Information Systems - The State of the Field (original) (raw)

The Technology of Information, Communication, and Administration: An Entwined History

Administration & Society, 2018

As administrators in the so-called information age, we are experiencing the transforming power of information and the rapidly developing techniques for its processing. As scholars, we are intrigued by the strong and manifold interaction that takes place between information, communication, technology, and administration. The entwined history of information and communications technology (ICT) and administration gives rise to a series of issues that are of interest both from a perspective of technology and administrative history, and from a more general social and cultural science viewpoint. Information processing is key to the efficient functioning of almost every institution, be it private or public. Institutions, such as firms or public agencies, are characterized by their more or less hierarchical organization, which is held together and reconstituted in daily practice by information and the communication of information. At the same time, institutions are also interconnected with their environment by information. Given that information is so crucial for internal structure and external dynamics, it is to be expected that growing information needs, increased information processing capacity, and faster communication flows will have far-reaching consequences for these information-dependent institutions. Behind this macro correlation connected with digitization, subtler effects are at work, affecting the form and character of information, that is, changing the materiality of the information handled by machines, persons, institutions, and networks in daily practice. This cultural-material aspect is crucial for a deeper understanding of the historical processes connected with the digitization of institutional information processing and has to be considered together with techno-political macro trends. In a hierarchical organization, it is the administrative units that are responsible for effective information processing. Historically, these "information machines" underwent thoroughgoing changes, in particular from the mid-19th century onward, when office technology began to mechanize clerical tasks. With the digitization of information processing after World War II, the 798987A ASXXX10.

Early History of the Information Systems Discipline in the UK: An account based on living through the period

Communications of the Association For Information Systems, 2015

This material is brought to you by the AIS Journals at AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). It has been accepted for inclusion in Communications of the Association for Information Systems by an authorized administrator of AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). For more information, please contact elibrary@aisnet.org. Recommended Citation Land, Frank (2015) "Early History of the Information Systems Discipline in the UK: An account based on living through the period,"

The Past and Future of Information Systems: 1976–2006 and Beyond

IFIP International Federation for Information Processing, 2006

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Information Systems’ Diverse Origins Coming Together

2009

Executive Summary The diversity of IS programs and research has been of interest to various professions. It has been argued that IS has developed to the extent where it does not have to rely on other reference disciplines, but should rather serve as a reference discipline for other disciplines. While IS may have developed its own discipline, its location in different academic units may influence the venue of faculty publications.

The status of the information systems field: historical perspective and practical orientation

Information Research, 2000

This paper provides a detailed assessment of the current status of the Information Systems (IS) field by tracing its historical evolution. It uses lessons drawn from the history of another social science, sociology, to highlight some of the fundamental choices now facing IS researchers. Firstly, the paper identifies the most important tensions and forces that shaped the evolution of the IS field in the 40 or so years of its history. Secondly, it draw a comparison between IS and sociology and uses some selected fundamental patterns of the history of the latter to explain the main aspects of the evolution of IS. Finally, noting that IS researchers do not seem to have succeeded in developing a core of concepts and definitions to enable the accumulation of knowledge in IS and to significantly contribute to the improvement of the business application of information systems, the paper calls for a debate on the future orientations of the field and identifies some of the choices that can be made at this stage of the evolution of the field.

Computer and information science: Background of formation

2013

The approaches of S. Gorn and Yu. Shreider to the integration of computer and information sciences in order to form a unified area of knowledge, i.e., "computer and information science," are compared. A description of the characteristic features of this area of knowledge, which is the scientific basis for the development of the future generation of information technologies, is given. Conceptual and policy documents of the 7th Framework Program of the European Union are considered in which the necessity of reconsideration of the theoretical foundations of the development of new information technologies is demonstrated. One of the possible approaches for their reconsideration on the basis of Gorn and Shreider's ideas is presented.

History of Computing

2017

The social and organizational history of humanity is intricately entangled with the history of technology in general and the technology of information in particular. Advances in this area have often been closely involved in social and political transformations. While the contemporary period is often referred to by such names as the Computing and Information Age, this is the culmination of a series of historical transformations that have been centuries in the making. This course will provide a venue for students to learn about history through the evolution of number systems and arithmetic, calculating and computing machines, and advanced communication technology via the Internet. Students who take this course will attain a degree of technological literacy while studying core historical concepts. Students who complete this course will learn the key vocabulary of the computing discipline, which is playing a significant role in modern human thought and new media communications. The Hist...

A short history of Information Management

This paper aims to provide a theoretical overview of the development of Information Management in recent years. It explains where Information Management comes from and its related fields. Additionally,this paper will pay attention to different dimensions of Information Management regarding an organisational and process view. It will establish a relation to new and emerging technologies such as AI and Blockhain.