PhD Workshop: Philosophy of Science in IS (14.06.2013, 10:00-14:00 Uhr)

Presenter: Rudy Hirschheim

During the workshop we'll explore the underlying assumptions - made either implicitly or explicitly - which relate to what information systems are (ontology), and how one can acquire knowledge about them (epistemology). Different IS research epistemologies can be characterized by the ideal of knowledge to which each of them adheres, and the particular preferred approaches for obtaining knowledge. Burrell and Morgan (1979) refer to these underlying assumptions as paradigms, and we'll explore the various paradigms used by IS researchers.


Required Reading:

Burrell, G. and G. Morgan (1979): Sociological Paradigms and Organizational Analysis, Heinemann (especially chapters 1-3, 8, 11).

Further Key Literature:

  • Kuhn, T. (1970): The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, University of Chicago Press, 2nd ed.
  • Popper, K., (1963): Conjectures & Refutations, Routledge & Kegan Paul.
  • Berger, P. and T. Luckmann (1967): The Social Construction of Reality, Penguin Books.


About the presenter:

Rudy Hirschheim is the Ourso Family Distinguished Professor of Information Systems in the Information Systems and Decision Sciences Department of the E. J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He has been a guest lecturer at numerous universities across Europe and Australia. Rudy Hirschheim is or has been senior editor of most of the top IS journals including EJIS, I&O, ISJ, JAIS, JIT, JMIS, JSIS, MISQ. He is AIS Fellow and was the Vice President - Publications for the AIS (http://business.lsu.edu/Ourso-College-Information/Pages/FacultyMember.aspx?UN=rudy).