Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 2022
While ethics are recognized as an integral part of information systems (IS) research, many questi... more While ethics are recognized as an integral part of information systems (IS) research, many questions about the role of ethics in research practice remain unanswered. Our report responds to this emerging set of concerns with a broad and integrative account of five perspectives on ethics in IS research and design science research (DSR) in particular. Our report is informed by a broad literature review, a panel discussion at DESRIST 2020, and substantial personal experience from wrestling with ethical considerations in the field. The report provides a comprehensive discussion of prevailing perspectives on ethics and the implications for IS research. Together, we hope the report will inspire more ethics-conscious and responsible IS research.
This paper reflects on some significant trends and achievements in Information Systems (IS) theor... more This paper reflects on some significant trends and achievements in Information Systems (IS) theorizing in Australia. Important themes identified as typifying Australian eclecticism are (i) the influence of socio-technical thinking; (ii) design and action approaches; (iii) critical theory research; (iv) emphasis on theory and theoretical foundations; and (v) some unusual approaches to theory. These themes are seen as emerging from Australia's background as an isolated, distant country with a low population density, and its identification as a masculine, peaceful, democratic, and equalitarian society that is also multi-cultural and technologically advanced. The Australian IS community is seen to have some commonality with Scandinavia in that both are to some extent "outsiders" in comparison with more prominent and powerful research communities in Europe and North America. Value is seen in researchers in both Scandinavia and Australia being able to "think differently", taking lessons from a number of traditions and being willing to find a new path and pioneer new directions.
Recent advancements in AI have coincided with ever-increasing efforts in the research community t... more Recent advancements in AI have coincided with ever-increasing efforts in the research community to investigate, classify and evaluate various methods aimed at making AI models explainable. However, most of existing attempts present a methodcentric view of eXplainable AI (XAI) which is typically meaningful only for domain experts. There is an apparent lack of a robust qualitative and quantitative performance framework that evaluates the suitability of explanations for different types of users. We survey relevant efforts, and then, propose a unified, inclusive and user-centred taxonomy for XAI based on the principles of General System's Theory, which serves us as a basis for evaluating the appropriateness of XAI approaches for all user types, including both developers and end users.
In 2016, the Australian welfare agency Centrelink implemented an information system to automate t... more In 2016, the Australian welfare agency Centrelink implemented an information system to automate the identification and recollection of welfare overpayments. Such algorithmic decision-making systems are increasingly leveraged to improve the efficiency of public administration. However, Centrelink’s scheme went horribly wrong: the system, branded as “Robodebt” by the popular media, generated debt notices that were inaccurate and based on insufficient evidence. Numerous vulnerable citizens who received the debt notices suffered a great deal of distress. While public controversy ensued, the ruling government continued to defend the flawed system until a court decision ruled it unlawful in 2019. This teaching case challenges one to analyze what went wrong in the implementation and management of the Robodebt system through the lens of sociotechnical systems.
Information Systems Foundations: Constructing and Criticising
Information systems (IS) is a relatively new discipline with many researchers having their founda... more Information systems (IS) is a relatively new discipline with many researchers having their foundation studies in other disciplines. The IS discipline is moving towards some sense of its own identity and some agreement on what constitutes suitable foci of research. Coming from other fields of study, however, our researchers bring perspectives on particular modes of enquiry and methodological paradigms as well as perspectives on what is meant by 'theory'. The argument of this paper is that IS needs to critically examine the types of theorising relevant to its own discipline and recognise the unique nature of the theory that is needed. Perspectives found useful come from the philosophy of science (excluding positivism), interpretivism and Herbert Simon's depiction of the sciences of the artificial. It is shown how these perspectives can be melded, leading to a typology of interrelated theories that is unique to information systems.
Although Design Science Research aims to create new knowledge through design and evaluation of ar... more Although Design Science Research aims to create new knowledge through design and evaluation of artefacts, the causal agency through which artefacts obtain predicted outcomes is frequently under-specified. Within this domain of knowledge, six types of causal reasoning can be applied by researchers to more clearly articulate why desired outcomes will result from the implementation of the artefact. In addition, reflecting on the causal foundations for the design will enable more definitive evaluation of the design theory and for scientific explanation of the behavior of the artefact-in-use. The proposed framework is based on an extensive literature in causal theory and the implications discussed will enable researchers to articulate the causal reasoning used in Design Science theorizing. 2
In this panel six IS researchers from varying backgrounds will discuss whether epistemological an... more In this panel six IS researchers from varying backgrounds will discuss whether epistemological anarchy, as proposed by the controversial philosopher Paul Feyerabend, has the potential to foster research progress and can help to create new insights in the IS field. Feyerabend is well known for his notion that "anything goes" in terms of methodology, and many scholars are concerned that this seemingly anarchistic sentiment can undermine efforts to systematically build and structure an epistemological and methodological foundation for an academic discipline. This panel, which will be moderated by Horst Treiblmaier, includes as panelists Andrew Burton-Jones, Shirley Gregor, Rudy Hirschheim, Michael Myers, and Tom Stafford. The outcome of this discussion will be incorporated into a paper published in the DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems.
