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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=DE link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>(Apologies for cross-postings of this announcement.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>****************************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>CALL FOR PAPERS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>23rd European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS 2015)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Track: Advancing Theories and Theorizing in IS Research<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>(http://ecis2015.eu/files/tracks/19AdvancingTheoriesandTheorizinginISResearch.pdf)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>May 27-29, 2015, Münster, Germany (http://ecis2015.eu/)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>****************************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>TRACK CHAIRS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Dorothy E. Leidner, Baylor University, Texas, USA, dorothy_leidner@baylor.edu<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Benjamin Mueller, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, b.mueller@rug.nl (Corresponding track chair)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Nils Urbach, University of Bayreuth, Germany, nils.urbach@uni-bayreuth.de<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>DESCRIPTION<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>The generation of knowledge from data can likely be seen as one of the key contributions of any science. Consequently, scholars like Whetten (1989), Steinfield and Fulk (1990), and Blalock (1969) have emphasized the centrality of theories for any scientific endeavor – a thought widely reflected in many disciplines from natural to social sciences (Atmanspacher 2007). While this attention to theoretical work has been at the heart of the IS discipline for a long time (cf. Keen 1980), we believe that advanced theorizing in an increasingly networked society calls for a dedicated discussion on the evolution of existing methodological and conceptual approaches to theorizing. Particularly the growing connection of individuals and groups with other people and organizations forces us to pay attention to complexity and contingencies that create opportunities and challenges for the careful development of new theories. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Recently we have seen some of our reference disciplines turn towards reviving their own examination of theories and theoretical work and their role in producing high quality scholarly contributions (e.g., in management research). It is this rekindled interest that leads us to suggest that the IS discipline, too, should intensify its discussion of theory and theorizing above and beyond such landmark papers as Gregor's (2006) influential piece on the role of theory in IS research, Urquhart et al.'s (2010) guidelines for theory building, Weber's (2012) treatment of quality of theories and theorizing, or Straub's (2012) discussion on native IS theories.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>This track is targeted towards picking up this debate. It provides a platform for the discussion and development of new approaches to theorizing as well as new methods to inform this theorizing. We also want to engage in a differentiated discussion on the nature and role of our theorizing in our discipline in order to advance our understanding of the "networked society." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>We seek submissions that are innovative, novel, and significant in terms of advancing our discipline's ability to theorize phenomena in the networked society. We place particular emphasis on a submission's ability to highlight how it helps us as a discipline to better describe, explain, predict, and design these phenomena. The latter requires special considerations. Following the classic work of Simon (1981), artifacts have an inside and outside view and we encourage specific consideration of both. In methodological contributions, we encourage potential authors to elaborate on what in the phenomena we study can now be captured better and how and why the method suggested is able to do that. Authors of methodological pieces are encouraged to carefully reflect on issues of epistemology in their work. In theoretical pieces, we will look not only for novel ideas, but also for a careful integration with what is known already and how and why the new contribution advances existing nomological nets.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>TOPICS OF INTEREST<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Conceptual advances in theories for IS research<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* New theories on phenomena of the networked society<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* Significant advances or critiques of existing theories (e.g., innovative or substantially improved construct conceptualizations or meaningful extensions through additional constructs)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* Exploration of multi-level aspects extending existing theories<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* Integration / synthesis of existing theories<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* Detailed application of existing theories to inform design and action (e.g., formal verification, design theories, as well as exploring the interaction between technology artifact and humans)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* Reflections on theories-in-practice and what we can learn from their application<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Methodological advances in theorizing about IS phenomena<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* New or advanced methods for data collection with an emphasis on what kind of data they contribute beyond conventional methods as well as a discussion of how and why this advances our theorizing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* New or refined methods of data analysis (i.e., theorizing, theory building) with an emphasis on a comparison to established approaches and a discussion of how and why they advance our theorizing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* Strategies for inductive theorizing and the building of substantive theories grounded in an IS context<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* The interplay of theory and design and how engaged forms of scholarly work help to advance our discipline theoretically<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* A constructive critique of existing methods and an identification of impacts on and limits to current theorizing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>The nature and role of theoretical contributions of IS research<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* An analysis of the current state-of-the-art of the discipline's theorizing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* Reflections on what can be learned from reference disciplines<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>* Frameworks and typologies for theories and theoretical work in IS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>SPONSORSHIP<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Our track collaborates closely with the European Journal of Information Systems (EJIS). Based on the reviews and editorial recommendations, the authors of the best papers submitted to the track will be invited to participate in the EJIS paper development workshop immediately after the ECIS conference. There, authors will have the opportunity to further develop their papers for consideration as part of a planned EJIS special issue building upon the track.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>IMPORTANT DATES<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Paper Submission begins: October 6, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Submission Deadline Date: November 28, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Notification of Acceptance: End of February 2015<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Final version of accepted papers due: March 31, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Early Bird Registration closes: April 12, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>ASSOCIATE EDITORS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Frederik Ahlemann, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Andrew Burton-Jones, University of Queensland, Australia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Samir Chatterjee, Claremont Graduate University, California, USA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Yogesh Dwivedi, Swansea University, UK<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Nik R. Hassan, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota, USA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Dirk Hovorka, Bond University, Australia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Allen Lee, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia, USA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Sebastian Olbrich, Mercator School of Management, Germany<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Suzanne Rivard, HEC Montreal, Québec, Canada<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Suprateek Sarker, Washington State University, Washington, USA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Henk Sol, University of Groningen, The Netherlands<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Ron Thompson, Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ron Weber, Monash University, Australia<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>