Future of Information Systems Research Through the Rear View Mirror: Themes and Trends Using BERT Topic Modeling

Information systems (IS) research has continually evolved alongside rapid technological advancements, shaping its impact on business and society. While past analyses have explored the discipline’s identity and diversity, the accelerating pace of information technology (IT) innovation necessitates continuous reassessment of emerging trends. This study employs a novel BERT topic modeling approach, enhanced by a large language model, to analyze author-supplied abstracts from Information Systems Frontiers (ISF) and eight other leading IS journals. Our findings highlight the emergence of the SMAS (Social Media, Mobile, Analytics, Security) paradigm, reflecting the growing significance of these areas in IS research. As digital technologies become increasingly embedded in societal structures, critical topics such as social networks, content generation, and data protection have gained prominence. ISF continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the next frontier of IS research while maintaining a strong focus on core concerns, including IT management, development, and business value.