Governments are increasingly relying on algorithmic decision-making (ADM) to deliver public servi... more Governments are increasingly relying on algorithmic decision-making (ADM) to deliver public services. Recent information systems literature has raised concerns regarding ADM's negative unintended consequences, such as widespread discrimination, which in extreme cases can be destructive to society. The extant empirical literature, however, has not sufficiently examined the destructive effects of governmental ADM. In this paper, we report on a case study of the Australian government's "Robodebt" programme that was designed to automatically calculate and collect welfare overpayment debts from citizens but ended up causing severe distress to citizens and welfare agency staff. Employing perspectives from systems thinking and organisational limits, we develop a research model that explains how a socially destructive government ADM programme was initiated, sustained, and delegitimized. The model offers a set of generalisable mechanisms that can benefit investigations of ADM's consequences. Our findings contribute to the literature of unintended consequences of ADM and demonstrate to practitioners the importance of setting up robust governance infrastructures for ADM programmes.
Purpose – Despite much research on information technology (IT)-enabled organizational transformat... more Purpose – Despite much research on information technology (IT)-enabled organizational transformation (OT), there are still many issues to be addressed. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by proposing an integrative model that includes specific transformation resources, capabilities, and outcomes pertaining to the success of IT-enabled OT. Design/methodology/approach – Using the resource-based view, organizational learning theory, and business process reengineering, the authors developed an integrative model of IT-enabled OT. To validate this model, the authors conducted in-depth case studies of five firms that reported successful IT-enabled OT and five others that reported less successful. Findings – This study offers three important findings. First, flexible IT and policies were found to be key transformation resources. Second, training, teamwork, leadership, and project ownership were identified as key transformation capabilities. Third, strategic outcomes such as respo...
Explanatory capabilities in expert systems can explain to their human users both the knowledge th... more Explanatory capabilities in expert systems can explain to their human users both the knowledge they contain and the reasoning processes they go through. Explanations in such systems, when suitably designed, have been shown to improve performance and learning and result in more positive user perceptions of a system. Justification-type explanations have been found to be particularly effective in leading to positive outcomes. In this paper we explore the use of explanatory capabilities in new-paradigm systems including neural nets, evolutionary computing and fuzzy logic. Explanations in neural net and evolutionary systems are relatively low-level at present, relying mainly on rule explication. There has been surprisingly little research on explanations from fuzzy systems. These systems, being similar to expert systems apart from the extended capacity to represent vague expert knowledge, can in principle provide explanations and justifications in a manner similar to conventional expert systems. Suggestions for providing explanations from the new-paradigm systems are given.
This paper describes experiences with computer mediated communication (CMC) in a postgraduate i... more This paper describes experiences with computer mediated communication (CMC) in a postgraduate information systems module over two successive years. CMC was introduced primarily for pedagogical reasons, although a further aim was to carry out an exploratory investigation into factors affecting its successful adoption and the benefits to students. Students participated in a case study discussion through a bulletin board. Student participation, though not compulsory, was high at 82%. Over 80% of students surveyed thought their experience with electronic mail assisted learning, that the case study discussion was more useful than a conventional assignment, that the instructor seemed more accessible and that further use of electronic mail in their studies was desirable. Problems encountered included difficulties in learning to use the communications software and inadequacies in documentation. Social interaction amongst students and between students and the instructor was relatively low....
12 Facilitating E-Commerce in the Beef Industry Shirley Gregor and Don Menzies INTRODUCTION The a... more 12 Facilitating E-Commerce in the Beef Industry Shirley Gregor and Don Menzies INTRODUCTION The authors of this chapter are engaged ... For example, an initiative in the New Zealand sheep-farming industry linked farmer, freezing plant, customs broker or agent, and retailer ...
