The 2021 impact factor for ISJ was 7.767, for 2022 it was 6.4. These are some of the highest impact factors of any IS Journals. See past ISJ impact factors and the Editor’s comment on impact factors here. The next impact factor (2023) will not be available until around mid June 2024.

Abstract

The “critical turn” in information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) research emphasises a transformative and ethical research practice which can be addressed by developing the critical intent and agency of ICT4D researchers through reflexive practice. There exist, however, limited methodological insights into existing reflexive approaches and a limited understanding of how self-transformation and change can take place through more critically reflexive ICT4D research practice. To address these issues, this paper proposes a reflexive methodology for ICT4D research, labelled “the 4Rs”, which comprises four interrelated reflective and potentially self-transforming processes of Retrospection, Representation, Review and Reinterpretation. We present the explanations and justifications of the methodology in detail with illustrative examples. We also employ a metacognitive process to understand how self-transformation can be realised through the use of this methodology and demonstrate the applicability of the 4Rs for other ICT4D researchers. Our main contribution lies in illustrating how this collective and critical approach can be used to deepen the self-reflexivity of traditional individual confessional accounts. We also demonstrate how the approach can lead to new collective knowledge and contribute to achieving more critical agency.

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Abstract

Deployment of digital crowdfunding platforms, which predominantly are designed in line with Western norms, into Indigenous communities often leads to significant cultural tensions. This study uses the Kenyan Indigenous tradition of Harambee to elucidate how these cultural tensions manifest and are navigated in the context of digital crowdfunding. The study employs a qualitative approach, conducting narrative interviews with individuals experienced in both Harambee and digital crowdfunding within the Kenyan context, to advance our understanding of decolonial digital crowdfunding. The findings reveal significant cultural tensions, including those related to inclusive access, diminished communal engagement and erosion of social capital. These tensions highlight the marginalisation of Indigenous cultures and the reinforcement of colonial tendencies in digital spaces. Additionally, the study uncovers the ingenuity of Indigenous users who are integrating Indigenous knowledge and Harambee norms with digital technologies, to balance cultural sensitivity, strengthen technological inclusivity and preserve their communal values within decolonial digital fundraising. This study advances decolonial scholarship by demonstrating how the integration of both Indigenous and local practices with digital technology not only advances digital decoloniality but also enriches the technology’s cultural responsiveness. The findings have practical implications for designing inclusive digital crowdfunding platforms that acknowledge and align with local cultural norms.

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Abstract

This opinion paper presents two proposed token-based systems to fix the information system academy’s review system. At present, the review system consumes more human resources than the information systems academy has by an order of magnitude. The cost of this overflow is borne entirely by information systems researchers. I argue this is because the review system is based on a gift economy that cannot handle the currently sized market. Both proposals involve the creation of tokens and a central governing body. The first proposal involves a market built around a review bank (central governing body) that issues review tokens that function as a proxy currency. Journals function as intermediaries between authors and reviewers. Authors pay journals for reviews, and journals pay experts such as reviewers and editors for their services. Reviewers exchange their review tokens on the open market or trade review tokens for favours with institutions like universities. The second proposal involves a gift economy where reviewers transfer their allegiance from peers to the information systems academy. In this proposal, each individual token is unique, like a trading card and an affiliation board tracks the transfer of tokens, linking former possessors of a token together in a review ring. As tokens are regifted, they accumulate history, and thereby social worth, captured in the form of messages each possessor writes. Former possession of a large number of tokens and of tokens with particular histories confers status benefits. These benefits in turn lock reviewers into the review ring system encouraging them to do further reviews. Economic, social, and other implications of both policies are discussed and questions are posed for the information systems academy to grapple with. Example issues discussed include the effect of the proposals on the political power of reviewers and shifts in political power in the information systems academy.

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Abstract

Strong interest in digital transformation to increase business value calls for new and improved theorising of the digital transformation process. Traditional perspectives fail to address the complex socio-technological challenges and entanglement of actions at multiple levels that characterise the process. This research adopts a flow-oriented perspective to extend the process frontier of digital transformation. This entails analysing the lines of action that intertwine to form storylines of digital transformation. Drawing on a multilevel longitudinal qualitative study, the research offers three valuable contributions: First, the paper advances the discourse on digital transformation by introducing the heretofore unrecognised phenomenon of transitional moments. Second, by introducing a novel taxonomy for lines of action, the paper demonstrates the evolving nature of the digital transformation process, surpassing conventional rational-system model interpretations. These two contributions broaden the process frontier of digital transformation by underscoring the dynamic and continuous nature of digital transformation, emphasising its non-linear progression, and rejecting the notion of an idealised direct path to a predefined goal. These two additions to the digital transformation discourse lay the foundations for our third contribution, which is a set of proposed research approaches for future investigations into digital transformation, regardless of research focus, phenomena, or domain.

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Information Systems Journal, EarlyView. Source

Information Systems Journal, EarlyView. Source

Information Systems Journal, EarlyView. Source

Information Systems Journal, EarlyView. Source

Abstract

The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in rural areas holds significant potential for facilitating active participation of villagers in spatial governance processes. While previous research has primarily focused on the role of e-participation tools in rural governance, there exists a knowledge gap regarding substantive villager participation within intricate systems. This study explores the intricate mechanism of meaningful engagement by harnessing the potential of ICT and parametric technologies. First, the concept of ‘e-participation ecosystem’ is proposed. The concept integrates ICT, parametric technology and other relevant elements necessary to facilitate substantial participation of rural villagers in spatial governance. Subsequently, an analytical framework to examine the impact mechanism of ICT technology on the efficiency of village spatial governance is developed, building upon an evaluation of villagers’ active involvement. Finally, a practical demonstration was conducted in C village to validate the positive impact of ICT on rural spatial governance. This study reveals that the successful implementation of ICT in village spatial governance necessitates a comprehensive ‘e-participation ecosystem’ for support, as the efficacy of individual ICT technologies is limited. Additionally, it highlights that the utilisation of ICT can enhance efficiency in village spatial governance, thereby reducing participation costs for all stakeholders through a streamlined governance process. Moreover, parameterization technology plays an equally crucial role in the process of village spatial governance. By harnessing the power of parameterization technology, the efficiency of generating village spatial planning schemes can be significantly enhanced. When integrated with ICT technology, it has the potential to substantially reduce response time for all stakeholders involved.

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Abstract

Digital tools can help mitigate serious threats to social and economic activity created by external shocks and reduced government funding. This paper complements Information Technology for Development (IT4D) studies of resilience by focusing on how the introduction of new digital tools can sustain both economic and social activities, potentially leading to further adaptations. It investigates eBay’s Charity Connect initiative, which supported the UK charity sector to continue selling donated items during the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings present three pathways-outcomes used to foster resilience through introducing new digital tools: interim resilience, bounded resilience and enhanced resilience. Using conservation of resources theory, the paper explains the difference between these outcomes and discusses how balancing stress and resource investment can help leverage digital tools and foster greater digital resilience.

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