1 / 34

IS6000 – Seminar 1 Introduction

IS6000 – Seminar 1 Introduction. Research Methods for the IS Manager. Introductions – Me!. In HK since 1991; Travels in 97 countries. Teaching non-technical IS courses to MSc and PhD students IS6000, IS6600, IS6602, FB5003, IS8014, etc. Supervising PhD students

faunus
Download Presentation

IS6000 – Seminar 1 Introduction

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. IS6000 – Seminar 1Introduction Research Methods for the IS Manager

  2. Introductions – Me! • In HK since 1991; Travels in 97 countries. • Teaching non-technical IS courses to MSc and PhD students • IS6000, IS6600, IS6602, FB5003, IS8014, etc. • Supervising PhD students • E-Commerce, Mobile Technostress, KM, SCM • Editing Journals • Information Systems Journal • Electronic Journal of IS in Developing Countries • Webhttp://www.is.cityu.edu.hk/staff/isrobert • Email isrobert@cityu.edu.hk

  3. Your Expectations for this course … I want (to) … • Learn how to analyse data with SPSS/PLS • Robert to ask questions that will help me to think logically • Learn how to do research independently • Learn how to apply different research methods in companies • Learn how to analyse problems so as to select an optimal decision • Learn fundamental and influential rules/logics that are practical • Use a diversity of research tools to solve problems • Challenge myself • Develop a deep understanding of the general research methods, such as survey design, data analysis and case study • Learn how to identify a research topic. • …

  4. My Research • Topics • Knowledge sharing • Virtual and distributed work • IT-enabled organisational change • Methods • Action Research • Case Studies • Qualitative Data & an Interpretivist Philosophy

  5. Course Intended Learning Outcomes • Explain the nature of current IS research in the organizational context • Describe how current IS research is applied in organizational contexts • Apply appropriate research methodologies to solve organizational IS research problems • Undertake a small-scale and organizationally relevant IS research project

  6. Why IS6000? • Knowing how to do research well is a useful ability to develop • Most MSc courses include mini-research components • Employers appreciate research skills • IS6000 complements • IS5313, IS5743, IS6600, IS6602, IS6911, IS6912, IS6921

  7. Topic Coverage 1. Introduction 2. Research ethics 3. Identifying research problems and Undertaking a literature review 4. Theory in IS Research 5. The process of conducting research 6. Initial Presentation & Discussion of Ideas 7. Research Methods I – Qualitative – Interviews 8. Research Methods II – Case Studies + Action Research 9. Research Methods III – Quantitative – Survey Instrument Design 10. Research Methods IV – Quantitative – Data Analysis 11. Writing Up and Presenting Research Articles 12&13. Presentations

  8. Resources • Books on research methods • Journal articles • Course Website • http://www.is.cityu.edu.hk/staff/isrobert/IS6000.htm • These notes are not comprehensive, i.e. if you come to class, you will hear, see and do many things that are not visible in the notes. • So please do come to class. On time if possible, but late is better than never.

  9. Learning Styles • I expect that you will engage with the learning process • Participation and interaction • Listen, reflect, challenge and criticise (constructively) • Each class will have • Opportunities for interaction, discussion, debate, as well as your own examples • I will assess your individual participation in each class

  10. Some Ground Rules • Actively participate • Be prepared • Ask three before me • Your classmate(s), Google, the library • Be punctual & don’t walk out during class time • Turn off your mobile phones and put them away • No chatting or being on social media during class time • No recording or live streaming of the class! • Be professional! • Emails must include “IS6000” in the subject line • Include salutation and closing

  11. Assessment Patterns & Grading • Coursework – 60% • Team Project (5-6 person teams) • In Class Discussion – 40% • Minimum 70% attendance (9 classes) is required. • If you cannot come to a class, please let me know in advance. • Note 1: Passing is optional! • Note 2: Please, please, please [!!!] Do not plagiarise!– If you do, you will fail!

  12. Academic (dis)honesty • As a general principle, all work submitted must be your own work • Focus: • your understanding of the concepts learned • your ability to apply them • Copying and pasting does not demonstrate understanding or ability to apply • Cheating, plagiarism, and collusion are serious offenses resulting in an F grade and disciplinary action • Code of Student Conduct: http://www6.cityu.edu.hk/ah

  13. Academic (dis)honesty • Detecting plagiarism is easy…

  14. A note on assignments • Reports: .doc or .docx format • Presentations: .ppt or .pptx format • Professionalism • Writing, grammar, spelling • Layout & formatting

  15. Grading Definitions • A: Excellent • Strong evidence of original thinking, analysis & synthesis; extensive knowledge base • B: Good • Good awareness of the importance of the subject; some analytic ability; reasonable understanding of issues & literature • C: Adequate • Understanding is reasonable, but much room for improvement • D: Marginal, minimal familiarity with the subject • F: Very weak

