IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ininma/v30y2010i1p13-20.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

On using spheres of meaning to define and dignify the IS discipline

Author

Listed:
  • Basden, Andrew

Abstract

The question, “Is information systems a real discipline?” has taxed IS scholars for over 20 years, and they debate its identity at length. Many other disciplines are facing similar crises. This article suggests a new approach, which views disciplines in terms of what is meaningful to those who work within them. Making use of the philosophical notion of ‘spheres of meaning’, and one well-thought-out suite of such spheres, the core contribution of the IS discipline may be understood, giving it confidence among its neighbours, so as to maintain dialogue with them. Questions about identity are replaced by questions about dignity, destiny and responsibility, and strategic suggestions are offered.

Suggested Citation

  • Basden, Andrew, 2010. "On using spheres of meaning to define and dignify the IS discipline," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 13-20.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ininma:v:30:y:2010:i:1:p:13-20
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2009.11.006
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268401209001431
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2009.11.006?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ininma:v:30:y:2010:i:1:p:13-20. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-information-management .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.