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Communications of the Association for Information Systems

Author ORCID Identifier

Gaurav Bansal: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0775-5225

Abstract

This report provides an overview of the Business Deans' panel discussion held during the 2024 Midwest Association for Information Systems Conference at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

The panel emphasized the multidimensional nature of the societal impact, which this report categorizes into tangible, intangible, and product and service-level dimensions, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Panelists shared guiding principles for setting societal impact goals, highlighting the importance of stakeholder engagement, faculty champions, goal credibility, and open communication—principles that resonate with the organizational goal legitimacy framework in the existing literature. The panel also identified best practices for goal-setting, which this report maps to goal-setting theory. In addition, this report highlights the role of Information Systems in advancing societal impact initiatives. It presents guidelines and best practices to drive societal impact goal identification, support collaborative efforts, and lead initiatives forward.

As societal impact becomes increasingly central to curricula and accreditation, the panel's findings offer a roadmap to help institutions align their societal impact goals with their strengths, filling gaps in the literature and providing much-needed guidance for driving societal impact. The session also offered actionable takeaways to help business schools meet accreditation standards while fostering positive societal contributions.

DOI

10.17705/1CAIS.05753

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