Abstract The potential value of alternative genres in IS research is the core question that drive... more Abstract The potential value of alternative genres in IS research is the core question that drives this panel discussion. The term ���Alternative Genres��� refers to unconventional forms of thinking, doing, and communicating scholarship and practice. It relates to innovation with respect to epistemological perspectives, research methods, semantic framing, literary styles, and media of expression. Overall, the application of alternative genres is considered to be a generative act that provides an opportunity to take a fresh look and to gain deeper ...
Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology, May 1, 2016
Knowledge interface systems (KIS) enable a dialogue between human and machines by utilizing an un... more Knowledge interface systems (KIS) enable a dialogue between human and machines by utilizing an underlying knowledge-based system. The design and the effects of KIS have been a focus of researchers' interest for decades. Yet the existing knowledge of KIS is scattered, and researchers as well as practitioners face the danger of re-inventing KIS for a specific purpose or, worse, repeating mistakes of the past. This conceptual paper provides an overview of KIS capabilities and outcomes of their usage from the past to the present and proposes directions for future research. Our analysis shows that, in general, there is evolution of work on KIS over time, rather than revolution. This research will enable researchers to identify their contribution more clearly over and above what has been done before.
Least developed countries (LDCs), have been struggling to find a workable strategy to adopt infor... more Least developed countries (LDCs), have been struggling to find a workable strategy to adopt information and communication technology (ICT) and e-government in their public sector organizations. Despite a number of high-level initiatives at national and international levels, the progress is still unsatisfactory in this area. Consequently, the countries are failing to keep pace in the global e-government race, further increasing the digital divide. This chapter reports on an exploratory study in a least developed country, Bangladesh, involving a series of focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders. A lack of knowledge and entrenched attitudes and mindsets are seen as the key underlying contributors to the lack of progress. The analysis of the relationships among the major barriers to progress led to a process model, which suggests a pathway for e-government adoption in an LDC such as Bangladesh. The chapter introduces important directions for the formulation of long-term strategies for the successful adoption of ICT in the public sector of LDCs and provides a basis for further theoretical development.
Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 2022
While ethics are recognized as an integral part of information systems (IS) research, many questi... more While ethics are recognized as an integral part of information systems (IS) research, many questions about the role of ethics in research practice remain unanswered. Our report responds to this emerging set of concerns with a broad and integrative account of five perspectives on ethics in IS research and design science research (DSR) in particular. Our report is informed by a broad literature review, a panel discussion at DESRIST 2020, and substantial personal experience from wrestling with ethical considerations in the field. The report provides a comprehensive discussion of prevailing perspectives on ethics and the implications for IS research. Together, we hope the report will inspire more ethics-conscious and responsible IS research.
This paper reflects on some significant trends and achievements in Information Systems (IS) theor... more This paper reflects on some significant trends and achievements in Information Systems (IS) theorizing in Australia. Important themes identified as typifying Australian eclecticism are (i) the influence of socio-technical thinking; (ii) design and action approaches; (iii) critical theory research; (iv) emphasis on theory and theoretical foundations; and (v) some unusual approaches to theory. These themes are seen as emerging from Australia's background as an isolated, distant country with a low population density, and its identification as a masculine, peaceful, democratic, and equalitarian society that is also multi-cultural and technologically advanced. The Australian IS community is seen to have some commonality with Scandinavia in that both are to some extent "outsiders" in comparison with more prominent and powerful research communities in Europe and North America. Value is seen in researchers in both Scandinavia and Australia being able to "think differently", taking lessons from a number of traditions and being willing to find a new path and pioneer new directions.
Recent advancements in AI have coincided with ever-increasing efforts in the research community t... more Recent advancements in AI have coincided with ever-increasing efforts in the research community to investigate, classify and evaluate various methods aimed at making AI models explainable. However, most of existing attempts present a methodcentric view of eXplainable AI (XAI) which is typically meaningful only for domain experts. There is an apparent lack of a robust qualitative and quantitative performance framework that evaluates the suitability of explanations for different types of users. We survey relevant efforts, and then, propose a unified, inclusive and user-centred taxonomy for XAI based on the principles of General System's Theory, which serves us as a basis for evaluating the appropriateness of XAI approaches for all user types, including both developers and end users.