  16. Why Do Research? • So as to understand phenomena • Explain what is happening in the world • Make sense of our experiences as individuals and in society • Analyse issues before reaching a decision • Predict what may lead to success • So as to make an impact in practice • I.e. to discover repeatable lessons that can inform practice elsewhere

  17. For Example • If you want to buy a car, flat, phone, etc. • You probably do some research • Identify features of the product • Collect data (facts) • Talk to others • Analyse & Compare with budget • Reach a decision • Keep evaluating and comparing experience with expectation – research never stops! • You want to reach the right decision so as to spend your money wisely • You are following a process – a research process

  18. What is Research? Research in a colloquial sense Scholarly research

  19. Research as a Scholarly Activity • Search for fundamental concepts and new knowledge • Key principles of scientific research • Contribute to a body of knowledge • Conform to scientific principles • Be aware of bias

  20. Some Sample Problems / Questions • How do we humans interact with IS? • What role does IS play in global markets and local governments? • How does IS allow (or help or force) an organization to innovate its business processes? • How can IS contribute to the greening of the planet? • How can societal issues be resolved through IS? • How can healthcare be assisted through IS?

  21. Research Process • Find a problem or identify a research question • If there is no problem to tackle or interesting question to answer, don’t bother! • Literature Review • Design the Study • Including method and theory • Collect and then Analyse Data • Discuss your findings • Consider the implications for both researchers and practitioners

  22. Research Matters • Companies and consultants engage in research • For critical decisions, it is important that any investigation is undertaken carefully and thoroughly • Alternative explanations for phenomena should be considered • In this way we can be (reasonably) sure of the accuracy or appropriateness of the decision

  23. How To Do Research?! • That is what IS6000 is all about • You can’t just pick up or hear ‘facts’ • Instead, you must extract them from the mess of reality, and then • Observe, measure, compare with others, evaluate • That requires careful processes – which we call research methods

  24. Natural vs Social Sciences Naturally occurring phenomena People & behaviors

  25. Research and Prejudice • It is very easy to rely on what you already know (or think you know), and not to bother with research at all • Assumptions, beliefs, values, culture can influence our thinking • But good research should be value-free – unbiased, unprejudiced, neutral

  26. Assumptions, Beliefs, Values, Culture, … • What are yours and how do they relate to IS or Technology?

  27. For Example • A man and his son are involved in a car accident. The man is killed and the boy, seriously injured, is taken to hospital. The surgeon in the hospital looks at the boy and says “I am sorry, but I cannot treat this boy as he is my son”.(adapted from Selltiz et al., 1976). • Does this make sense to you? • Is there something in the story that violates your pre-conceived notions or assumptions?

  28. Subconscious Ideologies and Beliefs • We have subconscious ideologies and beliefs. Challenging these beliefs can be very uncomfortable. • For example, we have strong beliefs about the roles of different people in society, about the jobs that they can and cannot do. • Often these are a form of prejudice or bias. • Can you think of any biases or prejudices that we might encounter in the Information Systems context? • Assumptions about good interface design, about colours, about programmers or managers, about leadership style, about the best way to do anything?

  29. Be Careful! • With your assumptions and assertions • With your interpretations and the potential for misinterpretations. • We need to look for cause and effect relationships, not irrational beliefs. • Researchers should not have thin skins! • Or they will suffer – because it is very normal that people will disagree with your findings when they counter their pre-formed judgements.

  30. So, a Good Researcher Should Be • Focused on the research problem • Systematic • about research design and data collection • Knowledgeable • about different methods and theories • Ethical in conduct • Thoughtful and Reflective • Persuasive in arguments and presentation

  31. Characteristics of Good Research • Need a real & interesting research problem • Not something too obvious or of no value. • Carefully conducted • According to the principles of the method • All data is real (not fake/fabricated) • Unbiased (as far as possible) • Free of prejudice or assumptions • Relevant and Consumable • To the people ‘who care’ about the outcomes

  32. But Who Cares About the Quality of Research? • Who are the stakeholders? Who may be affected? • Organisations? • Government? • Employees? • Society in general? • Journals, magazines, newspapers, books • And their readers, editors, publishers • The planet?

  33. Key Lessons for Today • Research opportunities are everywhere • Good research processes will be more likely to produce good research outcomes • Good research requires time and care

  34. Coursework • Coursework document available on the website • Need to form a group of 5-6 people – now please! • A complete mini research project • Based on a real problem • Experienced by real people • Who care about the outcome • Written up and presented at the end of the semester

More Related