ABSTRACT

In Rethinking Information Systems in Organizations John Paul Kawalek challenges the current orthodoxy of information systems and proposes new alternatives. Bold and ambitious, this book tackles the thorny issues of integration of disciplines, cross over of functions, and negotiation of epistemological divides in IS. Historically, the IS discipline has struggled to embrace and integrate technical as well as organizational knowledge, skills and methods. Kawalek argues that there are now a new set of imperatives that will irrecoverably change IS, affecting the way many organizations deploy and access their information and technology. This book defines how the traditional practices of Information Systems are required to integrate into a process of organizational problem-solving.

An essential read for students of business information systems, organizational theory and research methods, Kawalek’s work also provides core methodological principles on organizational change and problem solving, and presents an effective rationale for their use in Information Systems contexts.

part |2 pages

Part I The discipline of information systems

chapter 1|13 pages

Emergence

chapter 2|21 pages

Failings

part |2 pages

Part II Principles of organizational problem solving

chapter 3|16 pages

Ontology

chapter 4|24 pages

Methodology

part |2 pages

Part III Inquiring activities in organizational problem solving

chapter 5|11 pages

Diagnosis

chapter 6|48 pages

Processes

chapter 7|12 pages

Monitoring and control

chapter 8|18 pages

Strategy

chapter 9|14 pages

Intervention

chapter 10|9 pages

Evaluation

part |2 pages

Part IV Whither inquiring activities?