Rethinking Information Systems in Organizations : Integrating Organizational Problem Solving

In Rethinking Information Systems in Organizations John Paul Kawalek challenges the current orthodoxy of information systems and proposes new alternatives. Bold and ambitious, this book tackles the thorny issues of integration of disciplines, cross over of functions, and negotiation of epistemological divides in IS. Historically, the IS discipline has struggled to embrace and integrate technical as well as organizational knowledge, skills and methods. Kawalek argues that there are now a new set of imperatives that will irrecoverably change IS, affecting the way many organizations deploy and access their information and technology. This book defines how the traditional practices of Information Systems are required to integrate into a process of organizational problem-solving.

An essential read for students of business information systems, organizational theory and research methods, Kawalek’s work also provides core methodological principles on organizational change and problem solving, and presents an effective rationale for their use in Information Systems contexts.

John Paul Kawalek has a professional background is in IT and Management Consulting. He now lectures in Systems Theory, Change Management and Management Consultancy at the University of Sheffield, UK, and is also an associate Professor at the Grénoble Graduate School of Business, France.