Identifying MIS research issues using a research framework

Abstract

A research framework is important in identifying the research areas of a discipline. A comprehensive framework is proposed to identify the MIS research issues: a 5 x 5 matrix; it has MIS core activities as one dimension and MIS allied fields as the other. The previously proposed frameworks are mapped into this. Some example research hypotheses are made using the framework, and it is used to determine the areas with inadequate research. The statistics for each of the 25 cells for the period 1979–1987 are obtained using Dialog, a computer-aided aided database. A regression analysis is used to find the growth of each cell of the matrix: most is done in the technological issues of system design and construction. The areas with the least research effort are economic aspects of MIS use/effect, economical aspects of information system operation, and quantitative analysis in MIS management.