IS Research Relevance Revisited: Subtle Accomplishment, Unfulfilled Promise, or Serial Hypocrisy?

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

The topic of "IS research relevance" is receiving increasing attention from the IS research community. In this article, based on a panel discussion at the 2001 International Conference on Information Systems, three arguments are explored in connection with IS research relevance. The first argument, called "subtle accomplishment", suggests that IS research is relevant, but in a subtle way. The second argument, called "unfulfilled promise", maintains that the promise of conducting relevant research is still unfulfilled. The third argument, called "serial hypocrisy", argues that, while "relevance to practice" is frequently proclaimed as a virtue in public, in reality practical relevance does not matter in IS research.