[AISWorld] Advancing IS Theories SIGPHIL at ICIS workshop 2nd Call

[Nik Rushdi Hassan]

Dear Colleagues,

The always popular SIGPHIL at ICIS workshop this year will be organizing
two-evening workshop at ICIS this year on a topic that is on the mind of
virtually every IS researcher, "Advancing Theories in Information Systems."
With a line up of speakers including Shirley Gregor, Kalle Lyytinen, Varun
Grover, Dubravka Cecez-Kecmanovic, Paul Benjamin Lowry and more, I'd like
to invite you to attend this one-of-a-kind workshop that is sure to make
your ICIS event more memorable. If you don't plan to attend ICIS, you can
also attend the workshop separately. This year, the format of the workshop
will take a new turn, focusing on gathering as many innovative and fresh
views on theorizing and theories in IS as we can into an edited
multi-volume text for the benefit of the IS community. Please consider
contributing to this effort in any way you can. It is extremely difficult
to produce a chapter with our busy schedules, so the workshop will accept
BOTH FULL CHAPTERS and EXTENDED ABSTRACTS by Oct 15th, in about two weeks.
Please read the detail announcement below.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Nik



7th Concurrent SIGPHIL at ICIS Workshop
on Advancing IS Theories

In conjunction with the 2018 International Conference of Information
Systems (ICIS), the AIS Special Interest Group on Philosophy in Information
Systems (AIS-SIGPHIL) will hold its 7th Concurrent SIGPHIL at ICIS Research
Workshop during two evenings of the ICIS conference in San Francisco, CA at
the San Francisco Marriot Marquis hotel. Unlike previous SIGPHIL workshops
this event is specifically designed to gather chapters for an edited book
on advancing IS theories. At the same time, the workshop provides an
excellent opportunity to spend quality time with thought leaders of the IS
community in an informal and friendly environment.
Workshop Presenters and Organizing Committee (in alphabetical order—more to
be added as we get closer to the event)



Dubravka Cecez-Kecmanovic, University of New South Wales, Australia

Shirley Gregor, Australia National University, Australia

Varun Grover, University of Arkansas, USA

Nik Rushdi Hassan, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA

Paul Benjamin Lowry, Virginia Tech, USA

Kalle Lyytinen, Case Western Reserve University, USA

Lars Mathiassen, Georgia State University, USA

John Mingers, Kent University, UK

Leslie Willcocks, London School of Economics, UK

…. (more coming)
Workshop Theme

The IS field has been debating the nature and role of theories for some
time (with the SIGPHIL leading the discussion with several previous
theory-related workshops). It seems that the time has come, with the
planets and stars aligning, for a major milestone in this effort—a
definitive text that we are calling collectively “Advancing IS Theories.”
Intense debate rages on regarding what constitutes IS theory and the role
of theories in IS (Avison and Malaurent 2014; Bichler et al. 2016; Gregor
2014; Holmström and Truex 2011; Lee 2014; Markus 2014) with disagreements
concerning native theories in the IS field (Grover et al. 2012; Straub 2012),
whether or not a theoretical core is necessary and the link between the
legitimacy of IS and theories (King and Lyytinen 2004; Lyytinen and King
2004; Lyytinen and King 2006; Orlikowski and Iacono 2001; Weber 1987; Weber
2003; Weber 2006). As these debates take on new forms, the field’s flagship
journal, the Journal of the Association for Information Systems (JAIS)
continues to organize its annual theory workshop at ICIS, recently MIS
Quarterly announced its Special Issue on “Next generation IS Theories” and
the Information Systems Journal (ISJ) is even working a special issue on
indigenous theories—theories contextually tied to specific cultural
elements in diverse societies around the world. Yet, there appears to be a
glaring omission as more and more of these efforts build upon the IS
field’s growing understanding of theories: IS researchers understand
theories in very different ways, so much so that any attempt to build,
analyze, evaluate, enhance or establish any theory in IS becomes either
extremely difficult or at least will be held back.

