Disciplinary Pluralism, Flagship Conferences, and Journal Submissions

摘要

BISE has made huge efforts during the past years to master the diversity of subject topics, research paradigms, and research methods in our discipline. The sub-division into seven distinct departments was a strenuous attempt to accommodate and nourish the different research streams in our community. This culture of pluralism implies merits and challenges. While other journals tend to emphasize specific research topics or streams, BISE intends to be a research platform for a multitude of research streams in information systems with an emphasis on the development of novel technological artifacts. Such a strategy bears the inherent risk of fragmentation and requires the commitment and support of those scholars who are highly renowned in the respective research stream. Furthermore, it demands structural flexibility, since a technology driven research discipline faces constant change. New topics emerge, interest in older topics levels off. Our department structure is not set in concrete but aims to adapt as disciplines evolve. At the same time, it should provide stability and define the key research streams in business and information systems engineering in a time where shortterm IT-trends and an increasing number of methods and topics seem to challenge the identity of the field.