In need of narratives of IS

摘要

Geoff Walsham's article represents a welcome perspective on the ongoing debates of the status and future(s) of the information systems (IS) field (Walsham, 2012). I will begin by giving my reading of his argument and then offer some opinions. Walsham begins with a paradox: Why is discussion of crisis in the IS field so prevalent when the significance and usage of IS has grown dramatically? His way forward is to summarise, critique, and set out his views on four key debates in IS - the nature or core of IS, its subject matter, its methods, and its relationship to other fields of enquiry. Walsham proposes a flexible identity for IS, centred on the question of 'are we making a better world with ICTs'? As for subject matter, the field has diverse communities, with different practices, that can address a variety of technologies and their settings. However, it should be possible for this diversity to unite around a common ethical agenda that may have a critical edge and is able to inspire researchers and audiences alike. On methodology, he can be read as arguing for methodological pluralism coupled with a willingness to be open to new areas of research. Finally, Walsham accepts the necessity of interdisciplinarity yet cautions on its difficulty in practice. Specifically, he focuses on the critical importance of IS journals in providing outlets for interdisciplinary work and for IS output in the journals of other disciplines to be recognised as important and desirable.