Last year, the European Journal of Information Systems’ premier Editor-in-Chief, Ray Paul, defined a number of clear challenges for Information Systems (IS) in one of a series of editorials about change (CitationPaul, 2007). It reverberated with the ongoing introspective concerns across the discipline in which many felt it was time to change-or-die. Does IS have relevance to practice (CitationRosemann & Vessey, 2008)? Does it have a core (CitationBenbasat & Zmud, 2003)? Does it have a theory (CitationLarsen & Levine, 2005)?
In recent issues, EJIS has published a number of opinion articles regarding the past, present, and future of the discipline of IS. Some of these have dealt with problems for IS that have no regional borders such as, ‘What exactly is “IS”’ (CitationAlter, 2008)? Others have particularly focused on European IS, and its distinctiveness (or lack of distinctiveness) (CitationGalliers, 2008; CitationPaul, 2008).
In the following opinion paper ‘The future of Information Systems’, Antony Bryant returns us to the broader discussion in suggesting that IS is in the process of adapting to the late modern world, and struggling with new modes of thinking about information, communication, and technology in their context of biological, social, linguistic, and cultural change. Perhaps the IS we are creating and studying are better adapted than we can comprehend with old ways of thinking. Bryant offers new ways to change our modes of thinking about our subject area.
References
- AlterSDefining information systems as work systems: implications for the IS fieldEuropean Journal of Information Systems200817544846910.1057/ejis.2008.37
- BenbasatIZmudRWThe identity crisis within the IS discipline: defining and communicating the discipline's core propertiesMIS Quarterly2003272183194
- GalliersRDA discipline for a stage? A Shakespearean reflection on the research plot and performance of the information systems fieldEuropean Journal of Information Systems200817533033510.1057/ejis.2008.30
- LarsenTJLevineLSearching for management information systems: coherence and change in the disciplineInformation Systems Journal200515435738110.1111/j.1365-2575.2005.00202.x
- PaulRJChallenges to information systems: time to changeEuropean Journal of Information Systems20071619319510.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000681
- PaulRJThe only duty we owe to history is to rewrite it: reflections on Bob Galliers’ article ‘A discipline for a stage?’European Journal of Information Systems200817644444710.1057/ejis.2008.47
- RosemannMVesseyIToward improving the relevance of information systems research to practice: The role of applicability checksMIS Quarterly2008321122