Skip to main content
Top
Published in:
Cover of the book

2015 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

The Power of a Good Story or the Great Potential of Information Systems History or Some Lessons from a Heroic Journey

Author : Jaana Porra

Published in: Nordic Contributions in IS Research

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

This paper is an essay about my journey as an information systems (IS) historian. In the paper, I briefly outline the past and the current situation with the environmental circumstances of history writing in the IS research field. I also highlight some lessons I have learned studying and applying the historical method over the past decade and a half. I do this in the context of a four-tiered research framework. I conclude that there continues to be a great need for written IS history and urge IS researchers to take upon themselves this important quest that will benefit future generations.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Footnotes
1
I am using TAM as an example for no other reason that I happened to have easy access to the numbers of published papers in that area that were useful for making a point. I could have just as well chosen several other similarly popular IS research topics that are over represented in academic journals.
 
Literature
1.
go back to reference Tosh, J.: The Pursuit of History, 3rd edn. Pearson Education Ltd., Essex (2000) Tosh, J.: The Pursuit of History, 3rd edn. Pearson Education Ltd., Essex (2000)
2.
go back to reference Porra, J., Hirschheim, R., Parks, M.S.: The history of Texaco’s corporate IT function—a general systems theoretical interpretation. MIS Q. 29(4), 721–746 (2005) Porra, J., Hirschheim, R., Parks, M.S.: The history of Texaco’s corporate IT function—a general systems theoretical interpretation. MIS Q. 29(4), 721–746 (2005)
3.
go back to reference Porra, J., Hirschheim, R., Parks, M.S.: Forty years of corporate information technology function at Texaco Inc.—a history. Inf. Organ. 16(1), 82–107 (2006)CrossRef Porra, J., Hirschheim, R., Parks, M.S.: Forty years of corporate information technology function at Texaco Inc.—a history. Inf. Organ. 16(1), 82–107 (2006)CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Bryant, A., Black, A., Land, F., Porra, J.: What is history? What is IS history? What IS history? … and why even bother with history? J. Inf. Technol. 28(1), 1–17 (2013)CrossRef Bryant, A., Black, A., Land, F., Porra, J.: What is history? What is IS history? What IS history? … and why even bother with history? J. Inf. Technol. 28(1), 1–17 (2013)CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Porra, J., Hirschheim, R., Parks, M.S.: The historical research method and IS research. J. Assoc. IS 15(9), 536–576 (2014) Porra, J., Hirschheim, R., Parks, M.S.: The historical research method and IS research. J. Assoc. IS 15(9), 536–576 (2014)
6.
go back to reference Porra, J.: A dialogue with C. West Churchman. Inf. Syst. Front. 3(1), 19–27 (2001)CrossRef Porra, J.: A dialogue with C. West Churchman. Inf. Syst. Front. 3(1), 19–27 (2001)CrossRef
7.
go back to reference Porra, J., Hirschheim,R.: Enid Mumford’s contribution to IS theory and theoretical thinking – introduction to the special issue. J. Assoc. IS 8(9), 463–466 (2007a) Porra, J., Hirschheim,R.: Enid Mumford’s contribution to IS theory and theoretical thinking – introduction to the special issue. J. Assoc. IS 8(9), 463–466 (2007a)
8.
go back to reference Porra, J., Hirschheim, R.: A lifetime of ethical use of computers – a dialogue with Enid Mumford. J. Assoc. IS 8(9), 467–479 (2007b) Porra, J., Hirschheim, R.: A lifetime of ethical use of computers – a dialogue with Enid Mumford. J. Assoc. IS 8(9), 467–479 (2007b)
9.
go back to reference Montessori, M.: The Absorbent Mind. (Translated from the Italian by Claude A. Claremont). Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York (1967) Montessori, M.: The Absorbent Mind. (Translated from the Italian by Claude A. Claremont). Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York (1967)
11.
go back to reference Davis, F.D.: Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Q. 13(3), 319–340 (1989)CrossRef Davis, F.D.: Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Q. 13(3), 319–340 (1989)CrossRef
12.
go back to reference Bagozzi, R.P.: The legacy of the technology acceptance model and a proposal for a paradigm shift. J. Assoc. IS 8(4), 244–254 (2007) Bagozzi, R.P.: The legacy of the technology acceptance model and a proposal for a paradigm shift. J. Assoc. IS 8(4), 244–254 (2007)
13.
go back to reference Mason, R.O., McKenney, J.L., Copeland, D.G.: Developing an historical tradition in MIS research. MIS Q. 21(3), 257–278 (1997)CrossRef Mason, R.O., McKenney, J.L., Copeland, D.G.: Developing an historical tradition in MIS research. MIS Q. 21(3), 257–278 (1997)CrossRef
14.
go back to reference Mason, R.O., McKenney, J.L., Copeland, D.G.: An historical method for MIS research: steps and assumptions. MIS Q. 21(3), 307–320 (1997)CrossRef Mason, R.O., McKenney, J.L., Copeland, D.G.: An historical method for MIS research: steps and assumptions. MIS Q. 21(3), 307–320 (1997)CrossRef
15.
go back to reference McKenney, J.L., Mason, R.O., Copeland, D.G.: Bank of America: the crest and trough of technological leadership. MIS Q. 21(3), 321–353 (1997)CrossRef McKenney, J.L., Mason, R.O., Copeland, D.G.: Bank of America: the crest and trough of technological leadership. MIS Q. 21(3), 321–353 (1997)CrossRef
16.
go back to reference Marwick, A.: The Nature of History. MacMillan, London (1970) Marwick, A.: The Nature of History. MacMillan, London (1970)
17.
go back to reference Bloch, M.: The Historian’s Craft. Vintage Books, New York (1953) Bloch, M.: The Historian’s Craft. Vintage Books, New York (1953)
18.
go back to reference Cannadine, D. (ed.): What is History Now?. Palgrave Macmillan, New York (2002) Cannadine, D. (ed.): What is History Now?. Palgrave Macmillan, New York (2002)
19.
go back to reference Bagozzi, R.P., Davis, F.D., Warshaw, P.R.: Development and test of a theory of technological learning and usage. Hum. Relat. 45(7), 660–686 (1992)CrossRef Bagozzi, R.P., Davis, F.D., Warshaw, P.R.: Development and test of a theory of technological learning and usage. Hum. Relat. 45(7), 660–686 (1992)CrossRef
20.
go back to reference Williams, M.D., Dwivedi, Y.K., Lal, B., Schwartz, A.: Contemporary trends and issues in IT adoption and diffusion research. J. Inf. Technol. 24, 1–10 (2007)CrossRef Williams, M.D., Dwivedi, Y.K., Lal, B., Schwartz, A.: Contemporary trends and issues in IT adoption and diffusion research. J. Inf. Technol. 24, 1–10 (2007)CrossRef
21.
go back to reference Montessori, M.: The Secret of Childhood. Ballantine, New York (1982) Montessori, M.: The Secret of Childhood. Ballantine, New York (1982)
Metadata
Title
The Power of a Good Story or the Great Potential of Information Systems History or Some Lessons from a Heroic Journey
Author
Jaana Porra
Copyright Year
2015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21783-3_1

Premium Partner