The Information Systems Academic Discipline in Australia
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The Information Systems Academic Discipline in Australia

Table of Contents

Foreword
Contributors
The context
1. The information systems discipline in Australian universities: a contextual framework
Introduction
Features of the second phase
The ‘parent’ IS in Pacific-Asia study (IS-in-PA) design
The phase one Australian study (IS-in-Oz) design
Study questions in phase one of the IS-in-Oz study
The literature
Past studies of the IS discipline
Relevant theory
Study approach
Overview
The state case studies
Mechanisms to increase representativeness
Methodological action research
Study overview
The IS discipline in Australian universities: a contextual framework
A retrospective of the IS discipline in Australia
Characterising academic IS in Australia: developing and evaluating a theoretical framework
The IS discipline in Queensland, 2006
The IS discipline in the Australian Capital Territory, 2006
The IS discipline in New South Wales, 2006, and response
IS in South Australia: a critical investigation
The IS discipline in Tasmania, 2006
The IS discipline in Victoria, 2006
IS teaching and research in WA universities
A longitudinal study of IS research in Australia
The IS academic discipline in Australian universities: a meta-analysis
The Australasian Conference on Information Systems
ACIS archival analysis
Conclusion
Communicating study results
Limitations
References
Appendix 1.1: The information systems academic discipline in Australian universities—a multi-state case-study protocol
Overview of the multiple case study
The study team
Purpose of the case-study protocol
Type of case study
Background to the current study
Theoretical framework
Approach to data gathering
Ethical considerations
Preparation for the interview
Starting interviews
Recommended data to be gathered from each interview
Acknowledgements
2. A retrospective of the information systems discipline in Australia
Introduction
Origins and nature of the IS discipline
The foundation years overseas
Europe
North America
The first 40–50 years in Australia
Until 1960
From 1960 to 1973
From 1974 to 1987
Since 1988
Drivers and scope
Political dimensions
International orientation and impact
Discipline size and staff location
Relationships with the IS profession
Relationships with industry
Political weakness and resource constraints
Intellectual dimensions
The research domain
Research techniques
Conclusions
Select bibliography
Appendix 2.1: Professors
The basis of the compilation
List by institution
List by person
Appendix 2.2: Early Australian PhDs in IS
Appendix 2.3: The early international impact of Australian IS
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgement of bias
Acknowledgements of others
Vale Cyril Brookes
3. Characterising academic information systems in Australia
Introduction
IS as a discipline or field
Approaches to the development of disciplines
Largely independent approaches to explain disciplinary development
Combined approaches to explain disciplinary development
Motivation to understand the nature and development of a discipline
Vignettes of disciplinary development
An analysis of the literature to develop a framework
Methodology
Results
Discussion and findings
Framework development
Adaptability of framework to future change in IS
Review of the recent literature on pragmatism
Testing the placement of pragmatism in the framework
Applicability of the framework to IS in other world regions
Applying the framework to IS in North America: a comment from Professor Bob Zmud, from the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma, USA
Applying the framework to IS in the United Kingdom: a comment from Professors Frank Land, from the London School of Economics, and Antony Bryant, from the School of Information Management at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK
Applying the framework to IS in Scandinavia: a comment from Professor Karlheinz Kautz, from the Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
Collating international views on the framework
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Select bibliography
The state case studies
4. The information systems discipline in Australia’s capital
Introduction
The research method
The theoretical framework guiding the study
The universities in this study
Overview of the IS presence in the ACT universities
ADFA
The ANU
The UC
Distinctive features of the IS curriculum
ADFA
The ANU
The UC
Distinctive features of IS research
The UNSW@ADFA
The ANU
The UC
Key figures who have influenced IS in ACT universities
The status of IS as a distinct discipline in ACT universities
Mechanisms of control
Knowledge base
Impact of local contingencies
Degree of professionalisation
Conclusions
Select bibliography
5. The information systems discipline in New South Wales universities
Introduction
Overview of the IS presence in NSW universities
The UNSW
The University of Sydney
The UTS
The University of Wollongong
Charles Sturt University, Riverina
Results
Relative size of IS presence
Administrative placement of IS
Local contingencies
IS as a separate field
Distinctive IS curricula
Distinctive features of IS research
Perceptions of other universities
Key people in the region
Vignette—Igor Hawryszkiewycz
Vignette—Dubravka Cecez-Kecmanovic
Conclusion
References
Addendum: another perspective on the IS discipline in NSW universities
References
6. The information systems academic discipline in Queensland
Introduction
Purpose of the Queensland study
