Enacting Research Methods in Information Systems: Volume 2

Enacting Research Methods in Information Systems: Volume 2

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Enacting Research Methods in Information Systems: Volume 2 Edited by Leslie P. Willcocks London School of Economics and Political Science, UK Chris Sauer Oxford University, UK and Mary C. Lacity University of Missouri-St Louis, USA

Editors Leslie P. Willcocks London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK Mary C. Lacity University of Missouri-St Louis St Louis, Missouri, USA Chris Sauer Oxford University Oxford, UK ISBN: 978-3-319-29268-7 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-29269-4 ISBN: 978-3-319-29269-4 (ebook) Association for Information Technology Trust 2016 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2016 978-3-319-29268-7 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland

Contents List of Figures and Tables vi Introduction 1 Leslie P. Willcocks, Chris Sauer and Mary C. Lacity Section IV Interpretive Research Approaches 11 Towards a Hermeneutic Method for Interpretive Research in Information Systems 11 Tom Butler 12 Application of Hermeneutics to Studying an Experience Mining Process 40 Tanya Linden and Jacob L. Cybulski 13 Exploring the Role of Informants in Interpretive Case Study Research in IS 84 Bendik Bygstad and Bjørn Erik Munkvold 14 An Exploration of Information Systems Adoption: Tools and Skills as Cultural Artefacts the Case of a Management Information System 116 Deborah Bunker, Karlheinz Kautz and Anhtai Anhtuan 15 Institutionalizing Operational Risk Management: An Empirical Study 134 Carol Hsu, James Backhouse and Leiser Silva Section V Action Research Approaches 16 A Critical Perspective on Action Research as a Method for Information Systems Research 169 Richard L. Baskerville and A. Trevor Wood-Harper 17 The Rise of the Phoenix: Methodological Innovation as a Discourse of Renewal 191 David G. Wastell, Tom McMaster and Peter Kawalek 18 Systems Development as a Research Act 213 Jim Hughes and Trevor Wood-Harper v

List of Figures and Tables Figures 11.1 A conceptual model of the nature of being and understanding 17 11.2 The circle of understanding and research on the systems development process 30 11.3 An information systems development process model 32 12.1 Pattern format 43 12.2 Multimedia domain coding scheme 58 12.3 A pattern skeleton (with gaps) induced in the second hermeneutic cycle 62 12.4 Pattern crafting process with coding outcomes noted 63 12.5 The full pattern produced by the focus group on design issue Business Type as Influence on Web Site Design before and after ghost-writer s editing 66 12.6 Refined pattern mining process 71 13.1 Ladder of analytical abstraction, after Carney (1990) 103 16.1 The action research cycle (Susman, 1983) 175 16.2 Organized use of rational thought (Checkland, 1985) 178 16.3 Cycle of action research (Checkland, 1991) 179 18.1 Distance and engagement between researcher and subject with different data gathering methods (Nandhakumar and Jones, 1997, p. 113) 214 18.2 Core category and major categories from the HVP action case 224 Tables 11.1 Perspectives in contemporary hermeneutics 13 11.2 A taxonomy of dialectic techniques for hermeneutic research 22 vi

List of Figures and Tables vii 11.3 Methodological principles for the interpretive process 26 11.4 A constructivist research strategy for research on the systems development process 28 11.5 The circle of understanding as applied in the case 33 12.1 Examples of color related issues (via coding) 55 12.2 Common issues of concern to practitioners 59 12.3 Outline of an emerging pattern language 61 12.4 Evaluation of the pattern crafting process 74 12.5 Comparing pattern crafting processes (as embedded in pattern mining) 77 13.1 Data collection in the airline case 96 13.2 Informants feedback during three phases 97 13.3 Summary of arguments 106 14.1 The five dimensions of management control 121 15.1 Summary of findings and their relation to data and theory 139 15.A1 Documents and interviewees 164 17.1 SPRINT time line 197