In 2016, the Australian welfare agency Centrelink implemented an information system to automate t... more In 2016, the Australian welfare agency Centrelink implemented an information system to automate the identification and recollection of welfare overpayments. Such algorithmic decision-making systems are increasingly leveraged to improve the efficiency of public administration. However, Centrelink’s scheme went horribly wrong: the system, branded as “Robodebt” by the popular media, generated debt notices that were inaccurate and based on insufficient evidence. Numerous vulnerable citizens who received the debt notices suffered a great deal of distress. While public controversy ensued, the ruling government continued to defend the flawed system until a court decision ruled it unlawful in 2019. This teaching case challenges one to analyze what went wrong in the implementation and management of the Robodebt system through the lens of sociotechnical systems.
Information Systems Foundations: Constructing and Criticising
Information systems (IS) is a relatively new discipline with many researchers having their founda... more Information systems (IS) is a relatively new discipline with many researchers having their foundation studies in other disciplines. The IS discipline is moving towards some sense of its own identity and some agreement on what constitutes suitable foci of research. Coming from other fields of study, however, our researchers bring perspectives on particular modes of enquiry and methodological paradigms as well as perspectives on what is meant by 'theory'. The argument of this paper is that IS needs to critically examine the types of theorising relevant to its own discipline and recognise the unique nature of the theory that is needed. Perspectives found useful come from the philosophy of science (excluding positivism), interpretivism and Herbert Simon's depiction of the sciences of the artificial. It is shown how these perspectives can be melded, leading to a typology of interrelated theories that is unique to information systems.
Although Design Science Research aims to create new knowledge through design and evaluation of ar... more Although Design Science Research aims to create new knowledge through design and evaluation of artefacts, the causal agency through which artefacts obtain predicted outcomes is frequently under-specified. Within this domain of knowledge, six types of causal reasoning can be applied by researchers to more clearly articulate why desired outcomes will result from the implementation of the artefact. In addition, reflecting on the causal foundations for the design will enable more definitive evaluation of the design theory and for scientific explanation of the behavior of the artefact-in-use. The proposed framework is based on an extensive literature in causal theory and the implications discussed will enable researchers to articulate the causal reasoning used in Design Science theorizing. 2
In this panel six IS researchers from varying backgrounds will discuss whether epistemological an... more In this panel six IS researchers from varying backgrounds will discuss whether epistemological anarchy, as proposed by the controversial philosopher Paul Feyerabend, has the potential to foster research progress and can help to create new insights in the IS field. Feyerabend is well known for his notion that "anything goes" in terms of methodology, and many scholars are concerned that this seemingly anarchistic sentiment can undermine efforts to systematically build and structure an epistemological and methodological foundation for an academic discipline. This panel, which will be moderated by Horst Treiblmaier, includes as panelists Andrew Burton-Jones, Shirley Gregor, Rudy Hirschheim, Michael Myers, and Tom Stafford. The outcome of this discussion will be incorporated into a paper published in the DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems.
Governments are increasingly relying on algorithmic decision-making (ADM) to deliver public servi... more Governments are increasingly relying on algorithmic decision-making (ADM) to deliver public services. Recent information systems literature has raised concerns regarding ADM's negative unintended consequences, such as widespread discrimination, which in extreme cases can be destructive to society. The extant empirical literature, however, has not sufficiently examined the destructive effects of governmental ADM. In this paper, we report on a case study of the Australian government's "Robodebt" programme that was designed to automatically calculate and collect welfare overpayment debts from citizens but ended up causing severe distress to citizens and welfare agency staff. Employing perspectives from systems thinking and organisational limits, we develop a research model that explains how a socially destructive government ADM programme was initiated, sustained, and delegitimized. The model offers a set of generalisable mechanisms that can benefit investigations of ADM's consequences. Our findings contribute to the literature of unintended consequences of ADM and demonstrate to practitioners the importance of setting up robust governance infrastructures for ADM programmes.
Purpose – Despite much research on information technology (IT)-enabled organizational transformat... more Purpose – Despite much research on information technology (IT)-enabled organizational transformation (OT), there are still many issues to be addressed. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by proposing an integrative model that includes specific transformation resources, capabilities, and outcomes pertaining to the success of IT-enabled OT. Design/methodology/approach – Using the resource-based view, organizational learning theory, and business process reengineering, the authors developed an integrative model of IT-enabled OT. To validate this model, the authors conducted in-depth case studies of five firms that reported successful IT-enabled OT and five others that reported less successful. Findings – This study offers three important findings. First, flexible IT and policies were found to be key transformation resources. Second, training, teamwork, leadership, and project ownership were identified as key transformation capabilities. Third, strategic outcomes such as respo...
