A Critical Review of Ray J. Paul’s Challenges to information systems: time to change
Challenges to Information Systems
The article seeks to argue the case that information systems as a field and discipline requires urgent attention if it is to have any relevance in today’s organization. He theorizes that the lack of understanding between information systems (IS) and information Technology (IT) could lead to a loss of appreciation of the value IS brings to the table. This builds his hypothesis that IS is not recognized unless a need arises; and even then it is not actual IS specialist who are called upon but IT specialists.
Approach of Issues Raised
The author highlights five issues that affect IS which form the basis of his argument; The lack of recognition of IS outside the IS community, the decline in student pursuing IS related disciplines, lack of value-add from journal league tables and the argument on what IS is meant to be (Paul, 2007). While very valid points, only the issues relating to student selection and journal league tables seem to have had the background research well described. The other issues are still up for discussion and at this point are items for further research and analysis.
The ones that stand out in my view relate to the misunderstanding of IS and the research and publications of IS content. While it is clear to the author what IS ought to be based on in his perspective, the greater organization does not relate to the concept and this in itself is an item for discussion as proposed together with Philip Powell and Richard Vidgen from Bath University. I believe this misunderstanding of what IS is and isn’t is perpetuated by knowledge passed through our curriculum that is mostly based on ideologies that were built upon on concepts laid out in the 1940-80s and have molded the mindset of professionals in these fields (Katz, 1999). I concur with the author in his definition of IS and to what it relates, moreover, I could add that this has to be more flexible as it is increasingly covering aspects of human behavior as well leading to consequences beyond the technical, consequences relating to social and political aspects of an organization (Martinez, 1999). A good example is the way we interact with our smart homes; the ability to have technology change our environment and behavior directly and in-directly meaning these definitions might not be sufficient in a few years (Maternaghan, C. & Turner, K. J., 2013). These new perspectives are steadily expanding the boundaries of what constitutes IS.
Research publications in IS on the other hand seems to be an issue that plagues other public fields such as health and policing or that have a need to ranking for the sake of promotion or tenure. I disagree with the author that journal league tables are entirely meaningless. I believe they can be used internally to improve performance, encourage debate and when not published to reduce some of the negative side effects as described by the author. For something that has a lot of controversy (Beth & Harvey, 2012), journal league tables can be used to refine and enrich journal submissions.
Assumptions It is assumed that those in the IS field don’t agree to the general definition of IS yet we have the UKAIS definition which is widely accepted and that all that’s required is a consensus. This is something that requires clarification and forms the basis of further discussions in this field.
Conclusion The proposed antidotes form a forward thinking approach to mitigating the academic and social issues affecting IS. Further discussions may be required within and outside IS to arrive at an understanding on the debatable issues, these will add to the clarification of what IS is and what it should be.
References
Paul, R. J. (2007). European Journal of Information Systems. Challenges to information systems: time to change, p193–195
Katz, R. N., Ed. (1999). Dancing with the Devil: Information Technology and the New Competition in Higher Education. Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education Series. p128-130
Martinez, D. T. (1999). Systems Development Methods for Databases, Enterprise Modeling, and Workflow Management p209-231
Foley, B. & Goldstein, H. (2012). Measuring Success: League Tables in The Public Sector. London: Smith & Watts, p35-47
Maternaghan, C. & Turner, K. J. (2013). Policy Conflicts in Home Automation. Stirling, p15-22
