Who do you think you are? A review of the complex interplay between information systems, identification and identity

Abstract

This paper introduces the special issue on information systems, identity and identification. In addition to introducing the papers in the special issue, it provides a state-of-the-art review of research into identity and identification to contextualise the contributions of the special issue papers. The paper reviews research themes in personal and organisational identity as well as research challenges in identification before considering the interplay between these two strands.

Keywords:

• social identity
• organisational identity
• identification
• biometrics
• privacy
• security

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Edgar A. Whitley

About the Authors

Edgar A. Whitley is a Reader in Information Systems in the Department of Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Edgar was the research coordinator of the influential LSE Identity Project on the U.K.'s proposals to introduce biometric identity cards; proposals that were scrapped following the 2010 General Election. His book with Gus Hosein Global Challenges for Identity Policies was published by Palgrave in 2010. Edgar has also advised governments in Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Jamaica about the political, technological and social challenges of effective identity policies. Edgar has a B.Sc. (Econ) and Ph.D. in Information Systems, both from the LSE. He is the co-editor of Information Technology and People and has served as conference chair for the European Conference on Information Systems, track chair for the International Conference on Information Systems and was an associate editor for the European Journal of Information Systems and MIS Quarterly. In addition to his research on privacy and identity, Edgar is also researching cloud computing and is the co-author of book Moving to the Cloud Corporation, published by Palgrave 2014.

Uri Gal

Uri Gal is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School. Before joining the University in 2010 he was an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Center for Applied Information and Communication Technology at Copenhagen Business School. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Information Systems from Case Western Reserve University and an M.Sc. degree in Organisational Psychology from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research takes a social view of organisational processes in the context of the implementation and use of information systems. He is particularly interested in the relationships between people and technology in organisations and the changes in the nature of work practices, organisational identities, and interactions associated with the introduction of new information technologies.

Annemette Kjaergaard

Annemette Kjaergaard is an Associate Professor at the Copenhagen Business School. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Business Economics and Information Systems from Copenhagen Business School and an M.Sc. degree in Computer Science and English from Roskilde University in Denmark. Her research interests are organisational and human implications of implementation and use of information systems with a particular focus on social and organisational identity as well as on organisational change processes.