ABSTRACT
The study of computer information systems is multi-disciplinary, fragmented among hundreds of disparate concerns often of a narrow, applied nature (Studer, 1972). Attending a national meeting such as that of the Association for Computing Machinery immediately reveals that this is a field which brings together odd bedfellows, ranging from sociologists broadly concerned with technology and social change to programmers concerned only with developments regarding a particular computer language. Although theories for information systems management, such as TQM, have been applied to computer environments (CAUSE, 1994; Collins, 1994), and although the value of information systems in implementing theories like TQM is recognized (Hendrick, 1994), theories of information systems have received less attention. However, in spite of its generally theoretic nature (Cooper, 1988 p. 92), organization theory applies to information systems as it has to traditional public administration areas (Carson, 1989a).
