Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2015
Abstract
This essay challenges fundamental, silo-oriented assumptions about the IS discipline. It shows how work system theory and its extensions form a potential basis for overcoming that silo-orientation and finding and exploiting areas of overlap with other disciplines. Within the IS discipline, this paper shows how WST and extensions provide a basis for thinking differently about fundamental topics including the following: IS as a system-related discipline, system usage, sociotechnical systems, planned and emergent change in systems, system development and systems analysis and design, user participation and IS/IT projects, attaining value from IS and IT, IS success, business/IT alignment, and IS theories and a body of knowledge for IS. This paper also shows directions toward synergies and possible collaborations with other disciplines that build on areas of overlap.
Recommended Citation
Alter, S. (2015) "Overcoming Silo Thinking in the IS Discipline by Thinking Differently about IS and IT," AMCIS 2015, Twenty First Americas Conference on Information Systems, Puerto Rico.