The research method
Theoretical framework guiding the study
The universities in this study
Relative size of the IS presence in Queensland universities
The administrative placement of IS in Queensland universities
Distinctive features of the IS curriculum
Distinctive features of IS research
Key figures who have influenced IS in Queensland universities
Vignette—Ron Weber
Vignette—Ed Fitzgerald
Vignette—Alan Underwood
The status of IS as a distinct discipline in Queensland
Review of findings
Limitations and future research
General findings from the Queensland study
References
7. Information systems in South Australia: a critical investigation
Purpose of the South Australian study
Research approach
Theoretical framework guiding the study
Data analysis
The universities in this study
The University of South Australia
The University of Adelaide
Flinders University of South Australia
Size and presence of IS in South Australian universities
IS at the University of South Australia
IS at the University of Adelaide
Issues for IS within South Australia
Characteristics of IS in the state
The impact of local contingencies on IS education
The extent to which IS is identified as a separate field of study
Distinctive features of IS within the curriculum
Distinctive features of IS in research
Key figures in IS education within South Australia
Vignette—Terry Robbins-Jones
Review of findings
Limitations and future research
References
8. The information systems discipline in Tasmania
Introduction
Aims of the study
Background
Methodology
Analysis and findings: level one
Respondent characteristics and IS administrative placement and size
Impact of local contingencies
Curriculum and teaching issues
Research issues
Comparison with other disciplines
IS as a separate field
The extent to which IS has a separate identity
Distinguishing IS from business and computer science
Comparative status of IS academics
Comparative use of terminology
Features of IS curriculum and teaching
The role of IS service teaching
Distinctive themes and teaching styles
Distinctive tools, techniques and technologies
Other teaching issues
Changes planned for teaching and curriculum in the next three years
Features of IS research
Research output and funding
Balance between research and teaching and incentives for each
Conference attendance
Changes planned for IS research in the next three years
Key people who have had an impact on IS
Vignette—Chris Keen
Vignette—Arthur Sale
Others
Analysis and findings: level two
IS at the UTAS in 2007 and beyond
IS research and teaching at the UTAS in mid-2007
The structural placement of IS with computing: perspective 1
Arthur Sale, Emeritus Professor of Computer Science, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Context
Views
The structural placement of IS with computing: perspective 2
Peter Marshall, Head of School of Information Systems and Woolworth’s Chair of Information Technology and Systems
Skills and knowledge required by ICT professionals
Merger of the Schools of Computing and Information Systems
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Select bibliography
Appendix 8.1
9. The information systems discipline in Victoria
Introduction
Purpose of the Victorian study
The research method
Theoretical framework guiding the study
The universities in this study
Relative size of the IS presence in Victorian universities
The administrative placement of IS in Victorian universities
Distinctive features of the IS curriculum
Distinctive features of IS research
Key people who have had an impact on IS in universities in Victoria
Vignette 1—Graeme Shanks
Vignette 2—Gerald Murphy
The status of IS as a distinct discipline in Victoria
Review of findings
Limitations and future research
General findings from the Victorian study
Acknowledgements
References
10. Information systems teaching and research in West Australian universities
The West Australian scene
Overview of WA universities
University of Western Australia
Curtin University of Technology
Edith Cowan University
Murdoch University
Notre Dame University
The study
Courses
Research
IS leadership
Key academics in the development of IS in Western Australia
Richard Watson
Graham Pervan
Janice Burn
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
Australia-wide
11. A longitudinal study of information systems research in Australia
Introduction
Research approach
Results
Conclusions and future work
References
12. The information systems academic discipline in Australian universities: a meta-analysis
Introduction
Approach adopted
Size of the IS presence in Australian universities
Summary
Mechanisms of control
Publication records
Attracting research funding
Structural location and independence of IS groups
Other ways of attaining prestigious reputations
Summary
Core body of knowledge
Research and teaching methods and standards
Unique symbol set
Key IS topics in research and teaching
Laws, rules and evidenced guidelines
Impact of local contingencies versus degree of professionalism
Degree of professionalism
Impact of local contingencies
Linking the degree of professionalism and the impact of local contingencies
Australian responses to reduced ICT enrolments
Changes to organisational arrangements
Changes to IS curriculum
Changes in IS research
Summary
The RQF and its impact
Impact on the long-term viability of IS conferences
Summary
Limitations and future research
Conclusions
Select bibliography
Appendix 12.1: analysis of IS research topics by state
Glossary of terms
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