Social and Organizational Aspects of Internet-Based Information Systems
Special Issue of
Information Systems Journal
on
Social and Organizational Aspects of Internet-based Information Systems
Instructions for Reviewers
Dear Colleague,
We are looking for original contributions that address the themes identified in the call for papers. Information Systems Journal is a research journal, and the papers should be research papers, or papers of interest to researchers. As a rule this means that the papers should use or create theory. Papers can be reports on practice, empirical studies, case studies (and other forms of naturalistic inquiry), conceptual developments, and position papers. This is a diverse, and inclusive, call and this demands variations in how to evaluate the paper.
Across all papers, however, we seek the following:
(1)An original contribution. The clarity of this originality should be made clear very quickly and explicitly.
(2)A focus on the special issue’s topic. The paper should address social and organizational aspects of internet-based information systems (IS). Topics can include such issues as (but not limited to): roles of internet-based IS in social and organizational change; political consequences of the application of internet-based IS; internet-based IS and concepts of time, distance, and borders; internet-based IS and concepts of autonomy, coordination, and control; ways in which internet-based IS are interpreted and used in different ways by different people; ways in which the application of internet-based IS enable and constrain social/organizational actions and relationships; and ways that internet-based IS influence or are influenced by social forces and organizational practices
.
(3)A well-supported presentation or argument. This presentation should include appropriate supporting tables and figures. This is content-dependent. For example, a paper that relies on statistical inferencing must include the appropriate tables to assess the analysis. A case study must provide clarity of interpretation and instill a sense of credibility. A theory-piece should be well-situated in relevant literature. We hope to showcase “excellent” information technology research related to social and organizational aspects of internet-based IS.
(4) Clear writing. The paper should be free of jargon and focused at a general audience.
It is only through your care and attention that this special issue will be valuable to both readers and authors of submissions. The review should be conducted in order to help the author(s) improve the paper. While the paper may not, yet, be ready, what will make it better. Please try to provide guidance to the author(s) at both conceptual and practical levels. A short reviewer form is also provided to assist you (and me) in the review.
You may include a note for the editor that is not intended for the author(s). If you do, please mark that clearly.
The Review Process
This is a double-blind review. Please return your review by October 10, 2002 (or earlier if possible). The editors of this special issue will summarize the two reviews, add their own comments, and return these to the author(s) with a copy to you.
Please use the material in this packet to guide your reviews, and return the reviewer cover sheet and your review (by fax or post) to:
Joe Nandhakumar, University of Bath, School of Management, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. Tel: +44 1225 323469(direct) +44 1225 826742(School) Fax: +44 1225 323902 email:
Ramiro Montealegre, University of Colorado at Boulder, College of Business, Campus Box 419, Boulder, CO 80309-0419, U.S. Tel. 303-492-0416. Fax: 303-492-5962. Email:
Thank you.
Reviewer: Matt Germonprez Manuscript:
Reviewer Sheet for:
Information Systems Journal
Special Issue on Social and Organizational Aspects of Internet-based Information Systems
Submission Title: The Use of Internet-based Information Systems in Organizations: An Information Environment Perspective
Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths:
1. Internet-based technology examination
2. Application of problem situations to these technologies
3. Methods employed to explore the research problem
Weaknesses:
1. Conceptual framework is ill-defined
2. Many terms were poorly defined, leading to confusion
3. Relationships between various technologies was not addressed
Rating:
Using the scale below, assign a number from 1 to 7 that best represents your assessment of the paper relative to the question.
1:very strongly disagree5:agree
2:strongly disagree4: neutral6:strongly agree
3:disagree7:very strongly agree
Response:
4 1. This paper makes a significant contribution to the field.
4 2. This paper is clearly and coherently presented.
3 3. This paper is conceptually/theoretically sound.
5 4. This paper is methodologically sound.
6 5. This paper directly addresses the theme of this special issue
5 6. This paper would draw interest form the IS research community audience.
