A New Mission for the Information Systems Discipline

The information systems (IS) discipline is concerned with the information that computer systems provide and with the corresponding business processes that enable information technology to bring economic value to the enterprise. IS professionals consider both organizational and technical factors as they plan, coordinate, and facilitate the firm's computer-related activities. Ultimately, these professionals serve as a bridge between the organization's technical and management communities. Today, the IS discipline stands at a crossroads. Despite a strong global demand for IS graduates and a growing demand for unbiased research relevant to the application of information technology within the firm, the IS discipline faces declining university enrollments, engages in scholarly debates about the relevance and identity of IS research, and seeks remedies to address the needs of the global IT worksforce.