Abstract

The ongoing debate about the identity of the Information Systems (IS) discipline is examined from a new perspective. Two recent studies are contrasted to demonstrate the limits of retrospective analysis for defining the discipline of IS. A new model for discovery transdisciplinary IS research, based on concepts and discourses is suggested. Latent Semantic Analysis is proposed as an approach to identifying concepts which form transdisciplinary discourses. Conceptual mapping across disciplines may elucidate fruitful areas of research and a transdisciplinary approach to research may improve research salience and intellectual contributions. Such an approach may also weaken or dissolve the discipline as an applied business/organizational field focused on the information technology artifact. This may have the long term effect of maintaining intellectual plasticity and relevance, and expanding the range of intellectual contributions available to IS researchers. But moving beyond IS identity as presently constituted will require rethinking institutional structures upon which the identity of IS is currently dependent.

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