We can no longer wait for the lengthy and arduous journal peer-review
system to generate the necessary innovative and forward-looking views on
theories that will take the IS field in the right direction towards
legitimacy and relevance. The goal of this workshop is to engender some
form of agreement with regard to IS theories from thought leaders of the IS
community to address this gap. The major questions that will be answered
include: What can we agree on with regard to theories? What constitutes
theories and what doesn’t? What does an IS theory look like? The answers to
these kinds of questions will be presented and discussed at this workshop
and selected papers from the workshop will form chapters of a multi-volume
edited text collectively titled “Advancing Theories in information
systems.” A tentative list of chapters and topics are provided below. The
list is only demonstrative of what the editors of the text (Nik R. Hassan,
John Mingers, and Leslie Willcocks) envision the final product might look
like. It will very likely take the form of two volumes (1) Theories and the
Process of Theorizing, and (2) IS Theories As the event approaches, this
list will be continually updated:
Proposed title: Advancing Theories in Information Systems (Vol I)-Theories
and the Process of theorizing in IS



Introduction: Why Theories? (Hassan, Mingers & Willcocks)
1

Merton's Middle-Range Theories for IS (Hassan, Lowry and Mathiassen)
20

IS Theorizing as Discursive Practice (Hassan, Mathiassen & Lowry)
40

Problematizing the IS artifact: The role of questions in theorizing
60

Against paradigms? Reevaluating IS Paradigms (Hassan & Mingers)
80

Theory and Practice: Bridging research and non-discursive IS practices
100

The workhorse of theorizing: Analogies in IS Theorizing
120

The Power of Metaphors in IS
140

Myths as sources of IS theories
160

Models and contexts of discovery in IS
180

Conceptualizing IS Concepts
200

Mapping an IS Research Framework
220

Hypotheses Building in Quantitative and Qualitative IS research
230

IS constructs and variables
250

*Advancing Theories in Information Systems (Vol II): Information Systems
Theories*

The shape of IS Theories (Hassan, Mingers & Willcocks)
1

Indigenous IS theories (Grover & Lyytinen)
20

Theories of Information in IS
40

Theories of Technology in IS
60

Systemic Complexity theory (Hassan)
80

An IS theory of sociomateriality (Cecez-Kecmanovic)
100

Semiotic theories in IS (Mingers & Willcocks)
120

Representation theories in IS
140

Theory of IS Security
160

Where is the design theory in design science research (DSR)?
180

Causal mechanisms in IS theories (Mingers)
200

…………
Program

*Thur, Dec 13, 2018 (Location to be determined) *

7:30pm-7:45pm: Introductions by Shirley Gregor and Nik Hassan: The goals
for the workshop

7:45pm-8:30pm First Plenary keynote (TBD)

On theories and theorizing

8:30pm-8:50pm First presentation and Q&A

8:55pm-9:15pm 2nd presentation and Q&A

Cofee Break

9:20pm-9:40pm 3rd presentation and Q&A

9:40pm-10:00pm 4th presentation and Q&A

Wrap up first evening

*Fri, Dec 14, 2018 (Location to be determined) *

*Dinner 5:30-7:00pm (Location to be determined)*

7:00pm-7:15pm: Introductions by Shirley Gregor and Nik Hassan: Where are
the IS Theories?

7:15pm-8:15pm Second Plenary keynote (TBD)

8:20pm-8:40pm First presentation and Q&A

8:40pm-9:00pm 2nd presentation and Q&A

Coffee Break

9:10pm-9:30pm 3rd presentation and Q&A

9:30pm-9:50pm 4th presentation and Q&A

9:50pm-10:00pm Wrap up
Workshop Paper Submission

We invite you to submit your chosen topic to be reviewed by the editors and
reviewers. Both full chapters and extended abstracts that will be completed
on after the conference are welcomed. The chapter and abstracts should be
designed to both fulfill the goal of the edited text and encourage in-depth
discussion during the workshop. Selected authors will present their papers
during the workshop. The SIGPhil can provide written confirmation for
authors needing support for conference travel. Submit all papers to the
EasyChair conference site
*“https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=icissigphil7
<https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=icissigphil7>” *by October 15th,
2018. Papers not selected will be forwarded to the History and Philosophy
section of the *Communications of the AIS* for possible publication.

