Start Date

12-16-2013

Description

This paper seeks to offer an assessment on the extent to which we, as IS academics, have been faithful to sociotechnical paradigm, often considered as a fundamental guiding frame for the discipline. As a first step, the paper identifies eight ways in which the technical and the social are featured in the IS literature. Having done so, the paper provides a critical commentary on whether, and in what sense, we have been true to the sociotechnical framework. Finally, the paper offers some ideas for the IS community to reflect on regarding how to move forward with respect to sociotechnical framing of IS research.

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Dec 16th, 12:00 AM

How “Sociotechnical” is our IS Research? An Assessment and Possible Ways Forward

This paper seeks to offer an assessment on the extent to which we, as IS academics, have been faithful to sociotechnical paradigm, often considered as a fundamental guiding frame for the discipline. As a first step, the paper identifies eight ways in which the technical and the social are featured in the IS literature. Having done so, the paper provides a critical commentary on whether, and in what sense, we have been true to the sociotechnical framework. Finally, the paper offers some ideas for the IS community to reflect on regarding how to move forward with respect to sociotechnical framing of IS research.