Abstract
Expert interviews, a commonly employed qualitative data collection procedure in information systems research (IS), lack consistent conceptualization. This paper aims to address this gap by providing a conceptual framework and comprehensive guidelines for a rigorous implementation of expert interviews, supported by real-world examples. After a systematic selection of method-relevant literature, a thematic analysis of twenty-eight articles, books, and book chapters is conducted to elicit the distinctive characteristics and rigorous conduct of expert interviews. Validation is provided by analyzing nineteen studies published in important IS outlets that use expert interviews. A particular focus is on a subset of five studies that cover digital transformation topics. The analysis reveals expert interviews’ flexibility as data collection procedure and shows the wide range of application opportunities for IS researchers. Lastly, we discuss theoretical and practical implications of our findings to enhance the rigor, systematic use, and relevance of expert interviews in IS research.
Paper Type
Full Paper
DOI
10.62036/ISD.2024.48
Enhancing Expert Interviews: Insights from IS and Digital Transformation Research
Expert interviews, a commonly employed qualitative data collection procedure in information systems research (IS), lack consistent conceptualization. This paper aims to address this gap by providing a conceptual framework and comprehensive guidelines for a rigorous implementation of expert interviews, supported by real-world examples. After a systematic selection of method-relevant literature, a thematic analysis of twenty-eight articles, books, and book chapters is conducted to elicit the distinctive characteristics and rigorous conduct of expert interviews. Validation is provided by analyzing nineteen studies published in important IS outlets that use expert interviews. A particular focus is on a subset of five studies that cover digital transformation topics. The analysis reveals expert interviews’ flexibility as data collection procedure and shows the wide range of application opportunities for IS researchers. Lastly, we discuss theoretical and practical implications of our findings to enhance the rigor, systematic use, and relevance of expert interviews in IS research.
Recommended Citation
Hassmann, T. & Westner, M. (2024). Enhancing Expert Interviews: Insights from IS and Digital Transformation Research. In B. Marcinkowski, A. Przybylek, A. Jarzębowicz, N. Iivari, E. Insfran, M. Lang, H. Linger, & C. Schneider (Eds.), Harnessing Opportunities: Reshaping ISD in the post-COVID-19 and Generative AI Era (ISD2024 Proceedings). Gdańsk, Poland: University of Gdańsk. ISBN: 978-83-972632-0-8. https://doi.org/10.62036/ISD.2024.48