Literary Sketches in Information Systems Research: Conceptualization and Guidance for Using Vignettes as a Narrative Form

ABSTRACT

This paper analyzes the usage of vignettes as a narrative form in information systems (IS) research. A review of 48 papers from IS top journals with 119 vignettes exposes the versatile usage of vignettes as a narrative form and shows their usefulness in research communication. The paper conceptualizes vignette usage through a taxonomy and archetypes. To support the future dissemination of this useful narrative technique, it further derives recommendations and guidance for scholars.

KEYWORDS:

• vignette
• taxonomy
• archetype
• vignette study

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Using the subset of 102 vignettes out of the 41 papers from 2010 to 2019

2. DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12770054

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stefan Klotz

Stefan Klotz is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Business and Economics TU Dresden, Germany. He graduated from the Technical University of Munich and the University of Augsburg with a master’s degree in Finance and Information Management. His research interests focus on IS governance and IS managed in business units, and he is writing his doctoral thesis about Business-managed IT and IT governance.

Simon Kratzer

Simon Kratzer is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Business and Economics TU Dresden, Germany. He graduated from the Technical University of Munich and the University of Augsburg with a master’s degree in Finance and Information Management. His research interests focus on information systems executives in the digital era, and he is writing his doctoral thesis about the Fractional CIO.

Markus Westner

Markus Westner is a professor of IT Management at OTH Regensburg, Germany. He is author of several journal articles and conference papers. His teaching and research focuses on IT strategy and IT sourcing. He acts as Associate Editor for Information & Management and the International Journal of Information Systems and Project Management. Before he started his academic career, he worked as a management consultant in a project manager position for one of the world’s leading management consultancies.

Susanne Strahringer

Susanne Strahringer is a professor of Business Informatics especially Information Systems in Trade and Industry, at TU Dresden, Germany. Before joining TU Dresden, she held positions at the University of Augsburg and the European Business School. She graduated from the Darmstadt University of Technology, where she also obtained her PhD and completed her habilitation thesis. She has published in Information & Management, Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application, Information Systems Management, and Journal of Information Systems Education, among others. Her research interests focus on IS management, ERP systems, and enterprise modeling.