Crisis in the Information Systems Discipline: A Reflection

Abstract

This paper explores the issue of crisis in Information Systems discipline. It is argued that lack of a clearly shaped identity for the discipline is causing the problem of legitimacy and wide spread acceptance that IS discipline is facing. These problems put the discipline in crisis. Three dimensions of crisis are examined, viz., absence of core theories and concepts, lack of rigor and relevance in IS research outputs, and fragmented nature of IS research. It is concluded that IS research community must create an identity for itself for a better future. © 2007 Sumit Bakshi and S Krishna.