دانلود رایگان مقاله نقش سازگاری نظریه در ساخت دیسیپلین مرجع

Abstract

Information Systems (IS) scholars repeatedly debate the nature of the IS discipline. A series of articles have debated whether the IS field has become a reference discipline. While many scholars have argued this question from a perceptual point of view, we address it by examining the role of theory adaptation in the making of a reference discipline. Based on a review of how the sensemaking theory from organization studies is adapted and used in IS research, we show that papers that adapt and use sensemaking theory as a central construct in the theoretical framework – in other words – engaging in theory adaptation, have a higher probability of being referenced by other disciplines. Finally, we discuss the implications of the manner in which IS scholars borrow theory regarding the IS discipline's prospects of becoming a reference discipline.

6. Conclusion and discussion of results

In this section we first summarize our findings regarding: a) external referencing to articles in which the authors adapt and use sensemaking theory as a central construct in the theoretical framework, and b) the adaptation and use in IS research of a theory borrowed from another discipline. Finally, we discuss what the findings indicate about the IS discipline's prospects in becoming a reference discipline. Our examination of the referencing to the 19 articles that adapt and use sensemaking theory as a central construct in their theoretical framework shows that 26.6% of the citations come from articles published in non-IS journals. When compared with Wade et al.'s (2006) finding that on average 15% of the citations of articles published in IS journals come from articles published in non-IS-journals, it appears that these 19 articles are remarkably more successful in attracting citations from outside the IS discipline, and therefore conclude that theory adaptation matters for external referencing. This conclusion is in line with Judge et al. (2007) conclusion, indicating that authors who conduct empirical studies that extend the theoretical base of existing literature will increase the number of times their work is used by others.