Explanatory capabilities in expert systems can explain to their human users both the knowledge th... more Explanatory capabilities in expert systems can explain to their human users both the knowledge they contain and the reasoning processes they go through. Explanations in such systems, when suitably designed, have been shown to improve performance and learning and result in more positive user perceptions of a system. Justification-type explanations have been found to be particularly effective in leading to positive outcomes. In this paper we explore the use of explanatory capabilities in new-paradigm systems including neural nets, evolutionary computing and fuzzy logic. Explanations in neural net and evolutionary systems are relatively low-level at present, relying mainly on rule explication. There has been surprisingly little research on explanations from fuzzy systems. These systems, being similar to expert systems apart from the extended capacity to represent vague expert knowledge, can in principle provide explanations and justifications in a manner similar to conventional expert systems. Suggestions for providing explanations from the new-paradigm systems are given.
This paper describes experiences with computer mediated communication (CMC) in a postgraduate i... more This paper describes experiences with computer mediated communication (CMC) in a postgraduate information systems module over two successive years. CMC was introduced primarily for pedagogical reasons, although a further aim was to carry out an exploratory investigation into factors affecting its successful adoption and the benefits to students. Students participated in a case study discussion through a bulletin board. Student participation, though not compulsory, was high at 82%. Over 80% of students surveyed thought their experience with electronic mail assisted learning, that the case study discussion was more useful than a conventional assignment, that the instructor seemed more accessible and that further use of electronic mail in their studies was desirable. Problems encountered included difficulties in learning to use the communications software and inadequacies in documentation. Social interaction amongst students and between students and the instructor was relatively low....
12 Facilitating E-Commerce in the Beef Industry Shirley Gregor and Don Menzies INTRODUCTION The a... more 12 Facilitating E-Commerce in the Beef Industry Shirley Gregor and Don Menzies INTRODUCTION The authors of this chapter are engaged ... For example, an initiative in the New Zealand sheep-farming industry linked farmer, freezing plant, customs broker or agent, and retailer ...
Abstract The potential value of alternative genres in IS research is the core question that drive... more Abstract The potential value of alternative genres in IS research is the core question that drives this panel discussion. The term ���Alternative Genres��� refers to unconventional forms of thinking, doing, and communicating scholarship and practice. It relates to innovation with respect to epistemological perspectives, research methods, semantic framing, literary styles, and media of expression. Overall, the application of alternative genres is considered to be a generative act that provides an opportunity to take a fresh look and to gain deeper ...
Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology, May 1, 2016
Knowledge interface systems (KIS) enable a dialogue between human and machines by utilizing an un... more Knowledge interface systems (KIS) enable a dialogue between human and machines by utilizing an underlying knowledge-based system. The design and the effects of KIS have been a focus of researchers' interest for decades. Yet the existing knowledge of KIS is scattered, and researchers as well as practitioners face the danger of re-inventing KIS for a specific purpose or, worse, repeating mistakes of the past. This conceptual paper provides an overview of KIS capabilities and outcomes of their usage from the past to the present and proposes directions for future research. Our analysis shows that, in general, there is evolution of work on KIS over time, rather than revolution. This research will enable researchers to identify their contribution more clearly over and above what has been done before.
Least developed countries (LDCs), have been struggling to find a workable strategy to adopt infor... more Least developed countries (LDCs), have been struggling to find a workable strategy to adopt information and communication technology (ICT) and e-government in their public sector organizations. Despite a number of high-level initiatives at national and international levels, the progress is still unsatisfactory in this area. Consequently, the countries are failing to keep pace in the global e-government race, further increasing the digital divide. This chapter reports on an exploratory study in a least developed country, Bangladesh, involving a series of focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders. A lack of knowledge and entrenched attitudes and mindsets are seen as the key underlying contributors to the lack of progress. The analysis of the relationships among the major barriers to progress led to a process model, which suggests a pathway for e-government adoption in an LDC such as Bangladesh. The chapter introduces important directions for the formulation of long-term strategies for the successful adoption of ICT in the public sector of LDCs and provides a basis for further theoretical development.
Cultural institutions provide important benefits for society and for the visitors who come to the... more Cultural institutions provide important benefits for society and for the visitors who come to them. Their staff need to understand how information technology can augment the visitor experience, and how to engage with their visitors to design programs that will meet visitors' expectations for greater interaction. Using an iterative, design science based approach, coupled with design thinking workshops bringing stakeholders together, we showed how location-based educational services coupled with mobile apps on handheld devices could be designed to enrich the experience for school students visiting the National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
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Papers by Shirley Gregor