Kristiansand International Workshop on Information Systems Research (KIWISR)

About KIWISR

Hosted by the University of Agder (UiA), Kristiansand International Workshops on Information Systems Research (KIWISR) is an event whose objective is to examine the state of the art in IS research through discussions, presentations, debate and above all dialogue. No specific topic other than an overarching theme for each year is envisaged; the only hope is that innovative, creative and provocative ideas will be explored. Such new ideas could be methodological (e.g., innovative research approaches), theoretical (e.g., development of theories, integration of theories) and/or “out of box” thinking. We also hope to look at neglected issues in “traditional” or “mainstream” IS research (e.g., social responsibility and value systems in IS, contributing to a “better” world, IS and national development). Actual areas explored will depend on the current/planned research and thinking of the invited panellists and other participants.

Participants

Participation is by invitation – a decision we made strictly in the interest of manageability. There will be three categories of participants:

• Invited panellists: In each event, we invite “prominent” personalities in IS to form the panel. The panellists in past events were:
• KIWISR-I: Bob Zmud, Kalle Lyytinen, Mike Newman, Cynthia Beath, Arun Rai, and Laku Chidambaram
• KIWISR-II: Ritu Agarwal, Niels Bjorn-Anderson, Deepak Khazanchi, Daniel Robey, Rajiv Sabherwal, and Geoff Walsham
• KIWISR-III: Brian Fitzgerald, Juhani Iivari, Sandeep Purao, Letitzia Jaccheri, and Mike Newman
• KIWISR-IV: V. Sambamurthy, Ola Henfridsson, Ilze Zigurs, Virpi Tuunainen, Rita Walczuch and Bjorn Niehaves
• University of Agder faculty: This includes all permanent, visiting and Professor II appointment holders:
• Peter Axel Nilsen, Aalborg University, Denmark
• Rick Watson, University of Georgia, USA
• Invited participants: Researchers, practitioners and interesting personalities from the IS milieu in Norway

This year, we are again fortunate to have assembled an excellent panel. Those who have accepted our invitation are Detmar Straub, (J. Mack Robinson Distinguished Professor, Georgia State University and the editor-in-chief of MIS Quarterly), Carol Brown (Distinguished Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology, and editor-in-chief of MIS Quarterly Executive), Matti Rossi (Professor, Aalto University), Joyce Elam (James L. Knight Eminent Scholar and Executive Dean, College of Business Administration, Florida International University), Hesham Ali (PhD and Professor of Information Technology and Dean of the College of Information Science and Technology at University of Nebraska, Omaha) and Roberto Evaristo, (Ph.D Knowledge Management Program Office 3M).

This year's theme

The theme for this year’s workshop will be “For Whom do We Toil? Mutual Informing between Academia and Practice”. There is a considerable debate in the field about the relevance of academic research on practice. This is an especially vital question in a practice oriented discipline such as Information Systems. The deliberations will build on the discussions of the last KIWISR which was “Mode 2 knowledge production”. In short, Mode 2 knowledge production is solution focused and takes place in the context of economic and social applications. The research agenda is determined by the common interests of a variety of stakeholders including academics and practitioners. Continuous mutual informing occurs between the fundamental and the applied and the theoretical and the practical. In general, knowledge is built in the contexts where it is put to use, and its products and results, as they materialize, contribute to further theoretical advances. Mode 2 success is defined not just in the traditional dimension of scientific excellence, as judged by disciplinary peers, but also efficiency, usefulness, and the ability to fulfill the expectations of multiple stakeholders. Thus, for Mode 2 success, scientific rigor without relevance becomes meaningless. In this perspective, constant and mutual informing and interaction between academia and practice is essential. The two can even be seen as intertwined.

To highlight the theme, we plan to hold a debate with the tentative resolution “Academia and Practice are distinct and separate communities in Information Systems area. Hence academic articles should not be written to inform practice”. This will be the second in the KIWISR debate series. The first debate was held in KIWISR-III with the provocative resolution “Formal Systems Development Methods are useless in Practice”. It generated spirited exchanges and discussions. This year’s debate will be named after our late departed colleague, Willy Dertz. Willy epitomized the bridge between practice and academia having come to UiA after years of experience in IS practice and he continued to pursue Mode 2 knowledge until his tragic and untimely death earlier this year.

As in previous KIWISRs, the format of KIWISR-IV will be a two-day workshop. The first day will include the “Willy Dertz Memorial Debate”. Two debaters will take opposite views and commentators from academia and industry will give their respective perspectives. The rest of the day will be spent in exploring this theme through panels and discussions. The second day will be spent on exploring specific projects of the panelists. Panelists (and those participants who wish to present) will be asked to make a brief presentation (around 15 minutes) relating to any research project and/or paper on any aspect of IS research that relate even remotely to the theme about which they feel strongly, and which is somewhat "out of box". The paper or the ideas need not be fully formed. The only requirement is that it should stimulate discussion and debate, and, to quote Ralph Nader, “ask irritating questions”. Our aim is to encourage a free flow of ideas. No proceedings will be published. However, all material will be collated and presented to the participants. A summary of the workshop may be disseminated to the field through a suitable outlet, such as Communications of the AIS.

Programme TBA

Contact:

Chair Maung K. Sein: maung.k.sein@uia.no

Bente Elisabeth Holmen: bente.e.holmen@uia.no

Finding your way

Further information here

Del/Tips: