshop

The 2012 workshop will be the seventh in a series, begun in 1999 by Kit Dampney at Macquarie University and continued biennially from 2002 at the ANU, focussing on the theoretical foundations of the discipline of information systems. Previous workshops have generally been regarded by the attendees as great successes since they have combined not only interesting and thought provoking papers that have, in a number of instances, gone on to be published in highly regarded journal outlets, but also stimulating discussions together with highly enjoyable social programmes to complement the more formal part of the gatherings. Proceedings of previous ANU workshops are still available (see the ANU E-Press website http://epress.anu.edu.au/). We anticipate and believe that the 2012 workshop in the Information Systems Foundations series will not only uphold the standard achieved in prior gatherings but also build on the strengths of previous meetings, resulting in an even better, more stimulating and rewarding experience for all involved.

High quality papers that have not been previously published and are not under consideration for publication or presentation elsewhere are solicited for presentation at the 2012 Workshop. Submitted papers will undergo a double-blind review process, with at least two independent reviewers per paper. Like the 2010 and previous workshops, accepted papers will be published in the form of an edited volume, available for free download or print-on-demand hardcopy publication, by the ANU E-Press.

Workshop Theme

As with the previous Workshops, the focus of this Workshop is on the theoretical foundations of information systems. In particular, for this 2012 Information Systems Foundations Workshop we are looking for papers that focus on the issue of continuing rapid change, its likely impact on theories and theorising in the discipline, the resilience of particular theories or theories in general to dramatic change in the phenomena with which they deal, and ways in which theories that are more robust in this sense can be built.

Suggested Topics

Suggested topics for the Workshop are (but are not intended to be limited to):

• Appropriate levels of abstraction for information systems theories.
• Specific theories in information systems and their resilience in the face of changing phenomena.
• Meta-level discussions of theories and change and their application to information systems
• Historical perspectives from which lessons for future theorising in information systems may be learned.
• Comparative studies of the situation in information systems with that in other similar or related disciplines.
• Studies in information systems that have a strong link to, relevance or implication for the field's theoretical foundations and the issue of change.

The main requirement for a paper to be acceptable for the Workshop is that it addresses clearly some theoretical body or bodies of knowledge in the information systems or a related domain. In addition, papers should indicate, where appropriate, the implications for practice of the theory or theories under consideration.

Papers that are carefully argued, stimulating and (especially) speculative and controversial, and that are likely to encourage lively discussion and debate are especially encouraged.

Keynote Speaker

Professor Andrew Burton-Jones, University of Queensland

Important Dates

Paper submission date (full paper): 30 June, 2012
Notification of acceptance/rejection: 28 July, 2012
Final papers due: 31 August, 2012

Submission Requirements

Papers are to be submitted electronically to: infsys-foundations@anu.edu.au

Style requirements are specified in the provided template. Submitted papers must use and adhere to this paper template.

Template -> ISF 2012 Workshop submission template (Word .doc format)

Program Chairs

Professor Shirley Gregor, AO
Dr Dennis Hart

Organising Chair

Dr Alex Richardson    

Other Details

Submission of a paper implies that, if it is accepted, at least one author will register for the workshop and present the paper at the workshop.

Papers accepted for presentation will be published in the Workshop Proceedings. Copyright arrangements will be similar to those of the Australasian Conference on Information Systems. That is, the authors assign to the Workshop organizers a non-exclusive license to use the paper in full in the Proceedings and on the Workshop web site. For further queries, email infsys-foundations@anu.edu.au or alex.richardson@anu.edu.au.

 

 > Call for papers [123 KB]
 > Submission template