Length:
Relative to the present length, what is the percentage of length needed to express the content and ideas of this manuscript? 110% -- Needs to be longer to address concerns
Assessment:
Accept: Accept with Revisions: Revise (and resubmit): ___X___ Reject: ______
Would you nominate this paper as “exemplar” paper? NO
Comments for the author(s): (please use additional sheets as needed)
CALL FOR PAPERS
Special Issue of Information Systems Journal
on
Social and Organizational Aspects of Internet-based Information Systems
Guest Editors: Joe Nandhakumar and Ramiro Montealegre
Deadline for submission: November 30, 2001.
With the recent advances in internet technologies there has been an expansion of the types and numbers of information systems (IS) that apply such technologies ininnovative ways for supporting work practices in organizations, transforming conventional information systems into vast interactive networks. Given the pervasive nature of internet-based IS, it is difficult to imagine that such an important technology transformation will have anything other than a profound social and organizational impact on companies. For example, the use of internet-based IS may have the potential to create new forms of action and interaction in organizations, new kinds of social relationships and new ways of relating to others and to oneself.
While the growing significance of internet-based IS in organizations is widely recognized, a critical examination of the way in which these systems impact organizations has received little attention. Much of the existing research focuses on the technical/software features and components of internet-based IS and disregards the influences of the different organizational and social contexts within which these systems evolve. Further there is no adequate theoretical framework to help us understand and assess the social and organizational impacts of these systems.
The aim of this special issue of Information Systems Journal (ISJ) is therefore to stimulate empirical research into the social and organizational aspects of internet-based IS and to provide a forum for topics addressing such issues as (but not limited to):
-Roles of internet-based IS in social and organizational change
-Political consequences of the application of internet-based IS
-Internet-based IS and concepts of time, distance, and borders
-Internet-based IS and concepts of autonomy, coordination, and control
-Ways in which internet-based IS are interpreted and used in different ways by different people
-Ways in which the application of internet-based IS enable and constrain social/organizational actions and relationships
-Ways that internet-based IS influence or are influenced by social forces and organizational practices
We are particularly interested in systematic and empirically grounded studies to investigate internet-based IS phenomena in a single or small number of organizations. The use of qualitative research methods, concepts, theories, and investigative frameworks from social and political sciences to understand and appreciate social dimensions of such systems are encouraged.
Authors are invited to nominate up to two reviewers for their submission (authors should however avoid any nominations that involve a conflict of interest). Nominations should include name, complete address, telephone, fax, and electronic mail address. The editors reserve the right to select reviewers irrespective of any nominations.
Authors should follow guidelines for preparation of the manuscript, which can be found at: All submissions should be made by electronic mail as a MS Word or .rtf document formatted according to the ISJ guidelines to one of the guest editors:
Joe Nandhakumar, University of Bath, School of Management, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. Tel: +44 1225 323469(direct) +44 1225 826742(School) Fax: +44 1225 323902 email:
Ramiro Montealegre, University of Colorado at Boulder, College of Business, Campus Box 419, Boulder, CO 80309-0419, U.S. Tel. 303-492-0416. Fax: 303-492-5962. Email:
We encourage authors to correspond with the guest editors. The deadline for accepting manuscripts for consideration for publication is November 30, 2001. All manuscripts will be reviewed by a select panel of referees, and those accepted will be published in the special issue.
Deadline for submission: November 30, 2001
Initial Reviews Returned by: May 31, 2002
Special Issue Appearance: late 2002
A brief note about Information Systems Journal (ISJ)
ISJ is one of the leading journals in the field. The Journal publishes only papers of the highest quality on any aspect of information systems, with particular emphasis on the relationship between information systems and people, business and organizations. Papers published cover research, practice and experience. ISJ is a focal point for current issues and debates, such as the links between information systems and operations research and the relevance of soft systems movement to information systems. The ISJ's international Editorial Board ensures that the best research and practice from around the world is published.