*Important Information and dates:*

Register for ICIS Conference and workshop as early as possible.
Registration for the workshop only (not attending ICIS) is also available.

Workshop Registration Fee: Early registration $80/Regular $90 (Student
$60/$65) includes dinner on Dec 14th.

Submission site: *https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=icissigphil7
<https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=icissigphil7>*

Deadlines:

For full chapters and extended abstracts: October 15th, 2018

Decision on papers: October 31st, 2018

SIGPhil Home Page: http://sigphil.wordpress.com
References

Avison, D., and Malaurent, J. 2014. "Is Theory King?: Questioning the
Theory Fetish in Information Systems," *Journal of Information Technology*
(29:4) pp. 327-336.

Bichler, M., Frank, U., Avison, D., Malaurent, J., Fettke, P., Hovorka, D.,
Krämer, J., Schnurr, D., Müller, B., Suhl, L., and Thalheim, B. 2016.
"Theories in Business and Information Systems Engineering," *Business
Information Systems Engineering* (58:4) pp. 291-319.

Gregor, S. 2014. "Theory – Still King but Needing a Revolution!," *Journal
of Information Technology* (29:4) pp. 337-340.

Grover, V., Lyytinen, K., and Weber, R. 2012. "Panel on Native IS
Theories," *Special Interest Group on Philosophy and Epistemology in IS
(SIGPHIL) Workshop on IS Theory: State of the Art*, Orlando, FL, Dec 16-19.

Holmström, J., and Truex, D. 2011. "Dropping Your Tools: Exploring When and
How Theories Can Serve as Blinders in IS Research," *Communications of the
Association for Information Systems* (28:1) pp. 283-294, Article 219.

King, J.L., and Lyytinen, K. 2004. "Reach and Grasp," *MIS Quarterly*
(28:4) pp. 539-552.

Lee, A.S. 2014. "Theory Is King? But First, What Is Theory?," *Journal of
Information Technology* (29:4) pp. 350-352.

Lyytinen, K., and King, J.L. 2004. "Nothing at the Center? Academic
Legitimacy in the Information Systems Field," *Journal of the Association
for Information Systems* (5:6) pp. 220-246.

Lyytinen, K., and King, J.L. 2006. "The Theoretical Core and Academic
Legitimacy: A Response to Professor Weber," *Journal of the Association for
Information Systems* (7:11) pp. 714-721.

Markus, M.L. 2014. "Maybe Not the King, but an Invaluable Subordinate: A
Commentary on Avison and Malaurent’s Advocacy of ‘Theory Light’ IS
Research," *Journal of Information Technology* (29:4) pp. 341-345.

Orlikowski, W.J., and Iacono, C.S. 2001. "Research Commentary: Desperately
Seeking the 'IT' in IT Research--a Call to Theorizing the IT
Artifact," *Information
Systems Research* (12:2) pp. 121-134.

Straub, D. 2012. "Editorial: Does MIS Have Native Theories," *MIS Quarterly*
(36:2) pp. iii-xii.

Weber, R. 1987. "Toward a Theory of Artifacts: A Paradigmatic Base for
Information Systems Research," *Journal of Information Systems* (1:2) pp.
3-19.

Weber, R. 2003. "Editor's Comments: Theoretically Speaking," *MIS Quarterly*
(27:3) pp. iii-xii.

Weber, R. 2006. "Reach and Grasp in the Debate over the IS Core: An Empty
Hand?," *Journal of the Association for Information Systems* (7:10) pp.
703-713.


-- 
Nik Rushdi Hassan, PhD and Assoc. Professor of MIS
Head, Dept of Management Studies
Labovitz School of Business and Economics
University of Minnesota Duluth
1318 Kirby Drive, LSBE 385A
Duluth MN 55812
Office Phone: (218) 726-7453
Fax: (218) 726-7516
Home Page: www.d.umn.edu/~nhassan
Email: nhassan at d.umn.edu
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nikrushdi/